Fox-Pitt is called in to boost Britain

William Fox-Pitt, originally named as one of the two individual riders competing in the European three-day event championships which begin here this morning, will now be part of the Great Britain team who are aiming for a fourth successive victory.

The place became vacant after Rodney Powell was forced to withdraw due to a minor injury to Flintstone IV during team training last week.

Three of the British Olympic team silver medallists – Jeanette Brakewell on Over To You, Leslie Law on Sheer H20 and Pippa Funnell on Supreme Rock – will occupy the first three places on the team with Fox-Pitt going fourth and last on Stunning. "The other three are the best you can get, so it's a good team to be in,'' Fox-Pitt said, having heard that he would be joining the trio after yesterday's course inspection.

Looking gleamingly fit as they trotted up in bright sunshine, all the British horses duly passed the inspection. They included the mounts of the two individuals, Caroline Pratt's Primitive Control and Kristina (Gifford) Cook's Captain Christy.

Yogi Breisner, the Great Britain team manager, described the going as "good'' on the cross-country, whereas it is "a bit hard and knobbly on the steeplechase''.

Ten countries will compete for the team championship, with another seven represented in the individual in which Funnell is defending her title, having won two years ago at Luhmühlen in Germany with Supreme Rock.