By Scarlett Elworthy

ROBERT'S ROLE OF HONOUR Born: 12 July, 1961 Lives: Lowsonford, Warwickshire Ranking: British No1; World No9 Major honours: Olympic Games, individual fifth (2004); European Championships bronze (1997, 2003); King George V Cup (1979, 1988, 1998); Nations Cup: 14 wins, 72 appearances (1979-2004)

Famous fathers can be a tough act to follow - particularly if they are an imperious Yorkshireman called Harvey Smith.

Smith's colourful character and exceptional horsemanship made him a show jumping legend.

His rides - the likes of O'Malley, Summertime, Shining Example and Salvador - often had personalities as robust as his own.

But his unorthodox, self-taught style - reins held unusually high, rod-straight back - and belief there was no such thing as a 'wrong 'un', transformed them all into winners.

As for that two-fingered salute to the judges when he won the 1971 Hickstead Derby, well it made the builder's boy the scourge of the genteel equestrian establishment.

But to the non-horsey public the rebel rider, who also turned professional boxer in 1974, was a charismatic hero.

Harvey's eldest son Robert, though, never doubted he could also be a show jumping success.

Of course, Britain's current number one has fulfilled his dream.

But how did the 43-year-old emerge from his dad's dominating shadow to reach the top of his chosen sport?

As with all achievement, the answer lies somewhere between natural talent and determination.

Robert shares Harvey's gritty core and during the 1970s and 1980s, when their competitive careers clashed, he describes their relationship as "often rivalrous".

"My father got me started on the horses when I was about six and he was never short of a word of advice. But I didn't always take it," he told BBC Sport.

"He may have been a big name, but I never really thought about that. I just wanted to do things my way and beat him and by the time I was 15 that became a regular event.

Though 2004 was a long, hard year it was rewarding and there's still a lot I want to achieve Robert Smith

"The only thing that frustrated me was I didn't manage to do it sooner. I was an extremely competitive teenager and very much my own man."

Robert began making his mark on the international scene in 1977 when he and younger brother Steven helped Britain to team gold at the junior Europeans.

He also returned home with individual bronze and two years later became the youngest winner of the prestigious George V Cup - a leading domestic prize he has since won on two other occasions.

European Championship team bronze medals followed in 1997 and 2003.

Then, last summer, he fulfilled another ambition - matching his brother's and father's accomplishments of representing Britain at an Olympics.

Steven, today a key part of Robert's backroom team and coach to GB's Under-21s, won team silver in Los Angeles in 1984, while Harvey rode at two Games - Mexico in 1968 and Munich in '72 - though he did not win a medal.

Robert also missed out on silverware in Athens - but only just.

HARVEY'S HAUL OF FAME Born: 1938 Honours: Won Hickstead Derby a record seven times and over 50 Grand Prix; represented Britain at two Olympics Past: Famous for making V-sign at Hickstead judges in 1971. The gesture won him an entry in the Chambers Dictionary which defined a 'Harvey Smith' as a V-sign with the palm inwards, signifying derision and contempt Present: In 1990, having retired from show jumping, teamed up with wife/racing trainer Sue Smith to establish the leading racing yard Craiglands, in Yorkshire

He partnered the brilliant Mr Springfield to fifth place in the individual event - and coming so near has only fuelled his desire to go for gold in 2008.

But Robert has his father's pragmatism and knows his chances of even getting to Beijing, as they did with Athens, depend on "having the right horse at the right time".

Smith admits he's had "quite a few offers" for Mr Springfield, which he part-owns, but for now he has the ride and is targeting European Championship gold in San Patrigano, Italy, in July.

But for a man who openly admits he does not really enjoy the roaming lifestyle of the global circuit, what does the longterm future hold?

Will he eventually follow his father into racing? Will he encourage his own children to leap into the saddle?

"My eight-year-old daughter is keen but I am not pushing her - it's a tough life, always on the move, competing at all hours of the day and night for 12 months of the year and I miss home a lot," says the dad-of-three.

"But I'm not ready to retire yet, or change careers.

"Though 2004 was a long, hard year it was rewarding and there's still a lot I want to achieve.

"By the time I call it quits, I hope to have been world and Olympic champion."

He also wants to see show jumping back in the big-time - and argues the sport has been slow to sell itself to the 21st Century.

"My father competed in an era when show jumping was huge news here, but now it has become a bit forgotten by the British media," he says.

"Of course that's frustrating because the major shows are always packed out.

"But it's the price we've paid for not moving with the times and failing to introduce competitions that make good TV.

"What's my solution? An aggressive public relations to shake things up."

A Smith being outspoken - at least some things are consistent...