Lavros Lodge is up for sale : “every good thing comes to an end”

It’s the training track that’s produced both harness racing pacing and trotting champions and now Lavros Lodge just outside Christchurch is officially on the market.

Owner and prominent Christchurch business leader Kypros Kotzikas has decided to put the substantial Yaldhurst property up for sale.

“I hope that it attracts some interest,” he says, “but it’s early days and it may take some time.”

Up for sale is a total of nearly 34 hectares, complete with a 1200m double race track, an eight horse jogging machine and an equine swimming pool, stabling for up to 32 horses, a separate house above the stables and then the main homestead that was built around 20 years ago. It alone has four bedrooms, even its own teppanyaki bar as well as an indoor pool and gym.

“I would say there are only two or three places like it.”

So why would the now 80-year-old Kotzikas want to leave a place he reckons is “paradise”.

“Every good thing comes to an end.”

And his extended family has had a role in the decision.

“Though the place (Lavros Lodge) is only 25 minutes from town my family think we live in the country so my partner (Jane Campbell) and I have decided to move into the city to be closer to them. Between us we have 11 grandchildren and one great grandson and we want to be within walking distance of them and their parents. Jane’s grandchildren are younger and we would like for them to be able to walk to us after school.”

As of now the track and stables are used by trainers Regan Todd, Derek Jones and Russell Kennedy.

He appreciates the sale could be unsettling for them but says “I’ve said to them to not do anything until we talk to the new owner.”

The property is being marketed by Harcourts with a deadline sale set down for April 23.

As a standardbred training establishment Lavros Lodge and resident trainer Robert Cameron produced champions such as millionaire pacer and 1997 New Zealand Cup winner Iraklis (22 wins).

“He’s the best one I’ve had.”

When Master Lavros (20 wins) took out the 2013 Dominion, Kotzikas became the first owner in 60 years to win the country’s most prestigious trotting and pacing races, and just the fourth ever.

Master Lavros, who Kotzikas bred, won the Dominion again in 2015 and the country’s other top trotting feature the Rowe Cup in 2014.

As successful as he’s been as an breeder and owner it’s in business where Kotzikas has really left his mark.

Having emigrated from the Cypriot village of Palechori in 1962, the 18-year-old Kotzikas initially worked in his brother Andreas’ (Andrew) Aranui fish shop before venturing into the wholesale fishing industry in 1968.

He went on to build a seafood empire, United Fisheries which employs over 180 people and exports around the world. It’s a remarkable success story.

Now he’s ready for the next stage of his life, and that includes a house and land close to the CBD.

The impressive Lavros Lodge is on the market and Kotzikas, ever the fisherman, wants to see if there are any nibbles.

Details:

Lavros Lodge
150 School Road
Yaldhurst
Christchurch

Max McGillivray
Harcourts Ilam 2
027 207 3046

Deadline Sale all offers presented on or before Tuesday 23rd April, 12:00pm at Harcourts Holmwood, 397-399 Ilam Road (unless sold prior).

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk