Feature
What happens at Hickstead
There’s more to the showground than the famous Derby Bank. We take a look behind the scenes
Photos courtesy of Hickstead: Ellie’s Photos, BootsandHoovesPhotography, Samantha Lamb
Last year marked the 60th anniversary of Hickstead’s most famous class – the Derby – which saw Shane Breen take the title aboard Can Ya Makan.
Back in 1961, when the class was first held, one of Ireland’s best showjumpers, Seamus Hayes, travelled to West Sussex, announcing to his colleagues that he’d “come to show them how to jump the bl**dy bank” and did just that, going on to take the title on Goodbye III.
There was further cause for celebration in 2022, as it was 30 years since Hickstead first hosted the Royal International (RIHS), an event that has the best showjumpers in the world competing for titles such as the Nations Cup, the King George V Gold Cup and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.