Eventing Legend Is a Crowd Pleaser at Subaru Houghton International

COLESHILL, UNITED KINGDOM – May 27, 2009: New Zealand rider Mark Todd, one of Eventing’s sporting greats, proved a popular winner on Sunday of the CCI at this year’s Subaru Houghton International.

Posting his first three day event win since Burghley in 1999, Mark Todd won a close fought battle with British rider Chris King and 2007 Houghton victor, William Fox-Pitt riding Bruno Goyens de Heusch’s Walk the Line. “Toddy” led from start to finish but it came down to the wire in a tense final show jumping display when he finished just 0.1 penalties ahead of runners-up Chris King with Rudolf III with William a further 2.1 penalties adrift on 47.1 on the exciting young horse, Neuf de Coeurs, who was second here last year in the CCI.

Mark Todd returned to competitive riding last year after retiring following the Sydney Olympics having lost his “inspiration” for the sport. After eight years away, the draw of the Beijing Olympics was just the tonic and he returned to the sport which has given him five Olympic medals including two Individual titles, two team World Championship Golds, five Burghley victories and 3 Badminton titles. He has returned to Britain to base himself for a campaign ahead of the London 2012 Olympics and this victory marks the start of an exciting three years.

Having ridden Walk the Line on only four competitive occasions previous to Houghton, Mark admitted he didn’t have much of a feeling for the horse. “He’s an exciting horse but has a huge long stride and found the twists and turns of Alec Lochore’s cross country course quite a test. I couldn’t be more pleased with him as he’s answered all the questions asked this weekend – I think the owner will be having him back now to compete himself!” commented a delighted Mark.

A score of 43.7 in the vital Dressage phase gave Mark and Walk the Line a narrow advantage over Chris King with Jane James’s Rudolf III, a new ride for the Wiltshire-based rider – just 0.86% difference from the two judges separated the two. William scored 47.1 for third while Mark Todd was also fourth with his other ride, ODT Mouse. Saturday’s cross country in near-perfect conditions brought the top two even closer when lack of “match practice” between Todd and Walk the Line showed with 1.2 time penalties while King and Fox-Pitt posted clear rounds inside the time to add nothing. So, the margin had narrowed to just 0.1 of a penalty, no room for error.

The weather on Sunday was perfect and drew the crowds for what promised to be an exciting finish. Jumping out of order on his first horse, Todd showed he’d lost none of his magic to go clear with ODT Mouse over a testing course which had caused problems during the day – guaranteeing him of fourth place or better. William cantered in with Neuf de Coeurs looking a picture of concentration. They did have a few nervous moments but held their nerve for a clear, putting the pressure on.

Chris King may be younger than his two adversaries but has nerves of steel (which he showed when winning Blenheim CCI in 2007) and again was cool under the pressure to jump an exemplary clear. So, it was down to the Maestro, a position he has been in so many times. The crowd lifted Walk the Lines over each fence, willing him to victory and the horse never touched a fence, expertly guided round by Mark’s vast experience for the win.

In the first of two CCI sections, it was a battle of the Young Horse Champions but Staffordshire based Australian Brook Staples came out the clear winner with Charlotte Fendell’s DHI Vitesse, reigning British Eventing Breeding Six Year Old Champion. The combination led from start to finish, adding just four penalties in the show jumping to a dressage score of 40.6. Pippa Funnell was second with the 2007 Five Year Old British Eventing Champion Billy Landretti while Norfolk’s own Piggy French was third with Overstones Matisse. Young Rider Sarah Hutchings scored the victory of a lifetime in the second CCI* section by beating British Olympic Team Bronze medallist Daisy Dick with an all-important clear round in the show jumping and in doing so also took the British Under 18 Champion title – a new class for Houghton. Riding Horous de Ligniere,

Sarah looks certain to be in contention for a place on the British Junior Team with the victory. Chris King was in the ribbons again in third with Idol Hero.

Event Director Alec Lochore commented; “2009 has been another landmark year in Subaru Houghton International’s short history. We’ve hosted over 271 horse and rider combinations over three sections of top-class CCI action, all three with tense finishes for the crowds. Plus some 250 further horses over our other classes – quite an achievement. Thanks must go to our host, The Marquess of Cholomondeley and to Subaru our Title Sponsors plus the other sponsors, supporters and army of volunteers, without whom there would be no event. We enjoyed four good days and sunshine arrived over the weekend to give the bumper crowds a taste of summer.”