Mark Toddy Todd - The Equestrian Comeback kid
By Valkyrie
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22nd Jun 2011 •
6,099 views
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19 comments
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He may just be history's biggest comeback kid ever. Mark (Toddy) Todd recently became the oldest person to ever win the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials at the ripe old age of 55, beating previous record-holder Andrew Hoy by eight years.
Winner of two consecutive individual gold medals in Olympic eventing (aboard the same horse Charisma) Toddy retired in 2000 after becoming disillusioned with the sport of eventing. Then in 2008 he acquired a promising young gelding named Gandalf and qualified for the Beijing Olympics in eight short months, where the pair finished 17th overall and 5th in the team standings. Sadly Gandalf was put down after suffering unexplainable seizures, but Toddy had plenty of other horses with which to make his name.
His 2011 Badminton mount was the 10 year old grey gelding New Zealand Bloodstock Land Vision who has only had a handful of three-star starts. NZB Land Vision (Ben) is by Broadstone Landmark and out of Stonecraft Holly, and was purchased from Oliver Townsend by Toddy on behalf of his sponsor New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd.
Lying 4th after dressage, Toddy and Ben produced a sensational cross country round to sneak to the lead. Then they managed to leave every fence untouched on the last day of competition to win comfortably from Georgina (Piggy) French aboard Jakata, with Mary King on Imperial Cavalier in third position.
Toddy now has four Badmintion victories to his credit. His first came with his first attempt at it in 1980 with Southern Comfort, the second in 1994 on Horton Point, and the third in 1996 aboard Bertie Blunt. He lies just two victories away from Lucinda Green's all-time record of six victories aboard six different horses.
Despite a less than satisfactory performance at the Kentucky Rolex Three-Day-Event aboard NZB Grass Valley (Toddy withdrew him before show jumping despite passing the vet check as he felt the horse wasn't 100%) he still lies in a very good position for next year's London Olympics.
It just goes to show, age knows no bounds! |
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Stay Untamed
Good article! He sounds like a really cool guy ( and of course a good rider!)! )
Good article! He sounds like a really cool guy ( and of course a good rider!)! )
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Jun 22, 2011
• 4,912 views
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Jun 22, 2011
• 4,883 views
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Spyricale
I remember seeing this. I thought it was awesome. ^^ I hope I can get there someday. And yes, that is true. Age knows no limit when you're riding these wonderful animals.
I remember seeing this. I thought it was awesome. ^^ I hope I can get there someday. And yes, that is true. Age knows no limit when you're riding these wonderful animals.
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,878 views
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Balla Eclectic
MOD
They breed 'em tough down in the southern hemisphere. Much like our Australian, five-times olympian Bill Roycroft who recently passed away at the age of 96.
They breed 'em tough down in the southern hemisphere. Much like our Australian, five-times olympian Bill Roycroft who recently passed away at the age of 96.
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Jun 23, 2011
• 5,037 views
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,871 views
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kingfisher
He sounds really cool!
He sounds really cool!
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,871 views
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Run Free
i watched that on h&c [horse&country] it was really amazing
i watched that on h&c [horse&country] it was really amazing
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,884 views
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Estella Noire
True! I admire Nick Skelton, same reason :)
True! I admire Nick Skelton, same reason :)
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,876 views
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Dreamer100
It is inspiring. I think it is good that age does not hold him back and that people can still do well even through trials. I like it a lot. Nice article to bring to life!
It is inspiring. I think it is good that age does not hold him back and that people can still do well even through trials. I like it a lot. Nice article to bring to life!
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,895 views
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,871 views
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,908 views
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Artista
Awesome article! Age is just a number. D
Awesome article! Age is just a number. D
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Jun 23, 2011
• 4,905 views
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Aslans Roar
wow. wow. wow. wow. wow. :0
0.o
wow. wow. wow. wow. wow. :0
0.o
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Jun 24, 2011
• 4,876 views
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Labyrinth
Wow! What an achievement! =)
Wow! What an achievement! =)
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Jun 24, 2011
• 5,075 views
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Seven Sins
this is really a great article
this is really a great article
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Jun 25, 2011
• 4,889 views
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Emmurr
I love Mark Todd, he's an absolute legend.
I love Mark Todd, he's an absolute legend.
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Jun 27, 2011
• 4,877 views
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BME Sports
Very inspiring article! Great job! :)
Very inspiring article! Great job! :)
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Jun 30, 2011
• 5,152 views
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Jul 3, 2011
• 4,883 views
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Mutley Jackson
Go Toddy! You, Ben Maher and Mary King are my FAVOURITE riders EVEEERREER
Go Toddy! You, Ben Maher and Mary King are my FAVOURITE riders EVEEERREER
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Apr 29, 2012
• 4,880 views
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