Whitaker family dominates squad for Hickstead Nations Cup

Four members of the Whitaker family have made it onto British Showjumping’s squad for the Hickstead CSIO5* Nations Cup – and you can catch all the action right here on H&C TV.

Crucial role

Brothers John and Michael have played a crucial role on British team for many years, and have been selected to represent their country once again alongside their nephew William Whitaker.

Their second cousin, Joe Clayton has also been selected and William Funnell makes up the fifth member of the squad.

Michael Whitaker has been selected with his horse Viking, the recent winner of the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial at the Hickstead Derby Meeting. John will be riding the nine-year-old grey stallion Cassinis Chaplin, while William Whitaker rides Utamaro d’Ecaussines, an experienced championship horse.

Talented young horse

Joe Clayton has been selected with the 10-year old Con Man JX, and William Funnell will ride the home-bred Billy Buckingham. William won the Eindhoven Derby in May with this talented young horse and came sixth in the Al Shira’aa Derby last month, after gaining just four faults for stepping back at the top of the Derby bank.

World Class Performance Manager for Showjumping, Di Lampard will name her final team of four the day before the competition.

Big names

Britain will be competing against teams from The Netherlands, Brazil, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, France and Spain. A number of showjumping’s biggest names will take part, including France’s Kevin Staut, who is currently ranked fourth in the world; Olympic gold medallist Marcus Ehning from Germany; and top Dutch riders Jur Vrieling, Gerco Schröder and Harrie Smolders.

The FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain takes place on Friday 28 July at 2.19pm at the Longines Royal International Horse Show (25-30 July).

You can watch highlights of the Nations Cup on H&C, as well as the prestigious Longines King George V Gold Cup and the Speed Classic.

Action from the Longines Royal International Horse Show kicks off on 2 August 9pm with the FEI Nations Cup 2017: Hickstead. This is followed on 5 August by the RIHS 2017: Speed Classic at 7pm and the RIHS 2017: George V Cup at 8pm. You can watch on Sky 253 or online via H&C Play or Amazon Video.