RETIRED champion jockey AP McCoy was thrilled to back in the saddle to support a good cause as he took part in the Barbury Champions Challenge.

McCoy, who is based at Baydon near Marlborough, made his first returnon a horse since retiring in April in front of a packed crowd who lined the showjumping arena at the Barbury International Horse Trials this afternoon.

The 41-year-old was joined in the team of jockeys by Swindon’s Wayne Hutchinson, Sam Twiston-Davies and Richard Johnson as they took on a team of eventers in the final, despite having lost to Bicester and Whaddon pony club in the first round.

The eventers team included Marlborough-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, Badgerstown’s Sir Mark Todd, West Littleton's Harry Meade and multiple-winning Olympic medallist Tina Cook, as they raised money for the Injured Jockey Fund.

“It was a great event, thanks to the eventers taking part in it, because it was for the Injured Jockeys Fund, a very important cause and charity,” said McCoy after the eventful final, which saw the jockeys triumph.

“The eventers made a good race of it, but at least we won, which is the most important thing.

“Hopefully the crowd here enjoyed it. It is something that is a little different to what they have come here to see. Something different is always nice I think.

“I think if you have been involved in sport at all you want to win, it is just instinct that you want to win no matter what you are doing.”

McCoy has been enjoying life since he retired and despite missing the competitive edge he does not regret his decision to retire.

“I miss competing, I miss the camaraderie of it, I miss the lads in the weighing room I used to see every day for 20 years,” he added.

“I sat beside Richard Johnson for 20 odd years of my life and I have probably seen him about three times in the last three months.

“So that is very different, but it was the right thing.

“I am not one of these people who looks back and thinks ‘oh I wish I was going racing today’, it’s over.”

Hutchinson, who rides for Barbury Castle-based trainer Alan King, enjoyed the change in discipline, and had to change horses for the final after the jockeys were well beaten in the first round, with Johnson wiping out almost every fence.

“It makes you feel back to your kid days,” he said.

“Style goes out of the window and you’re just hoping not to knock a pole down.

“I had to swap horses after the first one so we could be competitive against the eventers and fortunately we chose well.”

“It is in a great arena, where everybody can see, and it is a good spectacle.”