Hickstead

The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead is the leading outdoor showjumping venue in England. It is located in rural West Sussex near the town of Haywards Heath and the main A23 road from London to Brighton.

Hickstead was created by Douglas Bunn who purchased a site known as Hickstead Place with the intention of creating a facility to match those in the United States and Continental Europe. The venue opened in 1960. It now has six arenas, permanent seating for over 5,000 spectators and 26 corporate hospitality suites. It has hosted the 1965 Ladies World Championships, the 1974 World Championships and several European Show Jumping Championships.

There are two major international horse shows each year, The Derby Meeting in June and the Royal International Horse Show in July.

1993 saw the establishment of a dressage arena and dressage programme known as Dressage at Hickstead. In 1998 it hosted Junior and Young Rider European Dressage Championships.

2006 saw the creation of the All England Polo Club. Arena (winter) Polo is played on a 100m x 50m purpose built all weather arena

Derby meeting

This four-day, action-packed event attracts 20,000 spectators a year, who come to watch the skill, bravery and precision of the national and international show jumpers competing for coveted trophies (and substantial prize money).

A highlight of the meeting is the British Jumping Derby, a 1,195-metre course with tricky jumps including he aptly-named Devil's Dyke - three fences in short succession with a water-filled ditch in the middle and the difficult Derby Bank, a jump with 3ft 5in rails on top and a 10ft 6in slope down the front.

Derby results

*1961 Seamus Hayes (IRL) and Goodbye III
*1962 Pat Smythe (GBR) and Flanagan
*1963 Nelson Pessoa (BRA) and Gran Geste
*1964 Seamus Hayes (IRL) and Goodbye III
*1965 Nelson Pessoa (BRA) and Gran Geste
*1966 David Broome (GBR) and Mister Softee
*1967 Marion Coakes (GBR) and Stroller
*1968 Alison Westwood (GBR) and The Maverick III
*1969 Anneli Drummond-Hay (GBR) and Xanthos II
*1970 Harvey Smith (GBR) and Mattie Brown
*1971 Harvey Smith (GBR) and Mattie Brown
*1972 Hendrik Snoek (FDR) and Shirokko
*1973 Alison Dawes (Westwood) (GBR) and Mr. Banbury
*1974 Harvey Smith (GBR) and Salvador
*1975 Paul Darragh (IRL) and Pele
*1976 Eddie Macken (IRL) and Boomerang
*1977 Eddie Macken (IRL) and Boomerang
*1978 Eddie Macken (IRL) and Boomerang
*1979 Eddie Macken (IRL) and Boomerang
*1980 Michael Whitaker (GBR) and Owen Gregory
*1981 Harvey Smith (GBR) and Sanyo Video
*1982 Paul Schockemöhle (FDR) and Deister
*1983 John Whitaker (GBR) and Ryan's Son
*1984 John Ledingham (IRL) and Gabhran
*1985 Paul Schockemöhle (FDR) and Lorenzo
*1986 Paul Schockemöhle (FDR) and Deister
*1987 Nick Skelton (GBR) and J Nick
*1988 Nick Skelton (GBR) and Apollo
*1989 Nick Skelton (GBR) and Apollo
*1990 Jozsef Turi (GBR) and Vital
*1991 Michael Whitaker (GBR) and Monsanta
*1992 Michael Whitaker (GBR) and Monsanta
*1993 Michael Whitaker (GBR) and Monsanta
*1994 John Ledingham (IRL) and Kilbaha
*1995 John Ledingham (IRL) and Kilbaha
*1996 Nelson Pessoa (BRA) and Loro Piana Vivaldi
*1997 John Popely (GBR) and Bluebird
*1998 John Whitaker (GBR) and Gammon
*1999 Rob Hoekstra (GBR) and Lionel II
*2000 John Whitaker (GBR) and Welham
*2001 Peter Charles (IRL) and Corrida
*2002 Peter Charles (IRL) and Corrida
*2003 Peter Charles (IRL) and Corrida
*2004 John Whitaker (GBR) and Buddy Bunn
*2005 Ben Maher (GBR) and Alfredo II
*2006 William Funnell (GBR) and Cortaflex Mondriaan
*2007 Geoff Billington (GBR) and Cassabachus
*2008 William Funnell (GBR) and Cortaflex Mondriaan

Royal International Horse Show

The Royal International Horse Show, the Official Horse Show of the British Horse Society, National and International showjumping, the glamour and elegance of the country’s very best showing horses and ponies. Classes take place in the International Arena and a choice of six other arenas over the five days, a vast area set aside for a wide variety of shopping and a choice of where to eat and drink. A unique equestrian experience.

References

[http://www.sportsrecords.co.uk/equestrian/ Sports records uk]

External links

* [http://www.hickstead.co.uk/ Hickstead site]
* [http://www.ehscommunications.com/hickstead/ Dressage at Hickstead site]