The creation of its most senior on farm role in time for the 2022 breeding season reflects the continued progression of successful Hunter Valley nursery Lime Country Thoroughbreds.
Greg and Jo Griffin's expanding thoroughbred business has appointed the vastly experienced Mark Nevin as Operations Manager to work alongside them to oversee its respected broodmare and sales-consigning farm.
Lime Country is home to 65 resident mares, annually offers up to 55 yearlings at all major Australian sales and foals about 90 mares each season.
“As Lime Country’s growth goes from strength to strength in line with our strategic plan, we were at the point when an Operations Manager had become a necessary development,” Greg Griffin said.
“We have known Mark since 2018 and we were delighted when he applied for the role from his base in England. It was a long and thorough recruitment process with some strong candidates, both locally and internationally.
“With Mark’s experience across all sectors of the thoroughbred industry in both the Northern Hemisphere as well as his many years in a management role here in the Hunter Valley, we decided he was the perfect candidate for the role with us.”
Nevin has joined Lime Country from Barton Stud, near Newmarket, where he oversaw the daily running of boarding broodmares and young stock, foaling, sales preparations for major English auctions and led a team of 10 staff.
“I’m definitely thrilled to be back and in the Valley with a farm that’s growing and going the right way,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.
“As Operations Manager, I’m charged with running the farm on a day-day basis and liaising with Greg and Jo. They've been putting together a select and talented team of staff and we're still looking to add to the staff for the prep season, but on a global scale they are very hard to find.”
After initially finishing school in England, Nevin’s thoroughbred journey began on a part-time scale.
Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies after graduating from Lincoln University, Nevin secured a position as a pedigree researcher with Weatherbys and then on to complete the National Stud Diploma Course with honours.
“Off the back of finishing at the National Stud there was a six-month job offer at Vinery Stud,” he said.
“I yo-yoed between the Hemispheres for four breeding seasons after that and then finally settled at Vinery again. I was there for another seven years and started off as a stud hand and worked my way through with my last role as Broodmare Manager.”
Nevin subsequently enjoyed a position at Rheinwood Pastoral, managing the boutique farm with 45 broodmares and dealing with all aspects of the farm from foaling down, sales preps and paddock management.
“After returning home to the UK for family reasons he landed a stud groom’s position at Barton Stud, organising the day to day running of the farm and the team.” he said.
After four years back in the UK Nevin subsequently applied for the Operations Manager’s position at Lime Country and was delighted to be offered the position.
“I definitely had a hankering to come back to Australia, but it had to be for the right role at the right time and, after talking it over with Greg and Jo, I came back at the beginning of June and I’m loving it,” he said.
“I’ve settled in really well and ready to go and it’s definitely a very successful and progressive farm that is continuing to evolve.”
