When the Brits ended their Nations Cup home-win drought, and other special showjumping moments from the Royal International history books
We’ve picked out our highlights from years gone by – how many did you witness?
With top-class showjumping on offer in one of the nation’s most beloved arenas, there have been some truly fantastic moments at the Agria Royal International Horse Show.
Top Royal International showjumping memories
In no particular order, I’ve chosen a few favourites to whet your appetite ahead of this year’s fixture.
Janet Hunter and Lisnamarrow’s remarkable run
Scotland’s leading lady Janet Hunter and her spectacular white-faced Lisnamarrow were one of the most memorable partnerships of the late 1980s and the early ’90s.
Together, they won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 1988, 1989 and 1991 – holding a unique place in history as the only combination to have accomplished this impressive hat-trick.
Lisnamarrow, known as Scotty, had made comebacks from injury to take the wins, having had the best part of a year out following the Olympic selection trial at Hickstead in 1988. He returned to the ring three months before their 1989 victory, when Janet beat her mentor Liz Edgar and Everest Rapier by more than three seconds.
“I was based at Ted and Liz Edgars’ and beat Liz in the jump-off, which didn’t go down well with Ted! They all packed up and left me to celebrate without them!” Janet recalls.
The pair’s 1991 victory was a nostalgic milestone as it was the final year the RIHS was held at Birmingham NEC, which had hosted it from 1982.
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Great Britain’s Nations Cup triumph
A spine-tingling roar echoed around Hickstead on Nations Cup Friday in 2023, when Great Britain put an end to a 13-year drought without a home victory.
The spell was broken in spectacular fashion by maestros John Whitaker and Unick Du Francport, who sealed the deal with a fairy-tale clear round.
John Whitaker and Unick Du Francport jump clear en route to a British Hickstead Nations Cup victory
On his 180th team appearance, John was joined by Ben Maher, Harry Charles and Tim Gredley to finish on four faults.
“The first time I came to Hickstead was in 1970 or 1971 with a pony. But today was – after all those years – probably the best day,” said John, who was 67 at the time.
The enormity of the occasion also affected Britain’s team manager Di Lampard.
“I have to confess, I took myself off and shed a tear. I’m not normally like that, but this did hit me because I wanted it so badly,” she said.
The win kicked off a historic week for the home side – on Sunday, John’s son Robert added to the family legacy by securing his first King George V Gold Cup aboard Vermento.
It heralded a new era of Whitaker family dominance at Hickstead – with cousin Donald winning the King’s Cup in 2024, Robert regaining it in 2025 and James picking up the Queen’s Cup the same year.
Sibling double
Were you at Wembley – one of the venues that has been home to the Royal International until it moved to Hickstead, where it has remained ever since, in 1992 – when David Broome and Liz Edgar pulled off an incredible sibling double act not once, but twice?
In both 1977 and 1981, they lifted the King George V Gold Cup and Queen Elizabeth II Cup in the same year, conquering what were then entirely separate male and female championships.
David Broome and Lannegan
H&H’s report by Pamela McGregor-Morris records how in 1977 the Broome family “saved the show” and that their father, Fred Broome, was awarded “the Sherry Sippers award for the personality making the most impact during the week”.
David – who had apparently “talked seriously of retiring at Hickstead” – won five classes that year, including his fourth King’s. He also secured the Radio Rentals champion horseman title after jumping clear on “four strange horses”. Liz, riding Everest Wallaby, finally laid her hands on the Queen’s after 16 years of trying.
David and Liz’s records in both classes remain unsurpassed. David lifted the King’s Cup six times between 1960 and 1991, while Liz dominated the Queen’s between 1977 and 1986, winning on five occasions.
Tim Stockdale finally lifts the King’s Cup
Few moments capture the electrifying highs and lows of showjumping quite like the afternoon in 2010 when the late Tim Stockdale fulfilled his 34-year dream to lift the King George V Gold Cup with Kalico Bay.
Tim Stockdale wins the King George V Gold Cup with Kalico Bay
The previous year, a heartbreaking fault at the final fence denied him victory on his Olympic ride Corlato, leaving them runners-up to Peter Charles and Murkas Pall Mall H.
By 2010, Corlato had been forced into retirement, so Tim brought forward the inexperienced Kalico Bay, who was facing his biggest test to date. The pair navigated a hair-raising first round, where the nine-year-old banked an oxer and Tim was nearly thrown out of the plate at the notorious double of ditches.
Yet the jump-off delivered the ultimate redemption arc. Tim found himself in an identical position to 12 months earlier – drawn last and chasing down a target, this time set by Robert Smith and Talan.
Refusing to repeat his mistake, he took a crucial check to the last, still crossing the line a massive 1.88sec clear to trigger an epic standing ovation.
“When I was 12, I watched Mike Saywell win this on Chainbridge [1976] and said, ‘One day I am going to win that’ – and now I’ve done it,” Tim said in his post-victory interview.
What’s on this year at Royal International?
- The Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain, the JCL Insurance Brokers Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup are just three highlights from the showjumping ring.
- There are showing championships galore across the six days, with the best of these competing in the Barberstown Castle supreme ridden horse and the Supreme Products supreme pony championships on the final Sunday.
- Plus there’s arena eventing, scurry driving, cross-pole jumping and a shopping village, bars, restaurants, children’s entertainment and hospitality options to enjoy, with “Style Saturday” a hugely popular competition for anyone who likes to dress up.
How to follow the action
The Agria Royal International takes place at The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in West Sussex from 21–26 July. For more information on Royal International tickets, visit hickstead.co.uk
Horse & Hound will be creating extensive online coverage including breaking news, exclusive interviews and expert insight, in addition to what will be included in the magazine report (on sale 30 July).
- To stay up to date with the latest news and reports throughout Royal International Horse Show, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
