Equestrians win NZ's first medal

Joy for one of New Zealand's sporting legends.

Mark Todd is one of our five equestrians who have won bronze in the Three Day Event. New Zealand's first medal of the London Olympics.

He says it's been an exhausting week.

"Knackered actually. It's been a week of high drama. Ups and downs but absolutely delighted we've got a medal hanging around our neck," he told Radio Sport's Tony Veitch.

And despite Campino being the most inexperienced in the field, Todd has high praise for his mount.

"He was a very tired horse. I knew when I jumped the first fence that I going to be in trouble but he still gave 110 percent."

The team of Todd, Andrew Nicholson, Jock Paget, Caroline Powell and Jonelle Richards finished behind hosts Great Britain, with Germany winning gold.

The Kiwis finished the showjumping round on 144.4, holding off Sweden for third.

Todd says there's an element of disappointment, having been in the running for a silver.

"We came here hoping we'd get a medal. Of course you always hope that it may be a gold medal, but a bronze medal, we've got to be very happy with that."

The Germans secured first with the final rider, Ingrid Klimke, ending up with 133.7 points, just half a point clear of the hosts.

Photo: Caroline Powell and Lenamore (Getty Images)