If you did not go to the first event to be staged by Eventing Bay of Plenty at their new venue, you missed the christening of an exciting addition to the horse trials circuit, which promises to be a highlight in years to come. The former Te Teko Racecourse, founded in 1948, now owned by Eastern Bays District Trust and renamed Racecourse Park, has the potential to become one of the country’s most popular cross-country tracks.

If you don’t know where it is, it is at Hogbin Rd, off Grieve Rd, at Otakiri,  near Whakatane, and is easily accessed by good roads via Rotorua or Tauranga.  I went from Taupo via Murupara and Galatea (no potholes!) and returned via Rotorua (cheap fuel!) and thoroughly enjoyed the journey. One of the best things about going eventing is discovering new territory that you would not otherwise see.

The 45 hectare park has established trees which provide wonderful shade, and all the facilities one expects to find at a racecourse, including 260 yards. The property is leased by Graham McRobbie, a former showjumper of note, course designer, and hunting man, who happens to live next door. Races last took place in 2019, but far sighted forebears put the property into the trust in 2000 so it would not be lost to the community. The caretaker’s house is leased out to bring in revenue.

The inside running rail has been removed, the “plough” planted, drains filled, and it has been fenced for dairy grazing in winter, with water reticulation on a central ring chain above ground. The spring growth is cut for sileage, in time to green up again before the horse trials, and the property looked magnificent. Needless to say Graham has been a valued member of the team developing the cross-country course, providing much of the machinery used in the process.

The facilities and arena areas are not included in the lease, but plans are afoot to improve them. Funding has been obtained from the Horizon Trust to upgrade the huge hall to a function facility with full commercial kitchen, and the first function, a wedding, is booked for New Year’s Eve. Dressage BOP are going to convert the area in front of the grandstand to all weather sand arenas, and a second showjumping arena is planned alongside the current area used, beside the shady trees, which would have been the carpark originally.

Campbell Draper and Rowan Armer have been responsible for establishing the new cross-country course, and have put in countless hours (months in fact!), assisted by the invigorated Eventing BOP committee. Firstly, the old Riverdale course had to be totally dismantled (it was Māori leasehold, which will now be built on) and the materials transported to Otakiri, to keep the costs down. The old stuff was piled up and burnt, which “might have been a bit smoky for the locals for a while,” according to Campbell.

He told me Ross Lawrence took five truck and trailer loads to the new venue, which were all water blasted and re-used, along with new materials, to build the new course. It runs back and forth across the entire area, and is totally visible from the grandstand. Although it looks flat, there is enough difference in the contour to enable a variety of obstacles to be designed. Perhaps the biggest benefit is the ground, which is sand  based, and provides an optimum galloping surface.

Classes were run from 80cm to CCN3*, with 135 starters, including some of the top competitors in the country, and one who has competed at all four of the BOP horse trials venues. Denise Rushbrook can boast participating at “Bishops” in Te Ngae Rd, Rotorua, then Mamaku, followed by Riverdale in Ngongotaha, and now Otakiri. Asked when a 4* track will be built, the answer was, “Maybe when there’s enough 4* horses!”

Maddie Seivwright won the Portage Cars CCN3*-S on Waitangi Pinterest, leading after the dressage, jumping clear over Gina Moss’s showjumping course, and cruising round the cross-country with 6 time penalties. According to former Olympian and current squad coach Heelan Tompkins, it was an ideal final outing for the combination prior to going to the Sydney CCI4*-L.

Heelan was complimentary about the venue, likening it to the former Tauherenikau course with plenty of space, beautiful trees, and a nice cushion to gallop on. She thinks it is an exciting addition to the available cross-country courses, making a nice mix with the likes of Arran Station and Matamata. She considers Campbell a world class cross-country designer, combining toughness with modern thinking, adding “With input from Campbell and Rowan and Bing (Allen) you are going to get a great course.”

Campbell’s comment regarding the venue was, “I like to build nice open tracks that get people going, and hilly or flat, every venue develops it’s own personality. There is great viewing from the grandstand.” After towing the mobiles in that night, he was heading for Christchurch on Monday for the CCI4* L at McLeans Island next weekend, so his talents are being widely recognized. The best view of all must be from the commentary box tower, where Hayley Daigle, assisted by her mother as spotter, spent all day.

Donna Edwards-Smith kindly allowed me to reproduce the message of thanks she sent to the organizing committee after the event, so she has the final word, and it should ensure the entries are massive next time.

“Super lovely drive up the coast on good solid roads. Venue was pretty and had a calm relaxed vibe. Great water pressure at the wash bays. Good sized yards and secure gates. The whole XC course was visible for spectators to watch and video. The horses loved the XC surface to run on. SJ area was lovely in amongst the pretty trees. Dressage arenas were on a super flat area with plenty of room to warm up. The office and toilets were super handy to everyone. In general just a lovely enjoyable show. Thank you to you all, and you should all be so proud of your hard work. It was very obvious.”