The 2008 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials proved to be one of the most exciting and dramatic for years, with Nicholas Touzaint becoming the first Frenchman ever to win the prestigious title with Hildago De L'Ile.
How much it meant to him was evident as soon as he cleared the final fence, having had one down, in yesterday's show jumping as he galloped around the arena.
When he finally got off his horse the tears and emotion flowed. Touzaint said he could not believe it.
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"I never imagined before I came that I could do it.
"The objective was to stay in the top five. It is my dream to win here," said 27-year-old Touzaint, who is the reigning European champion.
British rider Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak, who despite a couple of hairy moments in the cross country on Saturday, held on to their second place with one show jump down.
William Fox-Pitt was third on Ballincoola, which should go some way to making amends for the disappointment he must be feeling having had a run out three fences from home on Tamarillo on cross country.
There was less than one fence down between the top five riders.
Badminton director Hugh Thomas responded to last year's criticism by building what proved to be exciting and challenging track, with riders having mishaps throughout the course.
It caught out many of the top riders, including Andrew Hoy, Pippa Funnell, Andrew Nicholson, Clayton Fredericks and cruelly Mary King, who was poised to take the lead when Imperial Cavalier caught a knee on the fence two from home and tipped her out of the saddle.
Swindon's Rodney Powell had a lovely clear cross country round on Zin Zan II, knocking only one fence down in the show jumping on a day when clear rounds were a rare event.
This left him in 14th position on the horse's debut appearance.
Teenager Georgie Spence rode way beyond her years to put in an excellent cross country performance, picking up just 10 time penalties.
However, a disappointing show jumping round dropped them from 17th to 30th place - still an extremely creditable result on her debut.
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