EVENT NEWS: Hickstead’s International Season 2015
Counting down to Hickstead’s
International Season
Hickstead’s two flagship international
fixtures are fast approaching, with
the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby
Meeting (25-28 June) starting off the
season, followed by the Longines Royal
International Horse Show (28 July – 2
August).
The Equestrian.com
Hickstead Derby
(25th-28th June)
The June fixture culminates on the
Sunday afternoon with one of the most
iconic classes in showjumping, the
Equestrian.com Derby. Very few horses
are able to conquer the tricky course,
which includes the 10ft 6in Derby
Bank, the Devil’s Dyke treble and the
double of ditches. It is the second year
that the Derby has been sponsored by
Equestrian.com, and fans of this iconic
class will once again have the chance to
join the Hickstead Derby Community,
don the official polo shirt and become
part of this special day.
Sunday afternoon’s feature class
forms the finale to the Derby Meeting,
but there’s top class showjumping to
enjoy throughout the four days of the
show. The first international class is the
Stoner Jewellers’ Vase, held on Thursday
morning, and that afternoon you can
see some of the Derby hopefuls get their
8
preparations underway in the Bunn
Leisure Derby Tankard.
Those hoping to qualify for the
Equestrian.com Derby have to qualify
during Friday’s Bunn Leisure Derby Trial
– a great place to check out the current
form of some of the contenders – while
Saturday afternoon plays host to the
British Speed Derby, where riders tackle
some of Hickstead’s permanent fences at
top speed.
The Equestrian.com Hickstead
Derby Meeting is best known for its
international showjumping classes,
but there is plenty more on offer for
equestrian fans. There are dozens
of showing classes, including the
prestigious final of the Tattersalls/
RoR Thoroughbred Show Horse
Championship, plus there’s scurry
driving and more. Saturday evening is
party night, when everyone is invited
to stay on at the showground for the
entertaining Celebrity Polo Match.
The Longines Royal
International Horse Show
(28th July - 2nd August)
Similarly, every day of the Longines
Royal International Horse Show (the
official show of The British Horse
Society) boasts fantastic equestrian
competition. The international classes
get underway from
Thursday onwards, with
the highlight of this
day being the new-look
Amlin Plus Eventers’
Challenge, back at
Hickstead by popular
demand after last year’s
absence.
Friday’s feature class
is the Furusiyya FEI
Nations Cup, where
teams of four riders will
be competing to qualify
for the series final in
Barcelona. It is the only
chance British fans will
have to see their team compete on home
soil, and it’s bound to provide a useful
guide to Team GB’s form ahead of the
European Jumping Championships, held
in Aachen in August.
Saturday’s Templant Events
Queen Elizabeth II Cup is one of the
most coveted titles in the national
showjumping circuit, while Sunday’s
finale is the Longines King George V
Gold Cup, one of the oldest and most
prestigious classes in the world.
In showing, only the country’s
best horses and ponies qualify for the
Longines Royal International Horse
Show, with the best of the best battling
it out for the British Horse Society
Supreme Horse and the Underwood
Supreme Pony Championships. There’s
also carriage driving, scurry driving and
lots more.
Hickstead’s Ladies’ day is held on
the Saturday of the Longines Royal
International Horse Show, held in aid of
the Mark Davies Injured Riders’ Fund.
Show visitors are encouraged to dress to
impress, with a host of prizes on offer to
the most elegantly attired ladies.
The huge Charles Owen Shopping
Village is an integral part of both
Hickstead’s international fixtures. With
hundreds of tradestands selling tack,
clothing, footwear, gifts and more, it is
one of the largest shopping areas in the
outdoor show season.
For those who want to make their
visit to Hickstead extra special, a range
of hospitality options are available, from
the Ringside Restaurant to Private Boxes.
Visitors can also make great savings by
taking out annual membership, which
gives you unlimited access to all our
shows plus an extra 57 reciprocal days
at selected polo clubs, racecourses and
Sussex County Cricket Club.
To buy tickets, discover about
hospitality options or to join the
Hickstead Derby Community, visit
www.hickstead.co.uk
Image credits Samantha Lamb
Everything Horse UK • Issue 19 • April 2015