Thousands raised at Hickstead ball

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More than £7,000 was raised at Hickstead’s annual Showtime Ball (17 November), with all profits from the night going towards improving the showing facilities at the showground.

Around 150 guests from the showing community attended the glittering black tie event, which takes place in the Members’ Restaurant overlooking the famous International Arena. The Ball has been held each year since 2015 and has raised in excess of £25,000 since it started, allowing Hickstead to make a number of beneficial changes to the showing arenas at its international shows.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Roger Stack Award. Named after Hickstead’s former Showing Director Roger Stack, who sadly died in December 2016, the award is presented for the showing performance of the year.

This year’s recipient was top show producer Jayne Ross, who has won countless titles at Hickstead including five British Horse Society Supreme Horse titles.

“It was such a very special treat to be chosen for the Roger Stack Award, winning it is definitely one of the highlights of my showing career and it’s a real honour to be selected,” said Jayne. “Hickstead is one of my favourite shows of the year, if not my favourite, and to win in that main ring is always so special.”

Presenting the award, Hickstead Director Edward Bunn said: “If we listed everything Jayne has won, we’d be here for hours. She has won numerous championships and supremes, and she’s one of our biggest supporters. She is a very worthy winner of the Roger Stack award.

“We would also like to thank all the people who donated auction prizes, and everyone who came to the Ball and made it such a success,” Edward added.