Ellen Whitaker, 22, misses out because her horse Locarno has a virus.
The pair were in Rotterdam for the final Olympic trials at the weekend when Locarno contracted a skin complaint.

But there was joy for her relatives John and Michael Whitaker who have both been selected for the jumping team.

Huddersfield-born John, who turns 53 three days before the Games, competes on Peppermill in the individual and team events.

This is his sixth Olympics having competed in 1980, 1984, 1992, 1996 and 2000, winning three medals.

John's brother Michael, 48, who rides Suncal Portofino 63, is competing in his seventh Games, in both the individual and team events.

He has won one medal. Both men missed the Olympics four years ago.

As for Ellen, she may have Olympics to look forward to in the future but will have to sit this one out.

With it being the last opportunity for horse and rider to qualify for the Great Britain team in Holland at the weekend, they still had to try and complete the course.

Ellen and Locarno limped round but missed out on the qualifying mark required.

Although Locarno is expected to be fully recovered in time for the Olympics, which start on August 8, team coach Will Connell picks the equestrian team this week and is unlikely to select a horse that is not 100 per cent at the time of selections.

Locarno has jumped in seven Nations Cup teams around the world and was due to be the mount of Ellen at last year's European Championships but fell ill.

In 2007, Ellen helped the British Team win team bronze medal at the European Championships. She is the only female rider on the British World Class Performance squad.

Steven said: "She's absolutely devastated. We all felt that Ellen was a genuine medal contender on Locarno."