European medallist makes Hickstead return

European team bronze medallist Holly Smith will be competing at the final show of the Hickstead season – the Science Supplements All England Jumping Championships (29 August to 1 September).

Holly is currently in Rotterdam, representing Great Britain at the FEI European Jumping Championships, where she helped her team clinch a team bronze medal as well as securing qualification for Tokyo 2020.

Holly has had excellent form at Hickstead in recent years, including second places in the Al Shira’aa Derby and the Nations Cup, plus wins in the Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard and Derby Trial. The Leicestershire rider makes her return to the All England Jumping Course after missing last month’s five-star Longines FEI Nations Cup meeting due to a broken collar bone.

Other Hickstead stars to compete at the four-day national championships include Hickstead Derby winners Trevor Breen, Phillip Miller and Guy Williams, along with four-time Al Shira’aa Derby runner up Harriet Nuttall.

Young talents to look out for include Yazmin Pinchen, Georgia Tame, Chuffy Clarke, Alfie Bradstock, Joe Stockdale and Oliver Tuff.

Two members of the famous Whitaker family are due to compete, Louise and Joanne.

The show also attracts entries from a number of eventers, with five-star riders Sharon Hunt, Gemma Tattersall and Francis Whittington all competing at this event.

“Entries have been flooding in for our season finale, and we’re set for an exciting few days of competition to round off what’s been a fantastic summer of sport,” said Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn.

First held in 2011, the All England Jumping Championships have gone strength to strength. This year, unaffiliated Arena Eventing has been added to the schedule for the first time, with classes starting at 80cm. There are showjumping classes from British Novice level (90cm) up to the 1.40m Science Supplements All England Grand Prix, plus Young Horse classes for Four-, Five- and Six- & Seven-Year-Olds.

This is the first year the championships have run under the title sponsorship of Science Supplements. The leading supplements company came on board as a Hickstead sponsor this season, and also sponsor several major classes at the international shows, including the British Speed Derby and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Entry and parking for the Science Supplements All England Jumping Championships is free to spectators, with a select group of trade stands open across the four days as well as a range of bars and eateries.

The action from the Longines International Arena will be livestreamed on ClipMyHorse.TV from Friday to Sunday.