In the ABC of global equestrian events, where A is for Aachen, B is for Badminton and C is for Cheltenham — H is most definitely for Hickstead.

Hickstead has always filled me with great excitement and expectation. Ever since I was a child, the anticipation of seeing my showjumping idols in action was the highlight of the summer for this pony-mad girl in the 1970s.

BOOMERANG RETURNS

Eddie Macken and Boomerang were among my favourites; they won the British Jumping Derby four years running from 1976-79. Harvey Smith, William Funnell and  John and Michael Whitaker have each taken the Boomerang Trophy home on four occasions too, but never for consecutive years or on the same horse. Looking down the Derby roll of honour, there are many horses that have won it three times, but none that can match the record of ’70s sensation Boomerang. The winner’s roster of all of Hickstead’s classes reads like a Who’s Who of showjumping, from its inception in 1960 to the present day.

DOUGLAS BUNN

Hickstead, the All England Jumping Course, was the creation of barrister Douglas Bunn (1928-09). Initially purchased by Douglas in 1959 as his home away from his busy London life, it was also bought with a view to developing a showground. An accomplished showjumper himself — representing Great Britain during the 1950s and 1960s — he decided that the UK needed a jumping facility to match that of the premier showgrounds in Europe and the USA. He felt that the English riders were at a disadvantage when they competed abroad as they had nowhere to train and gain experience over the calibre of obstacles that they met overseas.

The youngest of three brothers, Douglas grew up in Selsey on England’s south coast, where he rode from an early age, inheriting his greengrocer father’s spare-time passion for horses. He studied law at Trinity College Cambridge and was called to the Bar in 1953.  In conjunction with his career as a barrister, in 1958 Douglas Bunn established a holiday village in Selsey that gradually grew into an award-winning, hugely successful holiday business.

His love of riding was not confined to showjumping and in 1974 he invented Team Chasing (teams of four riders and their horses race over cross country fences against the clock) to the equestrian community. A sport that is not for the faint-hearted and is fantastically exciting for both riders and spectators, it most likely evolved from his love of riding across the countryside at speed. Douglas loved to hunt and was the Master of the Mid Surrey Farmers’ Draghounds for 24 years, only stepping down from the Mastership in 2000 at the age of 72.

HICKSTEAD BANK

There are so many great anecdotes involving Douglas Bunn, certainly more than enough to fill a book. One is Douglas’s inspiration for the Hickstead Bank. Having seen film footage of the Hamburg Derby, he decided to visit the Hamburg showground to examine and measure its obstacles. His visit was during the winter and there had been a heavy fall of snow. As a result of not taking into consideration the depth on top of the Hamburg Bank, his calculations resulted in the Hickstead Bank being considerably taller than its German counterpart!

“The fences at Hickstead
have not changed
greatly in 60 years.”

Many riders in the first Hickstead Derby in 1961 refused to attempt it, saying that it was too dangerous and risky for horses to negotiate. Ireland’s Seamus Hayes riding Goodbye became the first winner of the Hickstead Derby, having successfully tackled the challenging bank without error. Over the years, the bank has had a few facelifts and the angle of the descent is slightly less steep, but just as high as the original.  There are a number of different options on the Derby Bank and it is only in the Derby itself that the highest, steepest side is utilised.

As well as the iconic Derby Bank, there are a number of other fences that are easily identifiable as being Hickstead fences. These include the Devil’s Dyke, The Cornishman, the Road Crossing, a double of Liverpools’ distinctive red and white planks, and the Irish Bank. These obstacles are used in a number of other competitions, not just in the Derby.

Douglas Bunn’s amazing foresight, great business acumen and innovative thinking enabled him to create the now legendary All England Jumping Course, Hickstead. Like many rural and equine businesses in this day and age, diversification is vital. Siblings, and Hickstead co-directors, Edward and Lizzie Bunn, are continually moving Hickstead forward, adapting, fine-tuning and looking to the future. In addition to the grass International Arena, Hickstead boasts a further eight rings, including four grass, an all-weather warm-up for the International Arena, an all-weather polo arena and, most recently, two new all-weather rings. The new all-weather rings offer the eventing fraternity superb year-round training facilities with 80 obstacles from 60-110cm high.

CLASSIC JUMPS

The fences at Hickstead have not changed greatly in 60 years. Although some safety features have been added, the overall classic look remains the same. Many of the fences replicate the type of obstacles that riders meet in everyday life — banks, ditches, gates, hedges and walls. They are generally painted in more muted colours than are seen in the showjumping rings around the world today.

“The new all-weather rings
offer the eventing fraternity
superb year-round
training facilities.”

Due to how the All England Jumping Course has grown over the years (from two rings in 1960 to the nine that it has now) the number of jumps that are required is huge. Hickstead showground and estate manager, William Bunn (grandson of Douglas), whose job it is to maintain not only the grounds but all of the jumps, states that in addition to the permanent obstacles there are 208 wings, 52 pillar wings, 168 hanging fillers, 105 fillers, and 25 gates accompanied by a total of 1,105 poles and planks. When not being used at shows, they are housed in a purpose built 1,200 square metre barn.

As well as jump maintenance, the arenas need harrowing, the grass has to be cut to golf course worthy perfection, fences painted, hedges trimmed, trade stands constructed and sponsor boards erected, to name just a few of his tasks. William is accompanied by his “second in command”, Golden Labrador Jaffa, who is always by his side, and more often than not can be seen perched on the back of his quad-bike as they make their rounds of the showground.

“It offers a rare opportunity to watch
some of the premier showjumping horses
and riders from around the globe.”

ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW

The Royal International Horse Show has been held at Hickstead since 1992; it is the highlight of the summer show season in the UK and not just for the showjumpers. Hickstead’s array of amazing arenas caters for a variety of equestrian classes, many of which can be seen at the RIHS, which hosts the national finals for every showing class you can imagine, from tiny tots aboard Thelwellesque ponies to hunters, hacks, elegant ladies riding side saddle, driving horses and everything in between.

Since 2008, the RIHS fixture also plays host to the only Nations Cup competition held in the UK. It is always popular with the crowd, as it offers a rare opportunity to watch some of the premier showjumping horses and riders from around the globe. If all that is not enough, the sprawling shopping village caters for all shopaholics, equestrian or otherwise! The popular children’s playground and entertainers keep younger visitors occupied, and together with the mouth-watering choice of food in the numerous bars and restaurants, make for a wonderful day out.

2020 INNOVATIONS

This year should have been a huge celebration of all that the Bunn family have achieved in Hickstead’s 60-year history. Sadly, Covid-19 caused the Al Shira’aa Derby Meeting and the Longines Royal International Horse Show to be cancelled. Speaking with director Lizzie Bunn, she explained that despite the 2020 season not going according to plan, there were certainly positives from an administrative point of view when the September national show went ahead.

Historically, a lot of envelope stuffing took place to send out the schedules and entry forms to competitors. This year heralded a new system that was totally digital; entries opened at 5pm on one day and by the next morning they had received 4,000 entries. The final total reached 4,650 entries, consisting of 1,900 horses and 900 riders, with 620 horses stabled on site competing during five days of competition.  Without doubt the show was a great success for all who attended.  Many of the riders liked the fact that the warm-up arena was limited to a smaller number of horses than normal and a drawn order system was instigated for many of the classes; again this was popular with the riders and will be carried forward.

FAMILY AFFAIR

The legacy that Douglas Bunn bestowed upon his children and grandchildren really is a family affair with many of them heavily involved. The children from his second and third marriages are all directors of Hickstead. Although the three older children (from his first marriage) are not involved on a day-to-day basis, they are great supporters of Hickstead and take a keen interest in the showground. Edward and Lizzie Bunn are responsible for the day-to-day running of the All England Jumping Course, with the sibling directors integral to the smooth running of Hickstead in the variety of roles that they undertake. The six younger siblings and their families live at Hickstead, which has created an idyllic community for Douglas’s grandchildren. In the same way that their parents, aunts and uncles did, these children ride their ponies, play in the river, swim in the water jump and embrace every inch of Hickstead, just as their grandfather would have wished.

Although all his children have ridden, a number of Douglas’s children and grandchildren follow in his competitive footsteps with the same love of horse sport.  Granddaughter Lucy Townley (who rides for the Funnells of Billy Stud fame) has had multiple showjumping wins at Hickstead in recent years. Daughter Chloe, who is married to Irish International showjumper Shane Breen, won the Speed Derby in 1999.

At the national show in September 2020, the arena eventing classes proved a popular new addition to an already busy schedule. One of Douglas’s grandchildren, the very competent 11-year-old Darcy Breen (daughter of Chloe and Shane Breen), raced into third place on her pony. The Mini Challenge pony classes have also proved popular with very young riders. Both John Bunn and Chloe Bunn’s younger children participated in these fun, but hotly contested, classes. Hickstead really does have something for everyone.

MASTER’S LEGACY

Douglas, fondly known as The Master of Hickstead, has left his family a fantastic gift and they are doing a marvellous job in ensuring that it continues to give to the worldwide equestrian community. To this day there is no other showground in the UK that can measure up to the first class facilities, atmosphere and prestige that Hickstead bestows upon its visitors.

As they stand beneath the iconic Hickstead arch waiting to enter the International Arena, even the most talented of riders may feel a tiny flutter of tummy butterflies as they prepare to ride across the hallowed Hickstead turf, but it is a moment of excitement and well-earned pride. Douglas Bunn would be delighted for them. EQ

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