Hickstead Moves To End Drought of Lady Derby Winners

World Games teams to parade before British fans

A new class at this year's 41st Hickstead Derby Meeting (August 22-25) could well help to provide future lady winners in the British Jumping Derby. The last, Alison Dawes, was 29 years ago.

The Fordyce Curry British Ladies Jumping Derby will be held on the same day as the British Jumping Derby but in the Horseware Ireland Ring (ring two), a near replica of the International Arena with scaled-down versions of Hickstead's permanent obstacles.

"There are two reasons for introducing this class," said show secretary Lizzie Bunn. "One is to bring on Derby horses for the future and the other to give lady riders some experience of a Derby course and encourage more of them to enter in future years. We have not had a lady winner since Alison Dawes and Mr Banbury (formerly The Maverick VII) in 1973."

It was Alison's second win, the first being in 1968 on the same horse. Other lady winners were the legendary Pat Smythe in 1962 on Flanagan, in 1967 Marion Coakes on her famous pony, Stroller, and Anneli Drummond-Hay with Xanthos in 1969.

There is an extra attraction to the show this year. The All England Jumping Course has arranged to give fans a chance to show their support for the British showjumping team - to be announced for the first time at the Golden Jubilee Royal International Horse Show in July - and the eventing squad, who will both parade in the International Arena before leaving for the World Equestrian Games.

Friday's Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial will, as usual, be the deciding test to determine the field for Sunday. Ireland's Peter Charles, a certain Derby starter, hoping to defend his 2001 title on last year's ride, Corrada., but he is determined this year to give Carnavelly, his other Derby specialist, his chance over those testing obstacles which include the 10ft 6ins Derby Bank and the three elements of the Devil's Dyke which so often prove to be the deciding challenge.

Another title coveted by many, the Hasseroeder Speed Derby, is currently owned by Swede Jens Fredericson, who is expected to be back with his RS Isaac to attempt a second win. It could also be a Fredericson invasion, as his eventing brother Peder and his wife, Lisa, might also make the trip from Sweden.

This meeting, with nearly £100,000 in prize money, opens its international programme on Thursday with the Refco Derby Tankard and the Hickstead Derby Salver. In the Baileys Horse Feeds Ring (ring three) will be the popular British four-year-old jumping Championship, originally dropped from the schedule after a rule change by the British Show Jumping Association but reinstated by popular demand. It will be run under unaffiliated rules, with the best 10 horses going through to the Championship in the International Arena on Friday.

Six arenas are in use over the four days, with prestigious championships to be won in both showing and national showjumping classes. They include the British 138cms and 148cms championships and the Safety System Showjumps five year old and the AON six year championships.

Programme
International Arena

Thursday, August 22

10.00 The Safety System Showjumps Novice Futurity Championship
to follow
The Hickstead Annual Grade B Championship
to follow
The easibed British Young Riders Championship
12.15 The Refco Derby Tankard
2.00 Presentation - Supreme Riding Horse Championship
2.15 Presentation - Small Hunter Championship
3.00 The Hickstead Derby Salver

Friday, August 23

10.30 The British 138cms Championship
11.15 The Hickstead Annual Grade C Championship
to follow
The Safety System Showjumps British Five Year Old Jumping Championship
to follow
The AON British Six Year Old Jumping Championship
1.30 Presentation - Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championship
1.45 Presentation - Supreme Cob Championship
2.00 Course Walk for the Derby Trial
2.15 The Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial

Saturday, August 24

11.00 The British 148cms Championship
12.30 The Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Driving Championship
1.10 The Hackney Pony Championship
1.30 Presentation - The "Centre Walk" Supreme Hack Championship
1.45 Presentation - The "Indian Trail" Coloured Horse Championship
2.00 The Hackney Horse Championship
2.15 Course Walk for the Hasseroeder Speed Derby
2.30 The Hasseroeder Speed Derby
3.45 Course Walk for the Hasseroeder Trophy
4.00 The Hasseroeder Trophy

Sunday, 25th August

11.30 Course Walk for the British Jumping Derby
11.45 Public Course Walk
12.15 Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers
12.45 Presentation - Supreme Hunter Championship
1.10 Presentation - The British Private Driving Derby & The Driving Concours d'Elegance
1.30 Final judging - Parade of Costers
1.45 The Osborne Refrigerators Celebrity Scurry
2.25 Parade of Showjumping and Eventing teams competing at the World Equestrian Games
2.35 Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers
2.50 Parade of riders in the British Jumping Derby
3.10 The British Jumping Derby

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