Tommy Wade, always controversial during his show jumping career with the brilliant Dundrum, verbally attacked Samsung Nations Cup director Ulf Rosengren at Hickstead yesterday in an attempt to get a replacement rider for injured Peter Charles in today's Nations Cup.
As chef d'equipe for the Irish team, Wade was at the draw for this afternoon's starting order and, having pulled Ireland out as first of the seven nations to jump, then demanded that Rosengren sort out the controversial ruling that only four riders could be nominated for the team, with no reserve in case of injury or loss of form.
"You're to blame for it", he said, pointing at Rosengren. "There should be five riders on each team. The situation could arise that there'd be no Irish team if another one got injured before the Cup."
The outburst surprised Rosengren, but Wade got the backing of British chef d'equipe Ronnie Massarella. "It's a very unsatisfactory situation", he said, before stating that it had been agreed at a meeting earlier in the week that substitutes would only be allowed if the other team managers agreed to the change.
The situation was rapidly defused when all six allowed Wade to nominate double Queen's Cup winner Marion Hughes, who will ride the home-bred Heritage Charlton, following Irish pathfinder Edward Doyle (Wingates King Koal). Jessica Kurten goes third on Paavo, with Aachen Grand Prix winners Trevor Coyle and Cruising last to go.
The row was a direct result of Peter Charles' dramatic fall in Wednesday's Eventing Grand Prix, when the French-bred Traxdata T'Aime trod on Charles' ankle. An x-ray revealed no apparent breakages, but ligament damage ruled out all hope of riding in today's team feature.
"It just doesn't work", Charles said, after trying to ride yesterday morning. Despite massive amounts of painkillers, he could put no weight into the stirrup and had to abandon the attempt. "I can't even canter", he said just before leaving for home yesterday afternoon.
He is due to see orthopaedic specialist Richard Brown at a private clinic in Hampshire this morning. Brown operated on Charles' left knee twice in 1992 and the rider is hoping that sufficient magic can be worked on the damaged ankle so that he can be back in the saddle by next week.
His wife Tara is due to have the couple's first child by Caesarean section next Thursday and Charles is planning to head off to the Dutch fixture at Geesteren if he gets the all clear from the specialist tomorrow, although that seems highly unlikely.
Unbelievably, fellow Traxdata team-mate James Fisher also injured himself when he fell with the mare Lady Alicia in the second class yesterday and, although Charles' plates were clear, Fisher's revealed a broken thumb and he is now in plaster to his elbow.
There were some bright spots for the Irish yesterday, with Marion Hughes slotting Vaor d'Isigny into third in the International Chase and Edward Doyle also finishing third with Ears To You in the earlier Cowfold Speed Stakes, ahead of Captain John Ledingham in fifth with Millstreet Ruby and Robert Splaine sixth on Convent Hill Diamond.
