EQUESTRIAN: World number two Jessica Kürten was said last night to be too upset to talk to the media after being dropped by team manager Robert Splaine from the Irish quartet for Friday's Samsung Super League round in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Kürten's husband, Eckhard, told The Irish Times his wife had not said she wouldn't ride for the Irish team again, "but she won't come back under Robert Splaine", he said. "I can't believe she'll be on the team again when she wasn't on the team for Lucerne." Splaine would not be drawn on the controversy last night. "My conscience is quite clear", he said, "I picked the team based on performance, I had no agendas whatsoever."

Kürten left the Swiss fixture on Friday morning after being told on Thursday evening she would not be jumping on the Irish team. The Irish ended up sixth in the eight-nation contest and are back on the bottom rung of the Samsung Super League standings.

Marion Hughes, who was on Friday's team, brought out Heritage Transmission for one of just three first-round clears in yesterday's Grand Prix, when the top 12 went through to the timed round. Two down against the clock left the Irish pair 10th behind the British winners, Nick Skelton and the stallion Arko.

There was better news for the B team at the non-Super League Nations Cup in Lisbon, Portugal, where a double clear from Capt David O'Brien and a first-round zero from fellow Army officer Comdt Gerry Flynn left the Irish equal second at the finish.

Marie Burke, who finished second in Saturday's Grand Prix behind Brazil's Pedro Veniss, posted two four-fault rounds.

The Irish were also on song at the Tattersalls international three-day event in Co Meath, where Lieut Geoff Curran narrowly missed out on the two-star honours with a single knock at the planks in the final show jumping. Britain's Selina Elliott claimed the winner's purse with a faultless round.