Mark Todd to compete on the British Eventing Circuit once more

By Amanda Stevenson

General news

12 September 2008 17:03

Mark Todd has decided to continue in top flight eventing following the recent 2008 Olympics. Mark, who came out of retirement at the beginning of the year in order to compete in Beijing, announced his intentions on a flying visit to the Burghley Horse Trials.

Speaking in the Celebrity Talk Area after visiting the Mark Todd Collection trade stand, he said, “I saw Beijing as something of a challenge, but I hadn’t counted on how much I would enjoy myself on the way. It’s been great to be back on the circuit and I don’t want to get another ten years down the line and feel that I have missed the opportunity to compete again.

“New Zealand Bloodstock has kindly agreed to continue its sponsorship and I am currently looking at horses to run alongside Gandalf, who has really proved himself as being top class. As far as plans go, I’ll aim for Badminton next year and possibly Burghley, with the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky being my next big target. It was my first international event 30 years ago, so holds good memories for me and I would be very keen to go back.”

Mark’s announcement was met with a round of applause from the audience, who were delighted to hear that he will, once again, become part of the British eventing scene. For now however, Mark will remain based in New Zealand while he gathers together his string of horses; the intention being that he will look for a base here during 2009 in readiness for London 2012.