A Little More About Us ....

Belinda grew up on a property called Melrose Park at Oberon just over the Blue Mountains. The property was an original land grant to her great grandfather and would be familiar to many eventing competitors, as it was used as the venue for the One Day Event conducted by the Oberon Equestrian Club for over 30 years, and has also hosted the State Championships ODE. It was Belinda’s father, with her mother’s support, who suggested Melrose Park as an ideal venue for an ODE. As the country was beautifully undulating, it was ideal for spectators who at other events were most often unable to view the riders galloping across country.

Photo taken by The Land. Presentation of awards at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Belinda (left) with Senior Constable P Lynch and Senior Constable R DeCoe

Belinda was the youngest of six children. Along with her brothers Brett and Andrew, Belinda always wanted to be involved with horses. They had an enthusiastic supporter in their father who encouraged their interest. Andrew is still a keen competitor, having recently won two Tom Quilty Australian Endurance Championships. Belinda, wanting to make horses her career, initially joined the NSW Police to spend time in the Mounted Police.

Since then, Belinda has trained several horses to Advanced Level Eventing and has competed in Queensland and at Melbourne and Adelaide 3 Day Events, and is a former member of the NSW Elite Eventing Squad.

Belinda and Rodney Coomber own Bellview Park and their daughter Madeline is showing a keen interest in horses. Belinda’s son Jacob is in year 12 at Farrer Memorial Agricultural School in Tamworth and is captain of their first team.