Kiwi sporting legend announces retirement
One of NZ’s most successful sports stars retires aged 63 to focus on racing
One of New Zealand’s greatest athletes — Sir Mark Todd — yesterday announced his retirement at the Camphire International Horse Trials in Ireland, going out on a high as part of the Kiwi team that won the Nations Cup.
The FEI Rider of the 20th Century enjoyed a glittering career that included two individual Olympic golds, plus five Burghley and four Badminton titles. He competed at seven Olympics, including two where he rode in both showjumping and eventing, and a run of World Equestrian Games where he was on two gold medal-winning teams.
It was an emotional moment for 63-year-old Todd as Equestrian Sport New Zealand high performance eventing manager Graeme Thom made the announcement at the Irish prizegiving and was met with gasps from commentators and spectators.
“I had been thinking about it for some time,” said Todd, who will turn his focus back to racing.
“The opportunity came up at the end of last year with the racing, and I can’t keep going [with eventing] forever. I had initially thought I may stay on for one more Olympics but since I got back into the racing, my attention has been taken away from the eventing and I was finding it harder to focus on the eventing.”
He admitted the fire had gone out of his belly.
“It is not just about the competition, and unless you are 110 per cent focused and driven towards that goal, you won’t succeed . . . and I certainly wasn’t. In fairness to the owners, horses and others hoping to get on the team, this was the best thing. I’ve been here once before but there will be no comeback this time.”
Todd said he had initially planned to retire at the end of the season but changed his mind.
“Once I decided I was going to retire, I wanted to finish sooner rather than later. I had three nice horses going to Camphire and was riding one of my favourites in the Nations Cup, so thought it would be a nice way to end it all. To end up on the winning team with Tim and Jonelle [Price] has just been an added bonus.”
The day was emotional for Todd, who said that while the decision wasn’t easy, he felt hugely relieved.
“I am very fortunate,” said Todd reflecting on his career. “I guess the highlight of my second career was winning Badminton with Land Vision but one of the main highlights has been the people I’ve been involved with. I’ve worked with fabulous owners, wonderful sponsors, amazing people who have worked for us over the years and great trainers. It has been a real privilege to have been part of this team and this journey.”
Todd has 10 race horses in work and his long-time owner Sir Peter Vela is still very much involved, as well as some of his other owners.
“I’m training in the UK at the moment but we loved our time in Australia with Eminent, so it’s very possible some time in the future, we would love to take another horse down there.
“We’ll take it slowly — I’m under no illusions it will be difficult breaking into the British racing scene but I’d like to think we can have a crack.”
Todd’s decision to retire had been made with wife Carolyn.
“It was very much a joint decision. It is a dangerous sport, and she worries, so she will be far more relaxed about this and has always loved racing,” said Todd.
ESNZ chief executive Dana Kirkpatrick paid tribute to Todd.
“No one has given more to equestrian sport than Sir Mark and the legacy he leaves is an inspiration to not just equestrians but all New Zealanders,” said Kirkpatrick. “No one will ever forget where it all started with Charisma and the way he has carried on with such dignity and grace to remain at the top of the sport for so long is extraordinary. We take our hats off to his achievements and wish him all the very best but we won’t be letting him escape completely.”