Date of birth: 08/06/1961
Championship experience
Mary has ridden for Britain at 10 championships. She won team gold on her debut with King William at the 1991 European Championships and has since picked up two more team golds and an individual bronze at Europeans, team gold and silver at World Championships and team silver at the 2004 Olympics.
Recent form
Mary pulled both of her horses out after the dressage at Badminton after doing her best dressage test ever with her partner at last year’s World Equestrian Games, Call Again Cavalier, to lie eighth equal. But she re-routed to Chatsworth where she enjoyed a brilliant win with Call Again Cavalier.
The pair went on to finish third in the CIC*** at Barbury Castle and were selected for this year’s European Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro (13-16 September). Their purple patch continued when Mary picked her fourth British Open title at Gatcombe, where Call Again Cavalier led throughout the competition.
European Championship performance 2007
Mary and Call Again Cavalier put in a brilliant performance at Pratoni, picking up the individual silver medal and leading the British to team gold. Mary was seventh after dressage on 36.5, moved up to fourth by adding just 4.8 time-penalties across country and clinched her individual medal with a rare show jumping clear round.
Background
From unhorsey stock, Mary learnt to ride on the vicar’s pony before spending 10 years training with Sheila Wilcox. She is married to David King and has two children, Emily and Freddie.