British team aiming for home win at Hickstead

The British squad competing for the penultimate leg of the Furusiyya Nations Cup at Hickstead next weekend (1 August) has been announced.

Chasing points

The squad comprises: Ben Maher and Wings Sublieme; Jessie Drea and Touchable; Robert Whitaker with Catwalk IV; William Whitaker on Fandango; and Guy Williams with Zaire. Four out of the five riders will make the final team.

Britain hasn’t won a Nations Cup on home turf since 2010, with Germany winning in 2011 and 2013, and Ireland taking the title in 2012. Could this be team GB’s year?

The squad certain needs the points, as Britain is currently joint bottom of the leaderboard with Ireland. After Hickstead, there is just one more opportunity in Dublin to move out of the danger zone.

Only the top seven can qualify for the finals in October, and the bottom two teams will be relegated into the Second Division for next season.

Big classes

The Longines Royal International Horse Show is also hosting the King George V Cup on Sunday 3 August, which has a total prize fund of €200,000 (£160,000). This was won last year by Ben Maher and Tripple X III, almost a year to the day since they won team gold at the London Olympics.

The other big class at the six-day show is the Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup. This used to be a national championship for women only, but in 2008 it was opened up to men as well.

Since then, male riders have dominated the class. The only the only women to win it in recent years are Laura Renwick in 2009 and Anna Edwards in 2010.

Showing elite

Alongside the international showjumping are a host of showing championships, with around 1,600 horses and ponies competing. These are the culmination of qualifications held throughout the winter, and all around the UK.

The best will go through to their respective division championships, and the winners will then go on to compete in either the British Horse Society Supreme Horse or the Underwood Supreme Pony Championships, held on the Sunday 3 August in the main arena.

The Longines Royal International runs from 29 July – 3 August. For more information or to buy tickets go to the Hickstead website.