Jessica Kuerten sits joint-first ahead of this evening's individual show jumping final at Athens' Markopoulo centre after a stunning clear round on ten-year-old mare Castle Forbes Maike.

Billy Twomey, the rider whose stunning clear round that guaranteed Ireland the Aga Khan trophy last week, has lost his reserve spot on the Irish Olympic show jumping team due to an injury to his horse 'Luidam'.

Just 24 hours after celebrating his 27th birthday, three-day eventer Niall Griffin will lead the Irish Olympic team in Friday's eagerly-awaited opening ceremony for the 2004 Games.