Eventing BOP (previously known as The Bay Of Plenty Horse Trials Group) held a celebration dinner recently to thank Mamaku landowners Debbie and Richard Fredriksen and International Course Designer Jennifer Millar for their long involvement and support of the club. The Fredriksens of Mamaku have generously provided their property for the Eventing Group�s cross country course for the past ten years. Their wonderful property allowed the building of testing and challenging courses that had wonderful natural features of native bush, native birdsong and the odd wild stag bounding across a horse�s path.
The Eventing BOP Horse Trials have become reknown for having testing courses that are fair to the horses but challenging to the riders. The cross-country courses were designed at different levels (training, pre-novice, novice, intermediate and advanced) by Te Puke�s internationally recognised Jennifer Millar (CNZM).
Jennifer made a major step towards her international course designing career by designing the cross-country course for the 1984 National Pony Club Championships held in Rotorua on Bishop�s farm. This course was then further developed for the BOP Horse Trials Group which held regular horse trials, and even hosted the National One Day Event Championships. From local beginnings, Jennifer has gone on to an international career as an FEI International Cross-Country Course Designer & Technical Delegate (TD). She has officiated at many prestigious horse trials around the world including Burghley, Lexington, the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games. Throughout this career she has always remained a mainstay of Eventing BOP and encouraged local riders and helpers. There was plenty of reminiscing and it was apparent that Jennifer has been a very particular task-master. Eventing BOP�s new cross-country course is being designed by local Bing Allen who feels fortunate to have such expertise to call on.
New Cross-Country Course for Local Horse Trials
Eventing BOP (previously known as The Bay Of Plenty Horse Trials Group) is in the process of building a new cross-country course on the Ngati Whakaue lands adjacent to the Rotorua A & P Showgrounds.
We run two horse trials per year (one in November and one in March) and with the new grounds will also run up to 6 practice days during the year. The crosscountry course borders State Highway 5 entering Rotorua and is adjacent to the showgrounds which will host the dressage and showjumping phases. Each horse trial event attracts 250-300 horses and 600-1000 riders and supporters, not including the spectators. Riders come from all over the North Island and our horse trials have always been well-regarded. Both locals and international visitors are welcome to see national champions and Olympic riders compete.
With the new location and high profile site, we are aiming to make the BOP Horse Trials a spectator event for both locals and visitors to the Bay of Plenty. Businesses interested in having a trade stand at the event are encouraged to contact Celia Grant on 027 277 0066 or e-mail [email protected]. Publicity in the catalogue and in local and equestrian media are all planned to help promote our sponsors� profiles.
