Little sign of legendary Todd calling it a day as he eyes further eventing success

That period has been and gone which is good news for eventing – and good news for Bramham.

Evergreen Todd will be returning to Yorkshire once again in 2014 – after which he hopes all roads will lead to an amazing seventh Olympics in Rio. New Zealander Todd has come to the end of his sixth season of eventing since making a comeback to the sport in 2008.

Prior to that, the Kiwi had embarked on a short, but successful career as a horse racing trainer during which time he enjoyed notable success in the Wellington Cup and New Zealand Oaks.

Those successes were particularly sweet for a man denied the opportunity to become a racing jockey because of his height. Yet there can be no arguing whatsoever with Todd’s achievements as an eventer – both before and after his horse racing interlude.

Todd hung up his eventing boots 13 years ago with a wealth of achievements highlighted by four Olympic appearances, beginning with gold medal-winning displays at Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988.

Todd also represented his country at Barcelona in 1992 and Sydney in 2000 – after which he turned his attentions to becoming a horse racing trainer.

But after calling time on his diversion to the Sport of Kings, Todd has jumped seamlessly back to the top of the eventing tree with appearances at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and most recently at London 2012.

Six Olympics and counting and the popular 57-year-old insists he is not done yet.

“I’m enjoying being back and I am definitely aiming for Rio,” Todd exclusively told the Yorkshire Post. “And it’s not just about getting there as I hope to have two or three horses that will be competitive leading up to there.

“I enjoy winning – I enjoy competing at the top level and it’s all about having the right horse power. I had seven years away from eventing with racing, but I guessed what I missed most was being able to ride and compete myself.

“That’s what I am loving about being back – that competing – and that’s what I really enjoy.”

Todd is back where he belongs, although the popular horseman still owns horses in training back in his native New Zealand, as well as a thoroughbred two-year-old in England.

Racing, evidently, is deep within the Kiwi ace’s blood.

Todd reasoned: “I’ve always been very keen on racing and I was sort of a frustrated jockey – I grew too big.

“It took me a while to adjust to a slightly different training system with racing, but I loved the racing and we were fortunate enough to manage and train a Classic winner and some other Group winners.

“I’m still involved in a very small way – I own a couple of horses back in New Zealand and I’ve a Cape Cross filly out of a Group-winning mare over here for one of my owners.”

Yet there is no doubting that Todd’s primary future ambitions concern eventing and as well as a potential seventh Olympics that means further visits to Bramham.

Even Todd cannot work out how many visits he has made to the Yorkshire event – but he certainly enjoys it.

“I’ve been coming to Bramham for years and I can’t remember how many times I’ve been,” said Todd. “It’s a brilliant setting and it’s great how all the people get behind and back the event.

“It’s unique in its own way. The park at Bramham is just fabulous and it’s always a treat to be there.

“I don’t think I’ve ever won the CCI, but I’ve had a few placings and I did win the AIT showjumping one year. But I’m not finished yet.”

Changes set to be made by Pony Club following strategic review

THE Pony Club is to implement a number of strategic changes as it approaches its 85th year.

In her chairman’s address at the annual conference back in March, Cherry Michell announced there was to be a strategic review to determine how The Pony Club could meet the needs of its membership and volunteers.

The Trustees of The Pony Club appointed TrioPlus Ltd to carry out the review, starting in May and concluding earlier this month.

The review scoped opinion across The Pony Club that included input from head office staff, volunteers at board level and volunteers within the branches and areas, on governance and wider issues. The final report highlighted that The Pony Club delivered a “quality, sustainable and relevant product at local level”.

The review stated that “with large amounts of development and resource soon to be driven into the IT systems, as one of the key recommendations, it will see significant improvement in communications and processes for those who make up what is still an enviable network of volunteers, as well as benefitting the overall membership product”.

The review recognised that both The Pony Club staff at Stoneleigh Park and the volunteer network have an “appetite and passion for change, providing a solid basis and a turning point for progression”.

Judy Edwards, chief executive of The Pony Club, said: “We are extremely grateful to all who have taken the time to lend their opinion to help to form this review.

“We now recognise some key themes across the organisation and will be proactively looking to make improvements, some short-term and some much longer-term.

“This will ultimately allow us to communicate more effectively with our volunteers, re-engaging with them to show our support and in turn helping them to attract members, as well as re-asserting The Pony Club’s position within the British Equestrian Federation as a training organisation in excellence for young people.”

Chairman Michell added: “I am delighted that the Equestrian Council has accepted the review, and as outgoing chairman it is great to know that we have a clear pathway on how to proceed.”