First June Derby Meeting Will Still Draw Showjumping
Fans
The
British Jumping Derby Meeting (June 3-6) breaks new ground this
year, moving for the first time in its 43 year history from August
to June to avoid clashing with this summer's Athens Olympic Games.
But it is still a great draw for showjumping fans.
The
DFS Derby is wide open. Peter Charles, who last year went into the
record books with a third successive win, is looking for a new Derby
specialist after losing Corrada to an overseas sale, which leaves
local rider William Funnell and his on-form Cortaflex Mondriaan
as possible favourites.
Prize
money for the Derby, carrying new sponsorship from the furniture
giant DFS, goes up to £75,000, with the winner claiming a
£25,000 share.
The
four-day show has all its popular classes - the Gladwish Land Sales
Speed Derby, the Alberta Canada Salver, Hickstead Derby Tankard
and Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial. Juniors, too, have, for the
second year, their chance in the International Arena. The Hickstead
Pony Masters starts in two outside arenas to whittle entries down
to 20 for the third leg in the International Arena on Saturday and
then to 10 for Sunday's final, where the winner goes home with a
£2,500 share of £7,500, the richest competition in Europe
for juniors.
New
to the schedule this year is the Hickstead Amateur Championship,
supported by GBR Team Challenge. This class is designed for riders
outside of the top 100 on the BSJA Riders Ranking List and excludes
also anyone who has been on a senior Nations Cup team. It comes
to a final in the International Arena on Saturday.
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