New championships and a prize money boost for Hickstead’s showing competitors

The Barberstown Castle Supreme Horse Championship is among the most historic and coveted prizes in showing – and the prize money for the winning horse and rider has been given a significant boost for this year.

The Supreme takes place on the Sunday of the Agria Royal International Horse Show, when the week’s champions come forward for the overall supreme judging in the hope of lifting the Winston Churchill Cup. This year’s championship will carry a prize fund of £2,500, which is double that of last year, thanks to our generous sponsors Barberstown Castle Hotel.

“We are enormously grateful to Barberstown Castle for their ongoing support of the Supreme Horse Championship,” said Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn. “Their generosity means we can offer one of the largest single prizes for the discipline of showing in Great Britain.”

Since 2002, a separate Supreme Pony Championship has taken place immediately after the Supreme Horse final. It has been sponsored by Supreme Products since 2021, and the company has recently extended their sponsorship for a further three years.

Laura Clegg, Brand Manager for Supreme Products, commented: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Ridden Pony Supreme at the RIHS for the fourth consecutive year. The show is a firm favourite in everyone’s diary, and we always look forward to attending. This year we have lots of new products launching, all of which will be on our trade stand at the show, along with your trusted old favourites, be sure to come along and see us!”

Other exciting new changes for the Agria Royal International Horse Show include the addition of an overall supreme championship for the Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd (SSADL) classes at the show. The Grand Finals of this popular series has formed part of the Hickstead schedule since 2021, and for the first time ever the top two competitors in both the in-hand and ridden sections will come forward for the Supreme SSADL Championship.

This season, a number of British Horse Feeds Irish Draught Horse Society (IDHS) (GB) Ridden Championship Series qualifiers will take place, culminating in a final in Ring 2 at Hickstead on Saturday 27 July.

“We are delighted to be involved in this series and to host the final at the Agria Royal International Horse Show,” said Simon Gaskin, Sponsorship and Marketing Manager at Hickstead. “It is extremely important to safeguard the Irish Draught’s longevity, and the inclusion of Irish Draught categories in the Royal International will help to preserve and elevate this extraordinary breed.”

The team at Hickstead is also delighted to welcome back the Irish Horse Board as a sponsor. They have taken the naming rights to Ring 5 for this season. 

“The Irish Horse Board is delighted to be working with Hickstead once again to promote Irish horses and the Irish Equestrian industry to all our loyal supporters and customers in the UK," said Alison Corbally, Director General of the Irish Horse Board Co-operative Society. "For anyone seeking their next equine partner, please contact us directly anytime and we will assist you. We are looking forward to attending the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, and supporting the showing arena throughout the year with Hickstead”.

Being introduced for 2024 is a newly designed, covered banquette seating area overlooking The Irish Horse Board Ring Five. Tables can be reserved for the day or for the week, with a bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne on ice included as part of the booking. Food can be purchased from the nearby selection of street food stalls, and taken to your table.

“We hope the showing fraternity will enjoy using this area, which offers showing fans and competitors a great view of the action in Ring Five as well as being a useful base for their owners and supporters to relax and enjoy the show,” added Lizzie Bunn.

Agria Lifetime Equine Insurance, who are already a major sponsor at Hickstead including the Nations Cup of Great Britain, the Royal International Horse Show and the Derby Trial, have taken naming rights for Ring Four. 

Read all about the Agria Royal International Horse Show qualifiers at Hickstead by clicking here.