The new look Arran Station cross-country course has been likened to the Olympics, and it certainly has an international feel, with professional course designers presenting not only very attractive looking fences but technically challenging questions for the National Eventing Championships this weekend.
The course designer for the two top classes, the Red Snap’r CIC3* title class and the Oaklane Stables Chaff CIC2* class, is Chris Ross, from Woodhill Sands, near Kumeu. He has had overseas experience, working on the Badminton course in the UK three years ago, and on the Olympic course at Rio this year Ross spent two months helping the three Willis brothers, Britain’s famous course builders, at Rio, along with two Americans from Kentucky. One of these was a “chainsaw artist” and he got Ross started on this unique skill.
The result is an impressive fish in the water jump, carved from a big log, which the 2* and 3* horses will jump.Ross‘s wife Shelley is a former 3* eventer, and a winner of this national title, who rode at the very first event at Arran Station, thirty years ago. Both are amazed at the development of the venue, owned by Silver Fern Farms, who provide great assistance to Central & Southern Hawkes Bay Eventing in presenting this prestigious event.
The 1* and 105 course designer is Chris Lever, from Carterton, who has honed his chainsaw skills while assisting John Nicholson present the HOY cross-country and Nicholson’s local course at Kihikihi. He designed the 1* and 105 tracks for the Taupo Three-day Event in May, and is now earning his living as a cross-country designer/builder.
His passion is carving wooden birds & animals to decorate cross-country fences,which he has brought to Arran Station to decorate the courses for the National Eventing Championships. Both Lever and his partner Donna are former eventers, and she has developed a talent for dressing the fences, so they are a sought after duo.
Article by Virginia Caro
