New challenge for Hickstead Derby winners
Past Derby winners will be taking part in a new competition at Hickstead when they team up for the fast and furious celebrity scurry event on Derby day
Previous winners of Hickstead’s prestigious Jumping Derby will be returning to this year’s show (21-25 August) to take part in a new challenge. The Osborne Refrigerators Celebrity Scurry features pairs of nippy ponies driven at high speed through a course of tight cones in the famous International Arena.
Former Derby winners who will be braving the back seat behind some of the top scurry drivers in the country include local rider John Popely, who took the title in 1997, 1999 winner Rob Hoekstra, and Ireland’s Derby specialist and three-times winner John Ledingham (1984, 1994, 1995).
Invitations have also gone to Marion Mould, who won in 1967 on the famous pony Stroller; 1973 winner Alison Dawes,the last lady to win the British Jumping Derby; and multiple Derby winners, the Whitaker brothers John and Michael.
Taking place on Sunday at around 1.45pm this highly entertaining event will set the mood for the parade of riders representing Britain at next month’s World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, which follows it. With team flags being distributed throughout the huge crowd, the squads are sure to receive a fantastic send off.
Derby day is always a complete sell out with massive crowds flocking to Hickstead to walk the amazing Derby course in the morning before watching elite riders take on the terrifying 10ft 6ins near-vertical drop off the Derby Bank in the afternoon.
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For more information and tickets visit www.hickstead.co.uk
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.