NEW Zealander Mark Todd has stormed into the lead at the Badminton Horse Trials today, after an exciting day of action on the cross-country course.

Todd returned to the international eventing scene just last year after a decade’s absence, but the veteran rider is no stranger to the glories of one one of eventing's toughest trials, having first won the Badminton Championship in 1980, riding Southern Comfort, and then again in 1994 and 1996.

Today showed a welcome return to form for the 55-year-old who rode NZB Land Vision into first place, with just 6.8 time penalties, after lying in fourth place overnight with an impressive 36.8 penalties in the dressage section of the event.

Timing was indeed tight on the cross-country today, with just seven riders completing the course with no time penalties. These include British team member Nicola Wilson, whose late ride on Opposition Buzz saw her rise to third place from twelfth, behind Germany’s Marina Kohncke in second.

With Andrew Nicholson and Piggy French in fourth and fifth positions respectively, Wiltshire youngster Laura Collett still remains a strong contender after picking up 8.8 time penalties on today’s tricky course, which saw the overnight leader, Ruth Edge, retire.

The course also caught out several very experienced riders today, including 2009 champion Oliver Townend, and Ireland’s Elizabeth Power, who was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital after a heavy fall from her mount Kilpatrick River.

Badminton’s famous Lake proved something of a problem for local rider Nick Gauntlett, who ended up picking up a total of 16.4 time penalties, but Luckington’s Harry Meade rose up the table and into 27th place with just 2 time faults.

Tomorrow, the final day of the competition, will see the top riders compete in the show jumping ring for the Badminton crown in the afternoon, after the lower placings have been decided in the morning session.