Ben Maher heads to Hickstead

Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher, who was part of the bronze medal-winning team at last month’s FEI World Championships in Aachen, is among entries for the final show of the Hickstead season.

Ben is just one of the top names heading to West Sussex for the All England September Tour, a two-week showjumping competition running from 2–6 and 9-13 September.

The current world number five is no stranger to success at the All England Jumping Course, with previous wins including the Hickstead Derby, the British Speed Derby and the King George V Gold Cup. He has also been on the winning team in the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain in 2023, 2024 and 2026, and he was the winner of the All England Grand Prix in 2022.  

Other top names to look out for at Hickstead's season finale include British star Matt Sampson and his Canadian fiancée, Kara Chad; Joe Stockdale, Harriet Biddick, William Whitaker, William Funnell, Amy Inglis and Paul Sims. Irish riders competing at the show include brothers Trevor and Shane Breen, and David Simpson.

The September Tour features a range of jumping classes from 90cm upwards, with opportunities to qualify to compete in the International Arena. There are also a series of age championships on both weeks of the show.

Highlights include the Douglas Bunn 1.35m Challenge (Saturday 12 September), which features many of the same fences as the Al Shira'aa Derby. There are also two 1.40m Grands Prix - the ClipMyHorse.TV Sussex Cup on Sunday 6 September, and the £9,000 Breen Equestrian All England Grand Prix on Sunday 13 September.

The final Sunday of the show also sees a whole day of Unaffiliated Arena Eventing classes, from 80cm to 1m.

Spectators are welcome - admission and parking is free.