Coloman de Bolgar

COLOMAN de BOLGAR, son of an officer in the Hungarian Army, was born in 1914 and began riding at the age of six. As a young man he was twice Hungarian National Pentathlon Champion and represented his country at the International Pentathlon Championships held in Berlin just before World War II.

He trained the Italian Pentathlon Team for the 1948 Olympics and raced horses in Italy until 1951, when he and his family came to New Zealand. In 1953 he was asked to train the New Zealand Horse Society’s team for the Sydney event, and was the Society’s professional instructor 1953-59, after which he was appointed honorary instructor – a position which he still holds.

He trained the New Zealand showjumping team for the successful 1955 tour of Australia, the New Zealand private showjumping entry for the 1960 Olympics at Rome, and the New Zealand fully-sponsored team for the 1964 Olympics, Tokyo.

Mr de Bolgar lives in Hastings and makes frequent tours throughout New Zealand, giving showjumping courses that have done much to raise the level of performance in this country.