Kurten withdraws from World Cup Final after fall

Ireland's Jessica Kurten will not be competing in the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Geneva, Switzerland this weekend, following a fall from a horse at her yard in Germany at the end of last week.

The rider was hospitalised on Friday and was released over the weekend, but she will be unable to compete at Geneva.

She said today: "I am very sore at present and while I expect to be back competing shortly, the Final is just too soon. While I'm obviously disappointed I feel a little lucky, because if it wasnt for my riding helmet things would have been a lot worse."

Kurten was joint fourth in the World Cup Final at Gothenburg in 2008, and runner-up in 2006 at Kuala Lumpur.

Ireland, however, will still be represented at the 2010 Final in Geneva by two riders - Dermott Lennon from Co. Down, and Darragh Kenny from Co. Offaly.

The first round of World Cup jumping begins on Thursday evening and finishes on Sunday.