Charles says merit alone will get him on British team

PETER CHARLES yesterday rebutted a comment that there is no room for him on the British team, saying his selection, if it came, will be on merit alone.

Following Charles’s change of nationality last week, show jumper Robert Smith made the comment about Charles’s prospects with his new country.

Yesterday, however, Charles countered: “In order for my application to go through, it needed the full approval of the team manager, Derek Ricketts, the full approval of the performance director, Will Connell, the full backing of the British Show Jumping Association and the British Equestrian Federation. Robert was expressing a personal view and not the view of the governing bodies,” said the 47-year-old Hampshire-based rider.

“I have asked for nothing and am happy to ride as an individual. I have a full schedule from now to September of top international shows. As for the team, if they want my input, I am available, but I want to get on the team only on merit.”

Charles started his international career as a British rider, but was allowed to change allegiance in 1992 to Ireland as a result of his Irish parentage. It proved mutually beneficial, with Liverpool-born Charles going on to win individual European gold with La Ina in 1995 and team gold in 2001 with Corrada.

Latterly, however, he has had little input — riding in only one nations cup last year, at Rome — and had become disgruntled with the Irish. Thus, his transfer back to the country of his birth came as little surprise, having been talked as far back as last year. Under FEI rules, he will not be allowed transfer again.

His switch came as he signed a six-year sponsorship deal with Murka — owned by Russian Mikhail Mouratov — which is involved in ocean yacht racing, but is, according to Charles, diversifying into show jumping. The arrangement will see the sponsor’s title preface the names of Charles’s horses.

Charles suffered a potentially-fatal fall last year, but is well on the way to recovery.

“I broke my back, damaged the spinal sheath and ruptured three ribs. But I have completed 60% of my healing on my back and the doctors have given me the go ahead to go return to low-level competition.”

It remains to be seen, though, if he will get the chance to pick up the Aga Khan for a third time with Britain, having won it twice in his previous time sporting the Union Jack.