Barclays Wealth has withdrawn its branding from the British Masters Invitational showjumping competition at Chester Racecourse this weekend, after provocative pictures of two female riders were published by the British Show Jumping Association to revamp the sport's image.

The private banking arm of UK bank Barclays confirmed it would honour its financial sponsorship of the event, but had withdrawn its branding after the photos, showing the blonde competitors brandishing whips and lying in the hay, were circulated to national press.