The show jumping at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is rarely so close. Just one pole separated the top 12 so it really was all to jump for. Read our review of the show jumping test and watch our video interviews with the winners below. 

Toddy keeps cool

All of the top 12 had the title within their reach, so any mistakes would be costly. Poles fell for serious contenders Marina Kohncke and Nicola Wilson, but it was Mark Todd who kept his nerve and took the win, jumping the calm, professional clear round we expected from this true legend. It's 31 years since Mark completed his first Badminton and the fourth time he has lifted the trophy to a screaming and adoring crowd. After his return from retirement in 2008, the Kiwi's career has regained its former strength and his legions of fans are as faithful as ever.

Mary takes a Cavalier approach

Piggy French came from fifth to take second place with Jakata and Mary King on Imperial Cavalier finished in third. Mary told us that she was happy to be beaten by Piggy, as she was one of Mary’s biggest fans when she was young. She even still has all the letters Mary sent her in reply to her fan mail!

Many people thought the time would be an influential factor in sorting out the best from the rest, but very few riders encountered difficulties against the clock. The course had people talking, as this year course builder Kelvin Bywater opted to use three doubles rather than one double and a treble. He explained that they’d been liaising with Kentucky to try to build two completely different courses as the events are so close together.

Kelvin said “It would be nice to think that the tests are based all around the course”, but he did pick out the line from the oxer at 10 to the double at 11 as a possible place to pick up faults. His prediction proved correct as the bogey fence of the course was 11b, which claimed William Fox-Pitt and Navigator and Andrew Nicholson on Avebury amongst others.

Tamarillo retires in style

The H&C team had tears in our eyes as the legendary Tamarillo was brought into the arena for one last exhibition with William Fox-Pitt before his very emotional retirement.  Ever the showman, Tamarillo was prancing about in front of the roaring crowd with his tail in the air, really showing off the Arab in his blood. We wish him a very happy retirement – he certainly deserves it. An emotional William Fox-Pitt removed his saddle and placed the retirement rug on his back as the crowd sang 'For He's A Jolly Good Fellow' to the much-loved star.

Watch our videos of the press conference and Jenny Rudall’s interviews with the top three below or on our Badminton video page. Also take a look through our photo gallery beneath the videos and final rankings to see today’s action. Let us know what you thought about Badminton and Mark’s win and we hope you've enjoyed our Badminton web coverage.

Final standings

1 – Mark Todd (NZL) NZB Land Vision 43.6
2 – Piggy French Jakata 45.2
3 – Mark King Imperial Cavalier 45.8
4 – Sam Griffiths (AUS) Happy Times 46.3
5 – Niklas Lindback (SWE) Mister Pooh 46.7
6 – Caroline Powell (NZL) Lenamore 47.2
7 – Nicola Wilson Opposition Buzz 48.0
8 – Laura Collett Rayef 49.3
9 – Marina Kohncke (GER) Calma Schelly 49.8
10 – Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Nereo 51.2