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Athletics

Phillips and Toytown withdrawn from GB Olympic team

11/06/2008

Zara Phillips and her horse Toytown have been withdrawn from the Great Britain equestrian team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of injury.

The world three-day eventing champions were considered to be among Britain's best medal hopes heading to the Far East in August.

But a training injury suffered by Phillips' mount means they will be replaced by a reserve rider and horse chosen by the British Equestrian Federation (BEF).

"I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go," said Phillips.

"However, with horses these things happen and we still have a very strong team, I wish them every success."

Team GB's chef de mission Simon Clegg said the news is "a huge disappointment", but added: "Naturally we now need to focus our full support on the rest of the team including Zara's replacement and give them every opportunity of competing to their full in Hong Kong."

It has been speculated that Phillips could compete with a different horse at the Olympics.

However, experts believe 'mixing and matching' rider and horse combinations is unwise, especially so close to the competition.

GB equestrian team leader Will Connell concluded by saying the team are "saddened" at the news of Phillips' withdrawal, which is a repeat of the misfortune that prevented her competing at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But Connell claimed Britain's "strong team of reserves" would be more than capable of stepping into the breach and competing for medals.