Equestrian pulls out

Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sports

GUADALAJARA, Mexico:

Samantha Albert, Jamaica's lone equestrian representative at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, has pulled out.

Albert, who competed in eventing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, four years ago before going on to the Beijing Olympics two years later, dropped out of the Games after her horse developed a virus.

"Samantha Albert, equestrian, is no longer coming as her horse developed a virus in Holland. The horse had to pass through Holland (on its way here)," Chef de Mission Compton Rodney said yesterday.

Albert would have been accompanied here by trainer Antoinette McKeown, veterinarian Andrew McGonnell and groom Elizabeth Harris.

Three-discipline event

Eventing is a three-day, three-discipline event in equestrian where horse and rider display their skills in dressage, cross-country and showjumping.

The withdrawal of Albert means Jamaica will now be represented in 10 sports at the Games - athletics, badminton, basketball (women), beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, shooting, squash, swimming, and taekwondo.

The 2011 Pan American Games starts today with what is expected to be a grand opening ceremony at the Chivas Guadalajara Football Stadium.