Mark Todd rode himself into the history books at the Badminton Horse Trials when he notched up his fourth win at the prestigious three day event in the UK over the weekend.
It is 31 years since Mark first won at Badminton aboard Southern Comfort.
He retired after the Sydney Olympics in 2000 but was back with vengeance eight years later, and last year was part of the New Zealand team that won bronze at the World Equestrian Games.
Riding the striking grey NZB Land Vision, 55 year-old Mark, the oldest rider to have won at Badminton, was a picture of calm as he completed the showjumping phase.
In a Country99TV exclusive, Mark Todd spoke to reporter Emma Jones about his historic comeback.
“I’m absolutely over the moon obviously, it’s just incredible, it hasn’t really sunk in yet. But yes delighted with the horse, delighted that I’ve been able to come back and win at top level again which is really what I decided to do when I decided to make a comeback.”
Just a single rail separated the top 12 combinations going into the showjumping, which meant no room for error.
Mark was full of praise for his fellow competitors saying the standard was impressive...
“Well there wasn’t a rail between the top twelve which is incredible. It just shows the standard. There was a really strong field this year. Really close finish but you know we were ahead of the field.
"They all had to try and beat us, if we jumped clear, then we had won. This horse is a very good jumper. I was pretty confident going in there; he jumped a really good round and so we won it.”
The New Zealanders were strong contenders throughout with last year’s Burghley winner Caroline Powell and her grey, Lenamore, finishing in sixth spot after also going clear and inside the time in the showjumping. She finished just 3.6 points behind Todd.
Andrew Nicholson placed 10th on Avebury, and 12th on Nereo, after uncharacteristically taking a couple rails.
But the day belonged to Todd, who would latery be on a plane to Kentucky in the USA, to compete at the Rolex Four Star event on NZB Grass Valley.
“I’m off at 5 tomorrow morning to America where I’ve got Grass Valley waiting over there, to compete at the Rolex Kentucky from four star.
"This horse [NZB Land Vision] will have a break. He performed really well so he will get a break and then we will think about what we are going to do with him next.”
Catch all the action from the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on Country99TV on Saturday 25 June. We’ve over 5 hours of exclusive extended coverage, starting at 7am.
