Victoria Pendleton was unseated on her first experience over regulation fences within the Betfair Switching Saddles ‘Grassroots’ Fox Hunters’ Chase at Fakenham on today in 2016.
The double Olympic biking champion, then 35, had by no means sat on a horse earlier than taking over the game lower than a yr earlier than and was unscathed after falling off the nine-year-old Pacha Du Polder.
Pendleton was driving Pacha Du Polder for a second time after being crushed in a photo-finish on the identical horse at Milborne St Andrew point-to-point the earlier January.
The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding, the 8-13 favorite for the three-mile race at Fakenham, was barely impeded on the seventh fence by Baltic Blue, ridden by Carey Williamson.
Both riders crashed to the bottom, however have been quickly again on their ft and Pendleton stated afterwards: “Pacha Du Polder is so excellent and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every fence we’ve schooled over.
“I’m very disappointed I didn’t give him a fair shot. He was an odds-on favourite and it was a disappointing job from me.”
Pendleton went on to complete fifth on Pacha Du Polder within the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham the next March.
“It’s probably the greatest achievement of my life,” Pendleton stated after her Cheltenham expertise.
“I’m overwhelmed – thank you to everyone who has made this possible. I feel honoured.”
Pendleton gained biking gold within the dash on the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the keirin on the 2012 London Games.