Hickstead Reports Increase In Weekday Gates

Attendance over the five days of the Golden Jubilee Royal International Horse Show at the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, was 44,318, slightly down on 2001.

"We put the decrease down to the very hot weather," said Hickstead director Edward Bunn. "There is covered seating, but never enough for everyone and I don't think people go out, even to Hickstead, to get burnt in extreme conditions."

Best attendance was on Thursday for the Samsung Nations Cup and Friday for the Mitsubishi Eventing Grand Prix. "This is very much in line with trends over the last few years, when weekday crowds are definitely getting bigger," said Mr Bunn.

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