Mark Todd’s quest to qualify for this summer’s Olympics in Hong Kong remains on track after he won the CIC*** at Puhinui, on New Zealand’s North Island, at the weekend (14-16 March).
The eventing legend now only needs one qualifying result at a CCI*** to complete his qualification for Hong Kong.
Mark and his prospective Olympic ride NZB Gandalf led the dressage at Puhinui with 48.9. He went clear across country with six time-penalties and had just one show jump down, finishing six penalties ahead of his nearest challenger.
“This is what we came here to do, to qualify,” said Mark, when he was interviewed for One News in New Zealand. “I’m really happy with the first two days [dressage and cross-country], today [show jumping] was a bit rough, but we’ve done what we set out to do. Under the circumstances, I’m very happy.”
View video of Mark’s dressage, plus an interview
Read more about Mark’s Olympic plans in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (20 March, ’08)
