THE withdrawal of Welton Romance from Ireland's Olympic three day event squad was confirmed yesterday, leaving European champion Lucy Thompson without a horse for Atlanta. Thompson's second string horse, Nobleman III, was withdrawn from the Olympic list last week.

"It's a major blow," chairman of selectors John Lyttle said yesterday, after confirming that the mare had been withdrawn. "But we were always aiming for a team medal in Atlanta and that will still be our goal."