Sculpture of Douglas Bunn to be unveiled at Hickstead Derby

A sculpture of showjumping legend Douglas Bunn is to be unveiled at this year’s Hickstead Derby meeting.

The founder of the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead died three years ago.

The sculpture, by artist Philip Blacker, will be sited next to the International Arena and will be officiallly unveiled on Saturday (23 June), by the Bunn family.

It depicts Douglas riding his most famous partner Beethoven – the only British horse to ever to be crowned world champion, when David Broome rode him to victory at La Baule in 1970.

“The art of relief sculpture has rather fallen out of use in recent years and so I was keen to do something that was unusual,” said Philip.

“I was delighted to be asked to create the memorial because I knew Douglas when he was alive and I was a great admirer.

“I felt that rather than have just a normal statue it would be better if it was in the context of Hickstead.

“The solution I felt was a relief panel of Douglas jumping a Hickstead wall on Beethoven, with the grandstand in the background.

“I thought it was important to portray him in action in his heyday, and I hope the Bunn family think it is a fitting tribute to Douglas.”

Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn added: “The All England Jumping Course was my father’s proudest achievement, so it’s fitting that this memorial statue should be sited right next to the International Arena so that all the visitors to the showground will see it as they arrive.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (21 June 2012)

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