New All England Jumping Championships for Hickstead
A new national showjumping championship is to be held at Hickstead later this year, following a £500,000 redevelopment of the venue.
The All England Jumping Championships (8-11 September) will feature classes starting from 1m to 1.40m, amateur finals at both 1.10m and 1.20m, age classes for four-year-olds, five-year-olds, six- and seven-year-olds, plus a seven- and eight-year-olds Horse of the Year Show qualifier.
A grand prix class with a £6,000 prize-fund is also planned.
The Sports Turf Research Institute began work on the International Arena in August 2010, replacing the existing surface with a state-of-the-art drainage system and newly seeded turf.
Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn said: “Before the extensive ground work we wouldn’t have risked running another show in September [following the British Jumping Derby in June and Longines Royal International Horse Show in July] in case of inclement weather.
“These changes have allowed us to expand and we believe this will form a valuable addition to the showjumping calendar. All classes will culminate in a final, with the top 30 horses in each section going through to compete in the International Arena.”
Top showjumper William Funnell approves.
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“This sounds like a great opportunity — especially for young horses — and is good news for breeders and producers,” he said.
“It will be helpful to have the chance to get them used to the environment early on — there’s such an atmosphere at Hickstead.”
For more information, visit www.hickstead.co.uk.
Hickstead is also looking for sponsorship for The All England Jumping Championships, from title to individual classes. Tel: 01273834315
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.