Rodney Mayor Penny Webster is looking forward to the opening of a new elite equestrian training facility near Muriwai this week, which she says will be a boost to the Rodney economy.
The Clifton Eventers centre will be officially opened on Friday 16 October. It aims to provide top quality New Zealand bred horses for sale, as well as a professional stabling and care service for horses.
The centre is owned and operated by Frances Stead, the Managing Director of L’Oreal New Zealand and her husband Russell Hall, who have extensive experience in advertising and marketing.
Ms Stead says Clifton Eventers has a strong interest in supporting and assisting current and future New Zealand representative riders and has previously sponsored training scholarships for junior equestrians and is committed to continue doing so in the future.
The facility is aiming to be the first purpose built High Performance Eventing Academy in New Zealand. Ms Stead says that they intend to develop the facility into a public private partnership working to support New Zealand’s bid to bring home gold from London in 2012 and subsequent Olympics.
The new venue will be used as a training centre by a number of riders who are expected to be part of the 2012 Olympic Equestrian Team, such as Jock Paget, whose horse Clifton Promise is the top ranking New Zealand event horse.
Rodney District Council staff have worked with the new centre to assist its set up.
Mayor Webster says the centre will be a fantastic asset to the district, and an important national sporting facility which will provide a top class training facilities for New Zealand competitors.
“It is great to see the centre establish itself in our district. The centre will make Rodney a training ground for many of our future Olympic stars.”
For more information about the Clifton Eventers centre visit www.cliftoneventers.com or contact 09 530 8064.