MARLBOROUGH-BASED eventer Jock Paget has announced his intention to return to New Zealand as he prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and furthers his coaching credentials.

Paget and wife Tegan will move back to New Zealand later this year and plan to set up house in the central North Island as he progresses his coaching career as part of the ESNZ performance coaching programme.

“Coaching is something I really enjoy doing,” said the 32-year-old, who has been based in the Britain since 2010.

“I want to become a world-class coach and I believe this is the programme to do that in. It is very exciting.”

“It makes the most sense to be based near Taupo if possible, and particularly the National Equestrian Centre where there is a lot of exciting development going on, including the brand new world-class indoor arena which will be ready in March. I think it is the place to be.”

Joining them on the big move will be Angus Blue, who Paget really rates as a future superstar, and the retired Clifton Promise.

Both the 2018 World Equestrian Games and Tokyo Olympics remain firmly on his radar, but the London 2012 team bronze medalist added: “To do both my riding and coaching properly, I won’t be able to have the same size team I have done, so I will now only have ones I think are going to be world-beaters.”

Paget will take up the new high performance development coaching role in February. He will work alongside other eventing performance programme coaches Penny Castle, Clarke Johnstone, Tracy Smith and Jeff McVean.