Hickstead marks one year since the Games with Gamesmaker parade
Monday 20 May 2013
The Longines Royal International Horse Show (30 July – 4 August) at Hickstead will celebrate the success of Team GB’s equestrian teams, exactly 12 months after the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Gamesmakers, the Olympic volunteers who helped to make the Games such a massive success, are invited to Hickstead free of charge (including parking) on Friday 2 August, provided they wear their uniform and accreditation.
“The support of the London 2012 crowd surely helped our home teams on their path to Olympic glory, so now we want to see the same enthusiasm at the British leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™,” says Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn.
As well as an Olympic parade, eight Gamesmakers will also be chosen to carry the flags and lead the teams in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™. Applicants should email press@hickstead.co.uk with their name and address, plus 100 words about their highlight of being a Gamesmaker during the London 2012 Olympics.
Aside from the Olympics, the Longines Royal International Horse Show is the only place to see the British showjumping team compete on home turf. On Friday 2 August history will be made at Hickstead when it hosts the first-ever new format Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain. Pressure will be on for the Brits to capitalise on their gold-medal success of last summer in Greenwich with a win at home.
Showing and showjumping classes get underway on Tuesday 30 July, while the international action starts on the Thursday of the show, with the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix. This class sees showjumpers and eventers go head to head over a course of coloured poles and solid cross-country jumps.
The Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup will form the feature class of Saturday, which is also Hickstead’s Ladies’ Day, where the best dressed visitors have the chance to win great prizes. Finally, on Sunday 4 August, the Longines King George V Gold Cup – also known as the British Grand Prix – will see many of the world’s top riders aim to take home their share of the €200,000 prize fund.
Showing is a huge part of the Royal International, with hundreds of championship classes culminating in the crowning of The British Horse Society Supreme Horse and the Underhill Supreme Pony. There’s also scurry driving and carriage driving, as well as grassroots and young horse showjumping classes.
The huge Charles Owen Shopping Village is home to hundreds of tradestands selling everything from tack, clothing, footwear, gifts and accessories, while a number of bars and eateries are available.
General admission tickets start from just £16 per adult and £8 for children, while a huge range of hospitality options are also available, including private boxes, ringside lodges, the exclusive 120-seater Members’ Restaurant, the al fresco Ringside Restaurant and the Beethoven Suite, found at the top of the Members’ Grandstand.
Competitor entries close on 7 June.
To book tickets for the Longines Royal International Horse Show, go to www.hickstead.co.uk or call 01273 834315.
