Photo courtesy Hickstead
The famous Hickstead bank was, as always, a focus of the 53rd Hickstead Derby which took place last weekend with Phillip Miller taking the honours on Caritiar Z
The 36-year old produced the sole clear on the 13-year-old grey gelding, with the later drawn Trevor Breen (Adventure De Kannan) and William Funnell (Dorada) having to settle for second place with four faults apiece, both knocking down the open ditch, near the end of the course.
William, who won the class in 2006, 2008 and 2009, is of course the husband of eventer Pippa Funnell and Trevor Breen is a bit of a specialist in this type of class with this horse Adventure de Kannan. This combination won the Amlin Eventers Grand Prix at the Longines Royal International Horse Show last year, beating the current world number one eventer, Andrew Nicholson riding Quimbo.
The Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix is again a feature class of this year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show, one of the biggest outdoor shows in England, which takes place from 30th July – 4th August.
On Thursday 1st August the elite from the disciplines of both showjumping and eventing will go head to head over a challenging course of show jumps in the International Arena before jumping out of the ring, across a hedge and through a river into the gardens of Hickstead Place. The unique class was conceived by the late Douglas Bunn, Paul Schockemöhle and Robert Lemieux in 1998 and, while very few showjumpers have managed to snatch victory against the eventers since then, in recent years the Breen Brothers from Ireland have dominated the leader's podium.
Photo courtesy Samantha Lamb
Trevor Breen’s horse Adventure De Kannan (pictured above winning last year's Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix) has recently had an eye removed, making it an even more impressive achievement to take second place in the Hickstead Derby – who knows if this one eyed horse and his Irish rider can make it a back to back win in the Amlin Pus Eventing Grand Prix?
An Eventful Life will be there and you too can be at this year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show to witness what happens at the Amlin Pus Eventing Grand Prix. Hickstead and An Eventful Life are offering one lucky person the chance to win two members tickets for Thursday August 1st.
All you have to do is email us at [email protected] before Wednesday 3rd July with the name of the current world number one eventer to go into the draw for the two member’s tickets.
The tickets provide general admission and access for two adults to the Members Enclosure at The All England Jumping Course for The Longines Royal International Horse Show on Thursday 1st August 2013. The winner will be announced on Friday 5th July and the tickets will be posted to a UK postal address
Find out more about the Longines Royal International Horse Show or visit their facebook page
