Behind the scenes at Hickstead

How different the showground looked compared with what it will be like in June and July when the British Jumping Derby Meeting and Longines Royal International Horse Show events take place. (These dates will now be an annual fixture to cater for television requirements and help avoid clashes on the international calendar).

Then the Grandstands will be full with spectators

watching top international riders,

the outer arenas will be buzzing with

activity over five days, trade stands will

be packed selling all types of products

from clothing to hand made crafts

and the T.V. Crews will be setting their

cameras up ready to beam the major

events out world-wide.

Two weeks after last years DFS Derby

event class in August, plans were

already being made for this years'

events. It is Lizzie and Edward who run

the day to day working at Hickstead.

"How did it all start?" I asked. Their

"Dad" Douglas Bunn, was a member of

the British Show Jumping Team in the

"50s", and he saw the house and thirty

acres of land for sale in 1959. It was in

the proximity of Gatwick, a main road

and had water; all that was needed

to set up his dream of a purpose built

show jumping arena. 1960 saw the first

event, and here we are 43 years later in

what is now history.

"In the early days we had four

meetings a year" said Lizzie. "We

now run two longer events with the

dates set by the television companies,

and it has made no difference to the

support we get".