Badminton ground jury president

Angela Tucker recalls riding at Badminton, competing alongside her late husband, the commentator Mike Tucker and a whirlwind appearing in the dressage arena

- Pippa Roome

My earliest Badminton memory is when I was a member of the South Notts branch of the Pony Club and we visited the event. It was in April then and very wet. One of the girls was at Westonbirt School, so she took us there on the way home so we could wash the mud off our feet.

The qualifications for Badminton were much lighter when I was riding. I finished 10th in 1970 on my big young horse Mooncoin when I was in my late teens. It was a great thrill – I have a picture being presented with a rosette by The Queen and receiving a little silver horse for being in the top 12.

In 1971, I was seventh on Mooncoin and Mike was sixth on Farmer Giles. We were married on 1 January 1972. Mike and I had different strengths and got irritated if we tried to help each other.

I came from a showing background – my friend Judy Bradwell and her dad helped me find ponies. That helped me in the dressage because I was used to trying to make a horse look its best.

Mike excelled across country having come to eventing from hunting.