Further Personal Information |
| Residence |
Swindon, ENG |
| Higher education |
Agricultural Studies - Waikato Technical Institute: Hamilton, NZL |
General Interest |
| Hobbies |
Skiing, boating, horse racing, yoga. (badminton-horse.co.uk, 18 Apr 2017; marktoddeventing.com, 04 Apr 2016) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
"I was working with showjumpers and had bought a horse called Top Hunter. He got as far as he could jumping, so I tried him in a few events and he did well. We ended up competing in the world championships." |
General Interest |
| Awards and honours |
In 2018 he was inducted into the Equestrian Sports New Zealand [ESNZ] Hall of Fame. (eventingnation.com, 14 Mar 2019)
In 2013 he was named Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. (badminton-horse.co.uk, 18 Apr 2017)
In May 2013 he received a knighthood at Buckingham Palace in England. He was also named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in 1984 and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [CBE] in 1995. (tvnz.co.nz, 17 May 2013; mirror.co.uk, 18 Jun 2000)
He was named Rider of the 20th Century by the International Equestrian Federation [FEI]. (tvnz.co.nz, 24 Jan 2008)
He won the Halberg Award as New Zealand's Sportsperson of the Year in 1998. (Facebook page, 16 Jul 2017)
In 1993 he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. (olympic.org.nz, 27 May 2008)
He was flag bearer for New Zealand at the opening ceremony of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. (olympic.org.nz, 27 May 2008) |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began riding at age 10 in New Zealand. His grandfather had horses on his farm and borrowed a neighbour's pony for him to ride. |
Further Personal Information |
| Languages |
English |
General Interest |
| Nicknames |
Toddy (horseandhound.co.uk, 08 May 2013) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Work hard, play hard." (marktoddeventing.com, 04 Apr 2016) |
| Other information |
RETIREMENT
In August 2019 he revealed that he had retired from competitive eventing to focus on training racehorses. It was the second time he had announced his retirement, having quit the sport for seven or eight years between 2000 and 2008 - a period when he was also involved in the horseracing industry. "I can't keep going in the sport of eventing forever, so it had to happen sometime. I found I was not as excited as I used to be about going eventing so I thought it was probably time to pull the plug. My heart was not really in eventing anymore. Earlier this year [in 2019] I had the opportunity to get back in to training racehorses and that's probably fast-forwarded this decision." (bbc.co.uk, 01 Aug 2019; nzwomansweekly.co.nz, 21 May 2012; tvnz.co.nz, 24 Jan 2008) |
| Injuries |
At about age 15 he broke his ribs, punctured a lung and broke his jaw. (marktoddeventing.com, 04 Apr 2016) |
| Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
"I don't like using new equipment on the horses for the cross-country phase. I have to rub it in the dirt first." (marktoddeventing.com, 04 Apr 2016) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning individual Olympic gold for the second time at the 1988 Games in Seoul, and claiming victory at the Badminton Horse Trials in England for the fourth time in 2011. (marktoddeventing.com, 21 Mar 2016) |
Further Personal Information |
| Occupation |
Business Owner, Coach, Horse Trainer |
Last Update |
| |
15 Aug 2019 |
General Interest |
| Other sports |
He competed in equestrian jumping at the Olympic Games in 1988 and 1992. (SportsDeskOnline, 18 Jul 2017; badminton-horse.co.uk, 18 Apr 2017) |
| Milestones |
He won the 2011 Badminton Horse Trials in England at age 55 and became the oldest rider to have claimed victory at the event. (stuff.co.nz, 26 Apr 2011) |
Olympic Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2012 |
OG-C London (GBR) |
NZB CAMPINO |
12 |
3 |
| 2008 |
OG-C Hong Kong - Beijing (CHN) |
GANDALF |
17 |
5 |
| 2000 |
OG-C Sydney NSW (AUS) |
Eyespy/ Diamond Hall Red. |
3 |
8 |
| 2000 |
OG-C Sydney NSW (AUS) |
Eyespy/ Diamond Hall Red. |
8 |
8 |
| 1992 |
OG-C Barcelona (ESP) |
Welton Greylag |
RET |
2 |
| 1988 |
OG-C Seoul (KOR) |
Charisma |
1 |
3 |
| 1984 |
OG-C Los Angeles CA (USA) |
Charisma |
1 |
6 |
World Equestrian Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2010 |
6th WEG-C Lexington KY (USA) |
GRASS VALLEY |
11 |
3 |
| 1998 |
3rd WEG-C Rome (ITA) |
BROADCAST NEWS |
2 |
1 |
| 1994 |
2nd WEG-C Den Haag (NED) |
JUST AN ACE |
47 |
6 |
| 1990 |
1st WEG-C Stockholm (SWE) |
Bahlua |
5 |
1 |
World Cup Final |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2009 |
CIC-W Final Strzegom (POL) |
GANDALF |
EL |
|
Other Events |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
OLOA |
7 |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
MAJOR MILESTONE |
48 |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
RAVENSTAR |
WD |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
RAVENSTAR |
WD |
|
| 2012 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
MAJOR MILESTONE |
12 |
|
| 2012 |
CCI4*-HSBC Luhmühlen (GER) |
MAJOR MILESTONE |
WD |
|
| 2012 |
CCI4*-HSBC Pau (FRA) |
MAJOR MILESTONE |
EL |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
LANDVISION |
1 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
MAJOR MILESTONE |
14 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
MAJOR MILESTONE |
35 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
GRASS VALLEY |
WD |
|
| 2010 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
MAJOR MILESTONE |
11 |
|
| 2010 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
GRASS VALLEY |
18 |
|
