Young equine stars take centre stage at Hickstead

With more than £80,000 of prize money and bonuses on offer, a number of leading showjumpers will return to Hickstead next week for the Al Shira’aa British Young Horse Championships (13-16 August).

The show hosts the British qualifiers for the FEI World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium, with finals for four-, five, six- and seven-year-old horses. There are additional prizes, sponsored by British Showjumping, for the breeders of the top five British Bred horses in each of the Finals, as well as bonuses for horses jumping clear throughout the week.

In addition to showcasing the country’s best young showjumpers, the show also features open classes for older horses, culminating in the 1.30m and 1.40m Grands Prix. All the classes take place on the all-weather arenas.

Some of the riders who were on form at last month’s Agria Royal International Horse Show will be back in action at the showground, including the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup winner Robert Whitaker, the Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge victor Gemma Stevens, and the JCL Insurance Brokers Queen Elizabeth II Cup champion, Holly Smith.

Other names to look out for include British stars Laura Renwick, Harriet Biddick, William Funnell, Guy Williams, Amy Inglis, William Fletcher, Robert Murphy, William Rekert, Rachel Proudley and Nicole Pavitt, plus top Irish showjumpers Shane Breen and David Simpson.

Admission and parking are free of charge, and spectators are welcome.