AN East Yorkshire showjumper could be in the Great Britain team to go to the European Championships this summer.

Scott Smith, of Barmby Moor, already among the country's best riders, has heaps of international experience under his belt and in the coming weeks will be trying to make sure that he is selected for the trip to Germany in August.

He is also on the long list for selection for next year's Olympic Games in Athens - but first Britain have to qualify for the right to be there and a good performance in the European Championships will ensure that.

Smith, 28, combines his career as a sportsman with running an equestrian breeding and training centre at his 140-acre Thornton House Farm, a business he has developed with the help of his sponsor Michael Dawson, of Sutton-on-Derwent.

"We got together six or seven years ago with the idea of building up something which will be around for some time and be a benefit for the future," said Smith, who first took up showjumping when he was a child and went on to become national Under-14 champion at the age of 13 and British junior champion in 1990 when only 16.

"I suppose that the top British rider David Bowen was an influence early in my career but I didn't really have one single mentor. I learned a lot from watching a number of riders," he said.

"It is difficult to combine both roles as a competitive rider and running the farm but I am very selective about which showjumping events to enter.

"I don't enter events just to try to win trophies for the sake of it. I plan my schedule carefully."

This includes a lot of European travel. Early last month he was riding at Fontainebleau in France, then was in the British team at the Samsung Nations Cup competition and last week was competing in Madrid.

His main horse is Cabri d'Elle, who will be 13 this year and is easily the best horse Smith has had in his career.

"He has always been a winner in his approach," he said.

"He has immense experiences, with 12 Nations Cup competitions, but he also stands at stud and so we have to take that into consideration and not overuse him as a competitive showjumper."

Smith's other two jumpers are Amadeleah and Landwind 19, both aged nine, and he has high hopes of the latter turning into a star.

"The key element looking towards the European Championships is to peak at the right time," said Smith. "Last year I won the first ten events of the season with Cabri d'Elle but then faded.

"This time I am hoping we'll be coming to our best just when we need to. The British team won't be announced until as late as possible for that reason."

Updated: 09:22 Friday, June 13, 2003