Hickstead’s Eventing Grand Prix cancelled

The popular Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix has been dropped from this year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show programme.

Unique format

According to Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn, Sky Sports will be filming at the show from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 August. This means the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix, which traditionally takes place on Thursday, would not be televised.

“In the Eventing Grand Prix, the horses and riders spend several minutes jumping the cross-country fences in the gardens of Hickstead Place, and without TV cameras to capture the action, the visitors watching live in the grandstands would be unable to follow what was happening,” said Lizzie.

The class, which started in 1998, was the brainchild of Hickstead founder Douglas Bunn, international showjumper Paul Schockemöhle, and event rider Robert Lemieux. Its unique format saw showjumpers and event riders go head-to-head round a course of coloured showjumps and fixed cross-country obstacles, which included the Derby bank and Devil’s Dyke.

Eventing royalty

The first ever Eventing Grand Prix was won by eventer Pippa Funnell on Tourmaline Rose, who went on to win it again in 2000 and 2001. Other eventing royalty to take home the coveted trophy includeAndrew Nicholson (2002) and Lucinda Fredericks (2004), who was onboard the late, great horse Headley Britannia.

It wasn’t till 2003 that a showjumper took the title, courtesy of Michael Whitaker and Sir Dino. Since then showjumping brothers Shane Breen (2006 and 2010) and Trevor Breen (2012) have won the class, while last year’s final event was won by eventer-turned-showjumper Zoe Adams and Satonamillion.

Showcase class

The Bunn Leisure Trophy will now become the showcase class on Thursday afternoon. It is a Longines world ranking jumping class with £21,500 of prizemoney, and is a qualifier for the King George V Gold Cup.

For more information, visit the Hickstead website.