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Mary King (equestrian)
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth King is a British
Olympic equestrian sportswoman who has represented Great Britain at five Olympics from 1992 to 2008, winning one silver and one bronze medal in the team eventing. She has won two gold and one silver medal in the World Equestrian Games
team eventing and four team gold medals at the European Eventing Championship
s along with one bronze and one silver medal in the individual event. Nationally, she was the British Open Champion in 1990, 1991 & 1996 and won the CCI four star Badminton Horse Trials
in 1992 & 2000, and the CCI four star Burghley Horse Trials
in 1996.
. Her father, Lieutenant-Commander M D H Thomson was a naval officer who suffered for the rest of his life from the consequences of a motorcycle accident that happened before Mary was born. Latterly he took the position of verger
in Salcombe Regis
parish church. He died in 2000. Her mother Patricia Gillian (Jill) continues the role of verger at the church. Mary also has an elder brother Simon Francis bennett Thomson
She attended Manor House Independent School (Honiton
), Kings Grammar School (Ottery St Mary
) and Evendine Court School of Domestic Economy (Cordon Bleu
) (Malvern
).
She did not grow up in a horsey family, but became fascinated by the vicar
's pony, and eventually, aged 6, she persuaded her mother to lead her around the lanes on it. After that, she rode everything she could, even a donkey, and realised that she wanted to become a professional rider. It was not until she went to watch the Badminton Horse Trials, aged 11, with Axe Vale Pony Club
, that she realised she wanted to become a professional three-day-event rider.
After school, she went to work for Sheila Willcox
, a former European Champion, where she learned everything, from breaking in and producing young horses, to top class stable management.
A longing to travel took her to Zermatt
where she worked as a chalet girl
and which she described as being "great fun and a doddle after working in the yard". Subsequently she joined the tall ship
, Sir Winston Churchill
, first as a trainee, then as a watch leader, before returning to set up her own stables.
King converted a couple of cow sheds in a disused farmyard near her home and looked after other people's horses, gave riding lessons and bought and sold horses. To supplement her income, she cleaned houses, cooked, kept gardens tidy for people and delivered meat for the local butcher.
Funding proved even more difficult in 1988 when she started competing professionally, requiring her to sell horses which had proven successful. This changed, when after being offered good money for Divers Rock, a horse on which she had achieved 7th place at Badminton, she turned the offer down commenting "I'd rather be famous than rich." It proved to be the right decision because she secured her first sponsorship deal on the back of her success.
In 2001, whilst exercising horses at her home, she had a fall which broke her neck. However, less than a year later she was back at the top of the sport recording top ten placings at major international events including a 3rd placing at Burghley Four Star on her great campaigner King Solomon III.
She has won six team gold medals at World Equestrian Games
and European Championships
. She has been British Champion four times, more than anyone to date. King has also represented Britain in five Olympic Games: 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. She won bronze with the 2008 Olympic team with Call Again Cavalier.
She married Alan King (known as David King) in 1995 and they and their two children, Emily and Freddie, live in Salcombe Regis
, Devon
.
2008 – Mary Kings Riding School launches after the 2008 Olympic Games.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Olympic equestrian sportswoman who has represented Great Britain at five Olympics from 1992 to 2008, winning one silver and one bronze medal in the team eventing. She has won two gold and one silver medal in the World Equestrian Games
World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
team eventing and four team gold medals at the European Eventing Championship
European Eventing Championship
The European Eventing Championship, like most other European Championships, is held every two years. Today it is a three star eventing competition....
s along with one bronze and one silver medal in the individual event. Nationally, she was the British Open Champion in 1990, 1991 & 1996 and won the CCI four star Badminton Horse Trials
Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
in 1992 & 2000, and the CCI four star Burghley Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
in 1996.
Early life
King was born in Newark-on-TrentNewark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
. Her father, Lieutenant-Commander M D H Thomson was a naval officer who suffered for the rest of his life from the consequences of a motorcycle accident that happened before Mary was born. Latterly he took the position of verger
Verger
A verger is a person, usually a layman, who assists in the ordering of religious services, particularly in Anglican churches.-History:...
in Salcombe Regis
Salcombe Regis
Salcombe Regis is a coastal village in Devon, England, near to Sidmouth. It is often confused with Salcombe, which is some distance away in Devon.Mentioned in the Domesday Book as " a manor called Selcoma" held by Bishop Osbern of Exeter, the manor house being on the site now occupied by Thorn Farm...
parish church. He died in 2000. Her mother Patricia Gillian (Jill) continues the role of verger at the church. Mary also has an elder brother Simon Francis bennett Thomson
She attended Manor House Independent School (Honiton
Honiton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
), Kings Grammar School (Ottery St Mary
Ottery St Mary
Ottery St Mary, known as "Ottery" , is a town in the East Devon district of Devon, England, on the River Otter, about ten miles east of Exeter on the B3174. It is part of a large civil parish of the same name, which also covers the villages of West Hill, Metcombe, Fairmile, Alfington, Tipton St...
) and Evendine Court School of Domestic Economy (Cordon Bleu
Cordon Bleu
Cordon Bleu may refer to:* Le Cordon Bleu, international group of hospitality management and cooking schools teaching French cuisine* Cordon Bleu, A thinly pounded piece of meat stuffed with ham and cheese, then breaded and fried.* Cordon Bleu * Order of the Holy Spirit, also known and subtitled...
) (Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
).
She did not grow up in a horsey family, but became fascinated by the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
's pony, and eventually, aged 6, she persuaded her mother to lead her around the lanes on it. After that, she rode everything she could, even a donkey, and realised that she wanted to become a professional rider. It was not until she went to watch the Badminton Horse Trials, aged 11, with Axe Vale Pony Club
Pony Club
Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and riding. Pony Club organizations exist in over 30 countries worldwide...
, that she realised she wanted to become a professional three-day-event rider.
After school, she went to work for Sheila Willcox
Sheila Willcox
Sheila Willcox is a Britain-born eventer who won many notional and international three-day events, including the Badminton Horse Trials and the European Championships. She won Badminton three consecutive years , and was the first woman rider in the UK to achieve international success.Born in 1937,...
, a former European Champion, where she learned everything, from breaking in and producing young horses, to top class stable management.
A longing to travel took her to Zermatt
Zermatt
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants....
where she worked as a chalet girl
Chalet Girl
Chalet Girl is a 2011 British romantic comedy film directed by Phil Traill. The film stars Felicity Jones, Bill Bailey, Sophia Bush, Ed Westwick, Brooke Shields and Bill Nighy. The film was produced by Pippa Cross, Harriet Rees, Dietmar Guentsche and Wolfgang Behr, and written by Tom Williams...
and which she described as being "great fun and a doddle after working in the yard". Subsequently she joined the tall ship
Tall ship
A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall Ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival....
, Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill (schooner)
Sir Winston Churchill was a sail training ship which was built in Hessle, Yorkshire by Richard Dunston Ltd. She was sold out of service in 2000 and currently serves as a private yacht.-History:...
, first as a trainee, then as a watch leader, before returning to set up her own stables.
King converted a couple of cow sheds in a disused farmyard near her home and looked after other people's horses, gave riding lessons and bought and sold horses. To supplement her income, she cleaned houses, cooked, kept gardens tidy for people and delivered meat for the local butcher.
Funding proved even more difficult in 1988 when she started competing professionally, requiring her to sell horses which had proven successful. This changed, when after being offered good money for Divers Rock, a horse on which she had achieved 7th place at Badminton, she turned the offer down commenting "I'd rather be famous than rich." It proved to be the right decision because she secured her first sponsorship deal on the back of her success.
Equestrian career
King went to her first Badminton in 1985, finishing in seventh place, and finally won the event in 1992 with her horse, King William. She later won the event again in 2000 with Star Appeal.In 2001, whilst exercising horses at her home, she had a fall which broke her neck. However, less than a year later she was back at the top of the sport recording top ten placings at major international events including a 3rd placing at Burghley Four Star on her great campaigner King Solomon III.
She has won six team gold medals at World Equestrian Games
World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
and European Championships
European Eventing Championship
The European Eventing Championship, like most other European Championships, is held every two years. Today it is a three star eventing competition....
. She has been British Champion four times, more than anyone to date. King has also represented Britain in five Olympic Games: 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. She won bronze with the 2008 Olympic team with Call Again Cavalier.
She married Alan King (known as David King) in 1995 and they and their two children, Emily and Freddie, live in Salcombe Regis
Salcombe Regis
Salcombe Regis is a coastal village in Devon, England, near to Sidmouth. It is often confused with Salcombe, which is some distance away in Devon.Mentioned in the Domesday Book as " a manor called Selcoma" held by Bishop Osbern of Exeter, the manor house being on the site now occupied by Thorn Farm...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Current
- Imperial Cavalier (by Cavalier Royale out of Gene Pool)
- Apache Sauce (by Endoli out of Saucy Secret)
- Fernhill Urco (by Corrado-Fly out of Orli)
- Kings Temptress (by Primitive Rising out of Kings Mistress)
- Cavalier Venture (by Newmarket Venture out of Newmarket Ratr Cavalier)
Former
- Call Again Cavalier 1992–2008 (by Cavalier Royale out of My Woodlands Lady VII, half brother to Cashel Bay and Imperial Cavalier) – put down on 30 November 2008 after sustaining a broken leg at the Express Eventing International CupExpress Eventing International CupThe Express Eventing International Cup was a one day event designed to popularise the sport of eventing.Organised by equestrian enthusiast John Peace and former Australian international rider Stuart Buntine jointly with British Eventing, the event was first held in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in...
, Cardiff. - Cashel Bay (by Cavalier Royale) Now competing with John Paul Sheffield.
- King William 1983–2002 (by Nickel King) – put down due to cut hoof and pastern (retired with Annie collings)
- Butterboy – first pony
- King Kong (retired to hunting field)
- King Samuel(sold)
- Star Appeal (won Badminton CCI 4* 2000) then retired to former groom Annie Collings
- King Boris (retired to Paula Lee)
- King Basil (sold)
- King Solomon (won Olympic medal)
- King Cuthbert (retired to Annie Collings)
- King Humphrey
- King Max
- Diver's Rock (competed him at her first ever Badminton in 1985, placed 7th)
- King's Mistress (dam to many of Mary's current event horses)
Bred
- Kings Fancy (by Rock King out of Kings Mistress, full sister to Kings Gem) – Now competing with eventer Laura Shears.
- Kings Gem (by Rock King out of Kings Mistress, full sister to Kings Fancy) – Now competing with eventer Gemma Tattersall.
- Kings Temptress (by Primitive Rising out of Kings Mistress)
- Kings Rock (by Primitive Rising out of Kings Fancy)- Now competing with eventer Georgie Spence.
- Kings Command (by Primitive Rising out of Kings Mistress, half brother to Kings Fancy, Kings Gem, and full brother to Kings Temptress) Now competing with Charlotte Martin.
- King Albert (by Mayhill out of Kings Gem)- Now competing with eventer Jodie Amos.
- King Casper, renamed Everys King for 2010 season. (By Med Night Mahout out of Kings Temptress) Ridden by Emily King, Mary's daughter.
Achievements
2011
- 3rd Burghley Horse TrialsBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
CCI****(Kings Temptress) - 3rd Badminton Horse TrialsBadminton Horse TrialsThe Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
International CCI **** (Imperial Cavalier) - 1st Rolex Kentucky Three DayRolex Kentucky Three DayThe Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
CCI **** (Kings Temptress) - 2nd Rolex Kentucky Three DayRolex Kentucky Three DayThe Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
CCI **** (Fernhill Urco)
2010
- 4th Badminton Horse TrialsBadminton Horse TrialsThe Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
International CCI **** (Imperial Cavalier) - Team Gold At FEI World Equestrian Games, Kentucky (Imperial Cavalier)
- 6th World Games Kentucky (Imperial Cavalier)
2009
- 12th Burghley Horse TrialsBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
CCI**** (Apache Sauce) - 18th Burghley Horse TrialsBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
CCI**** (Kings Temptress) - 2nd Hartpury CIC*** (Apache Sauce)
- 7th Gatcombe CIC***W (Kings Temptress)
- 4th Luhmühlen Horse TrialsLuhmühlen Horse TrialsThe Luhmühlen Horse Trials are an annual equestrian eventing competition held in Luhmühlen, Salzhausen, Germany. Riders compete at the highest level: the CCI****...
CCI**** (Imperial Cavalier) - 5th Barbury Castle CIC*** (Apache Sauce)
- 4th Aachen CICO*** (Imperial Cavalier)
- 3rd Tattersalls CIC***W (Imperial Cavalier)
- 6th Tattersalls CIC*** (Fernhill Urco)
2008
- 8th Pau CCI**** (Call Again Cavalier)
- 3rd Burghley Horse TrialsBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
CCI**** (Imperial Cavalier) - 4th Burghley Horse TrialsBurghley Horse TrialsThe Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
CCI**** (Apache Sauce) - Team Bronze – Beijing Olympics (Call Again Cavalier)
- 8th Barbury International CIC *** (Call Again Cavalier)
- 2nd Bramham International CCI *** (Kings Fancy)
- 8th Saumur International CCI *** (Kings Gem)
- 5th Chatsworth International CIC *** (Kings Temptress)
- 11th Badminton International CCI **** (Apache Sauce)
- 2nd Belton Park International CIC *** (Imperial Cavalier)
- 3rd Burnham Market International CIC *** (Apache Sauce)
2007
- 1st British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (Call Again Cavalier)
- 2nd European Three Day Eventing Championships (Call Again Cavalier)
- Team Gold – European Three Day Eventing
2005
- 7th Dartfield CCI ** (Apache Sauce)
- 8th Barbury Castle CIC *** (Call Again Cavalier)
- 3rd Blair Castle CCI * (Kings Gem)
- 4th Burghley CCI **** (Call Again Cavalier)
2003
- 5th European Championships, Punchestown, IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(King Solomon III) - 3rd British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (King Solomon III)
- 10th Bramham CCI *** (King George II)
- 4th Badminton CCI **** (King Solomon III)
-
2002
- 5th Boekelo CCIO *** (Ryan V)
- 3rd Burghley CCI **** (King Solomon III)
- 2nd Thirlestane Castle CIC ** (King Solomon III)
- 10th Thirlestane Castle CIC ** (King George II)
- 5th Punchestown CCIO *** (Ryan V)
- 4th Chatsworth CIC *** (King Solomon III)
2001
- 5th Punchestown CCI *** (Ryan V)
- 4th Burghley CCI **** (King Solomon III)
- 2nd Thirlestane CIC ** (King Richard)
2000
- 7th Olympic Games (Individual Competition), Sydney, Australia (Star Appeal)
- 1st Badminton CCI **** (Star Appeal)
1997
- 1st Achselschwang CCI *** (King Solomon III)
- 3rd Blenheim CCI *** (King William)
- 8th and Team gold European Open Championships, Burghley (Star Appeal)
- 3rd Scottish Open Championships, Thirlestane Castle (King Solomon III)
- 2nd British Open Championships (National Champion), Gatcombe Park (King Solomon III)
- 3rd British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (Star Appeal)
- 1st Chantilly CIC ** (King William)
- 6th Punchestown CCI *** (King William)
- 2nd Badminton CCI **** (Star Appeal)
- 1st Saumur CCI *** (King Solomon III)
1996
- 1st Blenheim CCI *** (King Solomon III)
- 1st Burghley CCI **** (Star Appeal)
- 1st British Open Championships (National Champion), Gatcombe Park (King William)
- 2nd British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (King Solomon III)
- 1st Scottish Open Championships, Thirlestane Castle (Star Appeal)
- 1st Ladies Advanced, Thirlestane Castle (King Solomon III)
- 12th Olympic Games (Individual), Atlanta, USA (King William)
1995
- Team gold and Individual bronze European Championships, Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy (King William)
- 1st Scottish Open Championships, Thirlestane Castle (King William)
- 2nd Scottish Open Championships, Thirlestane Castle (Star Appeal)
- 2nd British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (Star Appeal)
- 1st Punchestown CCI *** (Star Appeal)
1994
- 2nd Le Lion d’Angers CCI *** (King Solomon III)
- 2nd Burghley CCI **** (King Kong)
- 4th Burghley CCI **** 1994 (Star Appeal)
- 10th British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (Star Appeal)
- 4th and Team gold World Equestrian Games, The Hague, Holland (King William)
1992
- 3rd Olympic Games, Barcelona, Spain (King William)
- 2nd FEI Continental Cup Final, Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy (King Samuel)
- 1st Windsor CCI ** (King Kong)
- 1st Badminton CCI **** (King William)
1991
- 1st Loughanmore CCI ** (King Alfred)
- Team gold European Championships, Punchestown, Ireland (King William)
- 1st British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (King William)
- 1st Osberton CCN (King Kong)
1990
- 2nd Burghley CCI **** (King Cuthbert)
- 4th Burghley CCI **** (King Boris)
- 9th Blenheim CCI *** (King William)
- 1st British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (King Boris)
- 6th Bramham CCI *** (King William)
- 3rd Badminton CCI **** (King Boris)
- 8th Badminton CCI **** (King Cuthbert)
1989
- 5th Le Lion d’Angers CCI *** (King William)
- 2nd Rotherfield Park CCI *** (King Cuthbert)
- 1st Windsor 3DE (King Max)
- 2nd Badminton CCI **** (King Boris)
1988
- 1st Breda CCI ** (King Max)
- 2nd Bramham CCI *** (King Cuthbert)
- 1st Osberton 3DE (King Samuel)
1986
- 1st Osberton 3DE (King Arthur)
- 4th Breda CCI ** (King Boris)
- 1st Bramham CCI *** (King Cuthbert)
- 2nd Bramham CCI *** (Silverstone)
Trivia
Midas Interactive brought out the computer game Mary King's Riding Star which was available on a variety of platforms.2008 – Mary Kings Riding School launches after the 2008 Olympic Games.