Pippa Funnell and Tom McEwen take on reigning champion Gemma Stevens at Hickstead
Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley en-route to winning the Hickstead eventers’ challenge in 2022.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Some of the eventing world’s most recognised names will be heading to the Longines Royal International Horse Show on 27 July to be among the Hickstead eventers’ challenge entries.
Gemma Stevens is returning to defend her Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge crown, although on a different horse to last year when she won on Flash Cooley. This year she will ride Caroline Teltsch’s seasoned campaigner Santiago Bay. This 15-year-old mare has been placed in this class previously and has competed successfully at five-star level with Gemma.
“This kind of class really suits me and my way of riding,” said Gemma. “I’ve always loved doing them, and it’s really fun to have a good horse to do them with.”
Pippa won the first eventing competition at Hickstead, in 1998, when the eventing grand prix pitted eventers against showjumpers and involved jumping a course that went outside the arena. Since 2015, the eventers’ challenge has taken place over a set course within the Hickstead arena, with the track remaining the same every year. If Pippa can win for a fourth time, she will match Gary Parsonage’s record of victories in this class.
Helen Wilson (My Ernie) was just one second behind Gemma Stevens last year to finish in the runner-up spot, while Simon Grieve finished fourth on Drumbilla Metro – both combinations are entered for this year’s renewal.
Other names to look out for among the Hickstead eventers’ challenge entries include Francis Whittington (DHI Fiktor Nita) and Felicity Collins (RSH Contend OR). Irish challengers include Heidi Hamilton, who finished seventh last year on Dam Easy, and Fred Scala with Corriebeg Supernova, while Brazil’s Ruy Fonseca brings Ballypatrick SRS, on whom he finished fifth last year.
Eighteen-year-old Isabelle Cook, daughter of former British team regular Tina Cook, will line up in this class for the first time having enjoyed plenty of success at junior level. Germany’s Mathies Ruder, son of Olympic rider Kai Ruder and a junior European champion in his own right, is also on the entries list.
“After her brilliant win last year, Gemma Stevens is the favourite to retain the title in the eventers’ challenge,” said Hickstead’s Lizzie Bunn. “But she’s going to face some tough opposition, with many of last year’s placed riders returning, as well as some exciting new talents having their first attempt. It would also be great to see Pippa Funnell win for a fourth time, having proved last year that she’s still as formidable a competitor as ever in this class. It’s a wide-open field, and we look forward to finding out who the 2023 champion will be.”
This class will get underway at 4pm.
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