|
FUTURE STARS GET THEIR
CHANCE TO SAVOUR HICKSTEAD DERBY THRILLS
New Pony Masters is Europe's richest prize for juniors
The best riders in the world and the youngsters
with ambitions to take their place. It's all there as part
of the entertainment at this year British Jumping Derby Meeting
(August 14-17) - in the established and acclaimed British
Jumping Derby itself and the launch of the unique Hickstead
Pony Masters.
Many of the best riders in the world have already won the
Derby, and a lot more still have it in their sights. It takes
a great rider and a brave and powerful horse to negotiate
the 1,195-metre course and obstacles like the three-element
Devil's Dyke and the almost perpendicular slope of the 10ft
6ins Derby Bank.
But this year attention will be split between this class
and the Hickstead Pony Masters, a new competition offering
junior riders and their ponies their chance to compete in
the famous International Arena. The £2,500 first prize
is a little short of the Derby's £20,000, but it's still
Europe's richest pot for their up-to-16 age group.
"It's a really amazing opportunity for these young people
to experience the occasion and savour the atmosphere in the
International Arena," said Hickstead owner Douglas Bunn.
"Most of them will have the British Jumping Derby as
an ambition and some of them will make it."
And there's a bonus in both classes. In the Pony Masters
it will be to receive their prizes from last year's Derby
winner, Peter Charles, and in the Derby itself if this year's
winner has been placed third or better in the Falsterbo or
Hamburg Derbys, he or she will take home an extra £50,000
and the H&M Trophy.
But the benefits don't stop there. This year's British Jumping
Derby is also the British round of the Riders Tour and could
help a rider towards a share of the massive £460,000
prize fund later in the year.
Hickstead is the fifth leg of this nine-round competition
and the only one outside Germany. Riders have to compete in
six of the point-earning rounds, with the result announced
at Munich in November.
The four-day British Jumping Derby Meeting's international
classes start on Thursday with the Alberta Canada Salver and
the Hickstead Derby Tankard, with the Osborne Refrigerators
Derby Trial on Friday. Saturday sees the Hasseroeder Trophy
and the popular Hasseroeder Speed Derby.
Six rings will be in operation through all four days, when
the programme also includes national and pony showjumping
as well as showing classes for Cobs, Hacks, Hunters, Riding
Horse, coloured horses and Mountain and Moorland.
back to news index
|
