First gold sponsors named | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Preparations for the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships to be hosted by Rotorua in 2006 are well underway with the naming of two prestigious gold sponsors.

Local forest management company Kaingaroa Timberlands has confirmed it will sponsor the trials course, while Subaru New Zealand will sponsor the downhill course.

Kaingaroa Timberlands Community Liaison Manager Henry Colbert told The Daily Post the company was pleased to be a gold sponsor for such a major event in Rotorua.

"Whakarewarewa Forest and mountainbiking have a long association," Colbert said. "The Whaka Forest is renowned throughout New Zealand as a mountain biking centre and we encourage recreational use, such as mountain biking.

"With our close association with the Rotorua Mountain Biking Club and the fact the lead-up events, plus the world champs preliminary trials will be held in Whaka Forest, it is most appropriate for Kaingaroa Timberlands to reinforce that association by sponsorship."

Race Event director Arthur Klap said signing the two gold sponsors was important in making the event financially viable, as well as creating momentum that would attract other sponsors.

Already several local businesses have pledged their support for the World Championships to be held from August 22 - 27, 2006 including Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, First Sovereign Trust, Destination Rotorua, Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands, Canmap Hawley Ltd and Royal Lakeside Novotel.

Klap said that gold sponsors for the Four Cross and Cross Country courses were still being sought.