Todd reticent after Badminton

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 36

Todd reticent after Badminton

NZPA staff correspondent Badminton, Avon New Zealand’s Mark Todd is not making any predictions about his chances with Charisma at next month’s world championships in Gawler, South Australia. Charisma went into quarantine in England a month ago to prepare for the championships. The Australian quarantine regulations probably cost the New Zealander his best crack at this year’s Badminton title. The pair have finished runner-up at Britain’s premier event for the past two years. Todd this year finished fifth on the first of two entries, Any Chance. His other horse, the promising eight-year-old gelding Michaelmas Day, was eighteenth. Michaelmas Day was ninth after the dressage and heading for a good time in the cross country before clipping his leg on a rail at “the coffin” fence causing Todd to fall. It cost him 60 points. Todd said he was pleased with both horses which in spite of inexperience, “went very well” in bad weather. He said that Charisma was “very we 11... very fit... and raring to go. “Who knows... you never know what will happen in this game. But I think if all goes well, we’ll be right up there,” he said, of his chances for the world championships. Todd left yesterday for New Zealand, where he will help with final selections for the national team. He was looking forward to teaming up again with his Olympic gold medal-winning horse. The Badminton title

and the £5OOO ($13,500) first prize was won by the Scotsman, lan Stark, riding the Scotland-bred Sir Wattle. Stark, aged 32 a member of the British equestrian team for the world championships was thrilled with his first Badminton win and the effort of Sir Wattie. The Scotsman who has just recovered from shingles, was in third place after the dressage and rode a careful cross-coun-try to set himself up for the win. The young British rider, Rachel Hunt, finished second with Piglet 11. The pair were forty-second equal after the dressage but produced a brilliant cross-country round to take the lead, which they held until it was snatched by the last rider, Stark. Rodney Powell (Pomeroy) completed the treble for Britain when he finished third. Powell also took twelfth place with his other entry, Catkin of Rushall. The reigning champion, Virginia Leng (Night Cap II) took fourth place. Heavy rain lashed the course from the first day. In a break with tradition Princess Anne, clad in “green wellies” and head scarf, presented the prizes. Results (British, unless stated) Jan Stark (Sir Wattie) 73 penalty points, 1; Rachel Hunt (Piglet II) 82.6, 2; Rodney Powell (Pomeroy) 89.8, 3; Virginia Leng (Night Cap II) 94.2, 4; Mark Todd (Any Chance, New Zealand) 98.4, 5; Bruce Davidson (J.J. Babu, United States of America) 100.8, 6; Miranda Lucey (The Dark Imp) 112.6, 7; Jane Thelwall (Marsh Heron) 115.2, 8; Jane Starkey (Buckley) 117, 9; Madeleine Gurdon (The Done Thing) 124.6, 10.