Todd masters Punchestown

Precious few titles in the world of three-day eventing have eluded the great Mark Todd and, over a 20-year period, the Punchestown international had remained tantalisingly beyond the New Zealander's grasp. But that all changed yesterday when the double Olympic champion swept to victory in the IFG three-star with his wife Carolyn's Regal Scot.

Todd has officially announced his intention of retiring from the sport and returning to his native New Zealand immediately after next year's Sydney Olympics. "I'm just going around picking off the ones that I haven't won," he said yesterday after a clear show jumping round clinched victory, 20 years after he rode Jocasta into second place.

A storming cross-country clear for just two time penalties on Saturday boosted Regal Scot from fourth to overnight first when dressage leaders Merran Wallis and Gershwin stopped at the Water Pumps. Polly Clark and All Black II were only fractionally slower to move up to second on the British horse's three-day event debut.

The top two were both clear in yesterday's show jumping to hold their places, but a single mistake dislodged Sweden's world bronze medallists Paula Tornquist and SAS Monaghan from third to allow Todd's compatriot Andrew Nicholson up one slot with Whitmonday.

Nicola Cassidy and the talented Mr Mullins moved up to finish best of the Irish in eighth, one place clear of Sasha Harrison and All Love Du Fenaud in ninth, and Cassidy was also best of the home side in the two-star when finishing fifth with Clonlea Dusty.

There was some reshuffling of the two-star placings yesterday, with Pippa Funnell claiming the honours on the Irish export General Salute when overnight leaders Emily Clarke and Glengarry connected with the middle of the combination to drop to second.

The event was overshadowed by the announcement of the fatal accident to British world games rider Peta Beckett, who was killed instantly in a fall at Savernake horse trials in Wiltshire on Saturday.