A new title and a major scheduling change for historic horse show
Wednesday 24 January 2018
Hickstead’s July fixture has been renamed the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Great Britain at the BHS Royal International Horse Show, to reflect the importance of this showcase class and the long-term relationship with series title partner Longines.
The five-star international showjumping event takes place from 25-29 July 2018, with the show now concluding with the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Great Britain on Sunday afternoon. The Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup, the official name for the British Grand Prix, will now be held on Friday afternoon.
“The Hickstead leg gives showjumping fans their only opportunity to watch the Brits compete as a team on home turf, and we hope the move of this historic competition from Friday to Sunday will give even more people the chance to cheer on their home nation,” says Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn.
In the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series, teams of riders compete at a number of venues throughout the world, with each leg involving two showjumping rounds. The British leg of this global series forms part of European Division One. After a year competing in Division Two, the Brits have been promoted back to this top division and will be campaigning this year to remain in Division One and qualify for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona in September.
Other showjumping highlights at this July fixture include world ranking classes such as the Bunn Leisure Trophy, the Bunn Leisure Salver and the British Speed Classic. The prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Cup, a national championship, will remain as Saturday’s highlight, while Thursday will once again feature the MS Amlin Eventers’ Challenge, when the country’s top event riders gallop around a special cross-country course within Hickstead’s famous International Arena.
The international showjumping classes will run alongside national showjumping and championship showing classes, under the title of the BHS Royal International Horse Show. The official show of The British Horse Society, the Royal International Horse Show is going to be 111 years old this season, making it one of the oldest equestrian events in the world.
The show has been held in a number of British venues before moving to the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in 1992, where it has remained ever since.
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