1. Mark Todd (NZL) - 43.6 (DCSJ)
2. Piggy French (GBR), Jakata - 45.2 (DCSJ)
3. Mary King (GBR), Imperial Cavalier - 45.8 (DCSJ)
4. Sam Griffiths (AUS), Happy Times - 46.3 (DCSJ)
5. Niklas Lindback (SWE), Mister Pooh - 46.7 (DCSJ)
6. Caroline Powell (NZL), Lenamore - 47.2 (DCSJ)
7. Nicola Wilson (GBR), Opposition Buzz - 48.0 (4 faults SJ)
8. Laura Collett (GBR), Rayef - 49.3 (4 faults SJ)
9. Marina Kohncke (GER), Calma Schelly - 49.8 (4 jumping, 2 time SJ)
10. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Avebury - 51.2 (4 faults SJ)
(56 finishers)

Mark Todd wins for the fourth time having won previously in 1980, 1994, and 1996. This is more wins for Todd than for any other competitor.

Mary King, who placed third has won twice before.

Sunday, April 24 - Cross Country Day

Mark Todd Heads the Field at the End of a Dramatic Cross-Country Day

(The following is Courtesy of the Badminton Web Site.)

Former double Olympic champion Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision lead the field after a dramatic cross-country day at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. A dispute about time penalties meant that the scoreboard showed German rider Marina Kohncke occupying first place right up until 6.30pm, but an enquiry into the penalties she was awarded while being held out on course resulted in an adjustment to her time that relegated her into second place. Nevertheless, the scores at the top could not be tighter - just one penalty separates the top three going into tomorrow’s showjumping phase, with Mark Todd on 43 penalties, Marina Kohncke and Calma Schelly on 43.6 and Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz, in third on 44.

Furthermore, less than a showjumping fence separates the top nine. Mark Todd, who had to nurse a tired looking NZB Land Vision home, was nevertheless delighted with his ride. “He’s still a relatively inexperienced horse,” he explained. “He felt pretty green in places and we had an anxious moment at the log in the bottom of the Quarry where he could have stopped, but he kept going and never stopped trying, which is the sign of a good horse.” Marina Kohnke’s mare, Calma Schelly, galloped and jumped for fun and Marina was thrilled with her round. “I’m not sure what happened with the time penalties, but my horse was incredible and I am so pleased,” she said. Nicola Wilson and her regular British team pathfinder Opposition Buzz occupy third spot. “He’s an absolute joy to ride across country,” she said. “He jumped so exuberantly at the beginning that I actually hit my head on the top of the keyhole fence at number two [the Owl Hole].”

Andrew Nicholson and Nereo are lying fifth (actually fourth) on a score of 44.3, while Andrew’s other ride, Avebury, is just outside the top-10 in 11th place. Andrew said: “Nereo and Avebury [lying 11th on 47.2] are both very fast horses and I can just point them and go.” Andrew’s two rides were among only seven to be clear and inside the time. Others to come home completely penalty-free were Sam Griffiths (Happy Times, eighth), Niklas Lindback (Mister Pooh, ninth), Caroline Powell (Lenamore, 10th) and Aoife Clark (Vaguely North, 22nd). Piggy French slipped from second to fifth with Jakata, notching up 9.2 time penalties, while Laura Collett, (the overnight leader after Friday's Dressage) lies in sixth place on a score of 45.3. The first horse inspection will take place at 8.30am tomorrow morning, while show jumping for the top 20 will start at 2pm.

Mark Todd Produces Masterclass on NZB Land Vision at Badminton

Mark Todd, who first won at the venue 31 years ago, headed the leaderboard at an incident-packed Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, where three female competitors were taken to hospital after accidents.

Mark Todd produces masterclass on NZB Land Vision at Badminton

Mark Todd, who first won at the venue 31 years ago, headed the leaderboard at an incident-packed Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, where three female competitors were taken to hospital after accidents.

Timeless: Mark Todd used all of his experience on NZB Land Vision Photo: PA

By Pippa Cuckson 9:08PM BST 24 Apr 2011

Todd gave a masterclass in cross-country on NZB Land Vision, the most inexperienced horse in the competition but the 55 year-old has it all to do in Monday’s show jumping, for in the closest overnight finish yet, Marina Kohncke, of Germany, on Calma Schelly, is just 0.2 penalties in arrears, Nicola Wilson (Opposition Buzz) 0.4 penalties behind her in third, with a further 12 riders able to win if the leaders lower a single show jump today.

The contest produced further drama when Kohncke, shown as leader throughout, was deposed after a timing mix-up emerged during the post-event press conference.

During the cross-country, there were four major hold-ups from rider falls, including that of Elizabeth Power, the sister of Grand National-winning jockey Robbie.

She was knocked out at the sunken road, though conscious by the time she was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. Fellow Irish rider Camilla Spiers and German Ingrid Klimke were taken to the same hospital.

Kohncke was among those whose rounds were interrupted, a situation always fraught with time-penalty disputes.

They have added two seconds to her time, and Marina is prepared to live with that because she can’t argue otherwise,” said Christopher Bartle, Germany’s team manager.

Todd, Olympic champion in 1984 and 1988, retired from eventing in 2000 with bronze in Sydney and went to train Classic-winning racehorses in his native New Zealand. He returned for Hong Kong 2008 but says he feels he is only now back to the standard he was. He needed all this experience on Sunday.

The prodigious Land Vision was still competing in young horse one-day internationals last September and it was a gamble to fast-track him to this premier four-star event.

The grey visibly tired, and climbed rather that leapt over a log at the Quarry in the closing stages. “He did feel green,” Todd said. “I had to nurse him home from Huntsman’s Close, but he never stopped trying. That is the sign of a very good horse.”

Kohncke, a former Germany team member, is another whose longevity served her well. She had not ridden at Badminton since 1994 and only decided to return to his level because her horse “is so wonderful”.

Wilson, meanwhile, is no longer just the safe pair of hands that paves the way for Britain in team championships. Opposition Buzz performed the dressage test of his career on Saturday, meaning that his trademark speedy clear has finally put him in contention for a major open title.

Todd’s team-mate, Andrew Nicholson, is fourth with dual world bronze medallist Nereo, ahead of Britain’s Piggy French on Jakata. The 21-year-old sensation Laura Collett is sixth after a mature and measured round on Rayef at their first attempt, and Mary King is seventh, the only other Briton in the top 10, with Imperial Cavalier.

William Fox-Pitt is 17th on the ante-poste favourite, anchored by the sub-standard dressage of an excitable Cool Mountain, who is still short of competition experience despite having a US four-star win and world silver medal under his belt. But Fox-Pitt is just seven penalties short of Todd with second string Navigator, while Andrew Nicholson has a second shot at the title with Avebury, 11th.

This was the first horse on course and he proved the time was achievable even when opting for the long, “safe” route through the troublesome farmyard complex.

Overnight dressage leaders Ruth Edge and Two Thyme crashed out of both Badminton and Burghley last year when in a winning position. on Sunday, Two Thyme again showed his unreliability at “accuracy” fences, with Edge unable to hold his line through Huntsman’s Close.

The 2009 winner, Oliver Townend, was seventh after dressage with Ashdale Cruise Master but the horse jumped untidily on Sunday, and fell after dropping a leg over a log five fences from home.

The above Article is from the London Telegraph of April 24, 2011.

The Top Ten after Cross Country were:

1. Mark Todd (NZL), NZB Land Vision - 43.6 (6.8 time XC)
2. Marina Kohncke (GER), Calma Schelly - 43.8 (4.0 time XC)
3. Nicola Wilson (GBR), Opposition Buzz - 44.0 (DCXC)
4. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Nereo - 44.3 (DCXC)
5. Piggy French (GBR), Jakata - 45.2 (9.2 time XC)
6. Laura Collett (GBR), Rayef - 45.3 (8.8 time XC)
7. Mary King (GBR), Imperial Cavalier - 45.8 (1.8 time XC)
8. Sam Griffiths (AUS), Happy Times - 46.3 (DCXC)
9. Niklas Lindback (SWE), Mister Pooh - 46.7 (DCXC)
10. Caroline Powell (NZL), Lenamore - 47.2 (DCXC)

The three Americans were scored as follows:
24. Buck Davidson (USA), Ballynoe Castle RM - 57.3 (10.0 time XC)
Retired on Cross Country:
Jennifer Wooten (USA), The Good Witch
Eliminated on Cross Country:
Karen O'Connor (USA), Mandiba

Of the top ten Mark Todd (NZL) won in 1996, 1994 and 1980 and Mary King (GBR) won in 2000 and 1992.

Caroline Powell (NZL) and Lenamore, in tenth place, were the 2010 Burghley CCI**** winners and are the only pair eligible to win the Rolex Grand Slam (for Burgley, Badminton and Rolex Kentucky consecutive wins.)

There were seven double clears from fifty-nine finishers on Cross Country. Five were listed above in the top ten. The other two were Andrew Nicholson (NZL) with Avebury who finished on 47.2 for eleventh place and Aoife Clark (IRE) with Vaguely North, who finished twenty-second on 57.2.

To demonstrate the importance of double clears on the Cross Country the following are the improvements in positions by those who ran double clears - 12th to 3rd; 14th to 4th; 21st to 8th; 23rd to 9th; =24 to 10th; =24th to 11th; and 59th to 22nd.

Saturday, April 23 - the Second Day of Dressage

At the end of the Dressage Phase the top ten were as follows:

1. Ruth Edge (GBR), Two Thyme - 33.3
2. Laura Collett (GBR), Rayef - 36.5
3. Emily Baldwin (GBR), Drive Time - 39.7
4. Marina Kohncke (GER), Calma Schelly - 39.8
5T. Susanna Bordone (ITA), Carrera - 43.0
5T. Aoife Clark (IRL), Master Crusoe - 43.0
7T. Ingrid Klimke (GER), FRH Butts Abraxxas - 43.3
7T. Serena O'Hanlon (CAN), Colombo - 43.3
9T. Andreas Ostholt (GER), Franco Jeas - 44.5
9T. Karen O'Connor (USA), Mandiba - 44.5

The other two Americans were placed as follows:

18T. Buck Davidson (USA), Ballynoe Castle RM - 47.3
34. Jennifer Wooten (USA), The Good Witch - 53.7

(72 competitors completed the Dressage Phase. Two important competitors withdrew before Dressage: Kristina Cook (GBR) with Miners Frolic and Pippa Funnell (GBR) with Redesigned. Pippa stands equal 45th with her other ride Mirage D'Elle.)

Friday, April 22 - The First Day of Dressage

At the end of competition on Friday the top ten were as follows:

1. Laura Collett (GBR), Rayef - 36.5
2. Marina Kohncke (GER), Calma Schelly - 39.8
3. Susanna Bordone (ITA), Carrera - 43.0
4. Ingrid Klimke (GER), FRH Butts Abraxxas - 43.3
5. Kai Ruder (GER), Le Prince Des Bois - 44.8
6. Laurence Hunt (GBR), Phoebus - 45.5
7. Niklas Lindback (SWE), Mister Pooh - 46.7
8. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Avebury - 47.2
9. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Navigator - 47.5
10. Elizabeth Power (IRL), Kilpatrick Rider 47.7

(38 comptitors have completed their Dressage. No Americans have ridden as yet. (There is a five hour time difference. Eastern time in the USA is in parentheses in italics.))

Buck Davidson is scheduled to ride at 9:16 AM local British time (4:16 AM) Saturday; Jennifer Wooton rides at 9:56 AM (4:56 AM) Saturday; and Karen O'Connor is scheduled for 1:40 PM (8:40 AM) Saturday - the first after the lunch break at Badminton..

Laura Collett (GBR) is 21 years old. She began eventing 7 years ago. Before that Laura competed show ponies and working hunter ponies. She won the Supreme Pony Championship at the Horse of the Year Show in 2003.

Her switch to Eventing began with Noble Springbok, a 14.2 hand high pony at the Pony Europeans at Pratoni de Vivaro where the Great Britain Team won Gold and Laura won Individual Bronze.

In 2006 Laura won the CCI** at Twezeldown to become the youngest rider ever to win an International Two Star Three Day Event.

In 2009 with Rayef, Laura won the Team Gold and Individual Gold at the Junior European Championships. In 2010 Laura won the Team Gold at the Young Riders European Championship riding Fernhill Crisal.

In 2010, Laura rode a double clear in the CIC** at Blenheim and jumped clear around the CCI**** at Burghley riding Ginger May Killinghurst.

Yogi Briesner, World Class Performance Manager and Chef d'Equipe to the Senior British Eventing Team, commented:

" I have had the pleasure of working with Laura since her early days riding ponies, and have been involved with her both at home in training and at competitions including International Championships. Laura has a remarkable ability to be a horsewoman at the same time as being very competitive, and is the same calm, composed person under pressure as she is during training in her home environment. She is a true professional."

At the Lunch break on Friday the top five are as follows:

1. Laura Collett (GBR), Rayef - 36.5
2. Ingrid Klimke (GER), FRH Butts Abraxxas - 43.3
3. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Avebury - 47.2
4. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Navigator - 47.5
5. Emily Llewellyn (GBR) Pardon Me - 49.7
(No Americans have competed as yet.)

* * * * *

Thursday, April 21 - First Horse Inspection:
(NB: Badminton runs through Monday, April 25, a Bank Holiday in GBR)

Eighty-four horses passed the first Horse Inspection on Thursday.

Included among those were:

Three Americans: Buck Davdson and Ballynoe Castle RM; Karen O'Connor and Mandiba; and Jennifer Wooten and The Good Witch. (By the look f the draw it seems that Karen O'Connor and Jennifer Wooten will do their Dressage Tests on Saturday and Buck Davidson will do his late on Friday.)

As well as Previous winners:

Mark Todd (NZL - Three Times: 1980 with Southern Comfort; 1994 with Horton Point; and 1996 with Bertie Blunt) rides NZB Land Vision and Major Milestone:

Pippa Funnell (GBR) - Three Times: 2002 with Supreme Rock; 2003 with Supreme Rock; and 2005 with Primmore's Pride rides Redesigned and Mirage D'Elle

Mary Thompson King (GBR) - Two Times - 1992 with King Wiiam and 2000 with Star Appeal rides Imperial Cavalier and Apache Sauce

Other recent winners include:

Last year's winner: Paul Tapner with Inonothing rides Kilfinnie II

2009 - Oliver Townend with Flint Curtis rides Ashdale Cruise Master

2004 - William Fox-Pitt with Tamarillo rides Cool Mountain and Navigator

The only person currently eligible to win the Rolex Grand Slam is New Zealand's Caroline Powell who rides Boston Two Tip and her Burghley 2010 winner Lenamore.