The European show jumping championships get underway at Arnhem in Holland today, with riders from 19 nations bidding for a share in the medals.

Although British-based Peter Charles claimed individual gold for Ireland at the 1995 Europeans in St Gallen, Switzerland, it is now 22 years since the Irish team featured on the medal podium. The quartet of Eddie Macken and Army riders, Captain Con Power and Lieutenants John Roche and Gerry Mullins claimed the bronze, but no Irish team has featured in the top three since.

After last year's record run of 10 Nations Cup victories in the Samsung league, the Irish started 2001 as favourites to continue in winning vein but, of the five Nations Cup starts this season, three have ended in disaster with the team failing to make the cut for the second round.

Chef d'equipe Tommy Wade will be calling on the talents of his A team of Peter Charles, Jessica Kurten, Dermott Lennon and American-based Kevin Babington for this week's championships. Cian O'Connor, who produced a superb clear round in the Aachen Nations Cup a fortnight ago with the inexperienced nine-year-old Irish Independent Casper, has been nominated as the reserve.

But the Irish will have their work cut out to break through into the medal positions, with Germany, defending champions and also the golden team from both last year's Olympics and the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, starting as red-hot favourites to retain the title in tomorrow's team decider.

A total of 14 teams line out for the Nations Cup style competition, with individual scores also counting towards the line-up for Sunday's individual final. But France's Alexandra Ledermann, winner of the individual title in Hickstead two years ago, has pulled out of the championships after injuring her thigh in a fall during the Cannes Grand Prix earlier this month.

Also missing from the Arnhem startlist is Austrian Hugo Simon, whose horse ET FRH was injured during the Aachen Grand Prix.

The injury did not respond to initial treatment and the 14-year-old gelding has now been put on medication that is included in the list of banned substances. As a result, Simon - individual silver medallist in Mannheim four years ago and a three-time winner of the World Cup - has withdrawn from the championships.

The Belgians also suffered some anxious moments at Tuesday's vets inspection when Otterongo, the mount of Ludo Philippaerts, was failed.

The 10-year-old son of Darco was re-presented yesterday morning and passed, giving hope that the Belgians can challenge the Germans for team gold following their impressive win in the Aachen Nations Cup.

Germany's Ludger Beerbaum, who has earned himself a clutch of gold medals at world, Olympic and European level, will be the one to watch for the individual title this time round.

But newly-crowned Olympic champion Jeroen Dubbeldam has shown he is in form, having scooped the Aachen Grand Prix less than two weeks ago with the brilliant De Sjiem and the Dutchman would dearly love to add a European gold to his medal collection.

Britain's new-boy Scott Smith will make his top-class debut as Britain try to take the title for the first time in 12 years.