Kings increase their horsepower!
Olympic equestrian Mary King MBE and her daughter Emily have found their perfect match, the legendary Mitsubishi Shogun.
The pair from Sidmouth, who are both Mitsubishi Brand Ambassadors, have just picked up the keys to their new vehicles from Livery Dole Mitsubishi in Exeter.
Mary, who has represented Great Britain at six Olympic Games, winning two silver medals and one bronze, opted for the practical seven-seater Long-Wheel Base, while 19-year-old Emily, who is the leading female under 21 rider, under 21 National Champion and Junior European Individual Silver medallist, chose the stylish Short-Wheel Base Shogun.
The pair are looking forward to putting their vehicles to the test when they go head-to-head on Mitsubishi’s off-road course at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in May.
Emily said: “That will be exciting. We’re both very competitive so I’m sure it will be a good show.”
As for her hopes for 2015, Emily said: “My season starts in March and it’s my first year being a young rider, rather than a junior. The Young Rider Championships are in Poland in August and that’s the big thing I’m aiming for this year. It’s a tough selection process to get on the team but I’m aiming to qualify for that. Things are going really well at the moment. I was lucky enough to be on the GB team every year that I was a junior so hopefully the selectors will know me from that.”
Mary has completed the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials more than 20 times, winning it in 1992 and 2000, and the legendary rider already has an eye on this year’s event.
She said: “I’m looking forward to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, where I hope to ride King’s Temptress, and I’m looking forward to the year ahead. I keep wondering when the urge is going to go but I’m still ever so excited about going to Badminton. The first time I went was 1985 and I feel very lucky to still be doing it. I’m cutting back a little bit, so I’m not as busy as I have been. I still have the urge to get to one more Olympic Games before I hang up my boots but we will see.”
While Mary has hopes of reaching the Olympics in Rio next year, Emily is aiming for the games in Tokyo in 2020.
The teenager said: “I’m aiming for Tokyo. Rio is too soon and miracles do happen but it’s highly unlikely for me. Tokyo would be a lot more realistic.”
Nigel Clegg, Chairman of Livery Dole Mitsubishi, said: “The Shoguns are perfect vehicles for the Kings, having built up a reputation for being tough, reliable, with a go-anywhere off-road capability. The vehicle has also won countless awards and is perfect for towing so I’m sure they will enjoy them.”
Mary added: “It’s great to have such a roomy vehicle. I can fit all my equestrian equipment in the back. I go round in the morning feeding the outside horses, so it’s great to have a vehicle with a large load area for putting all the haylage and feed in. It’s a good, robust vehicle that is great off-road for going into fields so it’s perfect for us.”
Picture: Mary King (left), Nigel Clegg, Chairman of Livery Dole Mitsubishi, and Emily King with their Mitsubishi Shoguns
