Behind the scenes at Hickstead
Then the Grandstands will be full with spectators
watching top international riders,
the outer arenas will be buzzing with
activity over five days, trade stands will
be packed selling all types of products
from clothing to hand made crafts
and the T.V. Crews will be setting their
cameras up ready to beam the major
events out world-wide.
Two weeks after last years DFS Derby
event class in August, plans were
already being made for this years'
events. It is Lizzie and Edward who run
the day to day working at Hickstead.
"How did it all start?" I asked. Their
"Dad" Douglas Bunn, was a member of
the British Show Jumping Team in the
"50s", and he saw the house and thirty
acres of land for sale in 1959. It was in
the proximity of Gatwick, a main road
and had water; all that was needed
to set up his dream of a purpose built
show jumping arena. 1960 saw the first
event, and here we are 43 years later in
what is now history.
"In the early days we had four
meetings a year" said Lizzie. "We
now run two longer events with the
dates set by the television companies,
and it has made no difference to the
support we get".