WELTON ROMANCE, the mare Lucy Thompson rode to win individual gold at last year's open European three day event championships, may be out of the Irish team for the Olympic Games.

The 10 year old mare damaged her near foreleg two months ago shying at a pheasant and, as a result, was withdrawn from Badminton at the beginning of this month. Although the mare has been sound and in work since the incident, she missed two weeks of fast work.

Scar tissue in the leg is now causing concern and team vet Hugh Suffern and Thompson's own vet in England, Sue Dyson, have been in constant communication.

The mare's owner, Mrs Asprey has expressed the view that permanent damage could be sustained if the horse runs in Atlanta, but Thompson's sponsors Aspreys of Bond Street are keen for Welton Romance to head the Irish team at the Games.