HOPES of a reprieve for the 1998,, World Equestrian Games were looking bleak last night following a further refusal by the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Enda Kenny, to reconsider his decision to cease Government funding for the £10.9 million project.

Proposals on a rescue bid were communicated to the Minister yesterday afternoon by the organising company, WEG Ireland Ltd, but a source within the Department, stated last night that "the Minister is of the opinion that the information contained in the letter does not provide any grounds for reconsideration of his position". The source went on to say that the Minister "would like to see the Games going, ahead, but not at any price".

News of the rejection of WEG Ireland's proposals was met with dismay at the company's Dublin offices, where meetings went on well into the night in an attempt to drum up further political support for the scheme.

Two Dail question from Fianna Fail deputies on the subject failed to receive an airing yesterday, but the opposition spokesman on Tourism and Trade, David Andrews, will attempt to raise the question of the Government's commitment to the Games again today.

The matter has taken on an extra degree of urgency as the International Equestrian Federation executive meets in Geneva tomorrow and the future of the 1998 Games is on the agenda for discussion. Britain and Germany are both waiting in the wings should Ireland finally relinquish the right to host the Games.

Meanwhile, Lucy Thompson, who claimed Ireland's first Open European three day event title last year, yesterday withdrew her gold medal horse, Welton Romance, from next month's Badminton three day event.

The mare has missed two weeks of fast work after knocking her leg shying at a pheasant and although she is 100 per cent sound, her jockey has the Olympics as her main aim and is not prepared to run the risk of further injury.

The Irish contingent for the Mitsubishi Motors trophy, which numbered five at the close of entries, has now dwindled to two. Alfie Buller, who ran as an individual at last year's championships, takes Sir Knight, while Cornwall based Cork rider Austin O'Connor, a member of the 1995 European young rider gold medal team, brings Hang On. Buller's wife Vina with drew Knockdrin on Monday because of a leg injury.