'Witch-hunt' splits the gymkhana set

British showjumping is being torn apart by a "witch-hunt". Amid intrigue and scandal that would not be out of place in a Jilly Cooper novel, the image of the genteel sport is being tarnished amid allegations of financial misconduct.

It all revolves around the suspension of chief executive officer Jacky Wood from the executive board of the British Show Jumping Association, the body which runs the sport in this country.

The board is now so deeply split that many of its 20 members, all of whom are volunteers, are barely speaking to each other. One of the key figures, who has resigned because of the in-fighting, says the sport is being "wrecked".

The rift was exposed when Wood, who has worked for the BSJA for 34 years, was suspended last month.

The men behind this were Peter Gillespie, BSJA chairman, and treasurer Graham Hudson, who alleged gross financial misconduct against Wood over the misuse of BSJA funds for certain horse shows and her involvement in the awarding of Christmas bonuses to staff. Wood, 56, was banned from BSJA headquarters in Warwickshire and has since been under medical care after suffering a serious nervous condition. But an internal investigation resulted only in a verbal warning, and Wood began her first day back at work this morning.

Her terms of employment forbid her speaking about the specific allegations against her.

"It has been a horrible time for me," she said. "There were five allegations and I have answered all of them. I'm just glad the witch-hunt is over."

But her supporters fear she faces an uncertain future. They say Gillespie and Hudson have their own agenda which prompted the accusations against Wood.

"I am very glad not to be a board member any more because I couldn't stand being in the same room as some of them," said Michael Bullman, former chairman of the BSJA international affairs and selection committee, who resigned last winter. "The people running the BSJA are not of the quality to be doing that job, unlike Jacky, who has my wholehearted support. It is disgraceful she is not permitted to comment on this. What the hell do they think they're doing?