Jacky Green — Eventers Grand Prix, Royal International at Hickstead

Tonight we have the latest installment of legendary Jacky Green’s guest blog for Eventing Nation. Jacky works for Team New Zealand and also runs her Maizey Manor Farm in the UK, where many US competitors stay on their route to Badminton and Burghley, including Will Faudree.  Thanks for writing this Jacky as always and thank you for reading. 
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Photo via Uptown Eventing

From Jacky:

One of the highlights of the summer season is the Amlin sponsored Eventers Grand Prix held in the stunning main arena at Hickstead as part of the Royal International. The Bunn family have long been renowned for their Sussex venue and it is not often that eventers get to jump on the hallowed turf of the International arena with its permanent features including the Derby bank which thankfully this class uses with the white rails on top but a more inviting side departure from the top than the Derby horses have: more than one eventer peeped over the nearly vertical drop on the course walk and it was most accurately described as a cliff edge!

Massive crowds, lots of bling in the tradestands, sunny skies that unfortunately seemed to bring out some truly revolting sights of overweight bodies with skimpy tops that left nothing to the imagination, an odd mixture of Essex and Northern accents, some truly terrifying showjiumping grooms, tattoos, ice cream, strawberries, awesome showjumping and amazing atmosphere. That is the Hickstead factor. With several outside rings hosting more jumping classes, hunters, show ponies, sidesaddle, plus the dressage located in a quieter area it really is a complete showcase of everything equestrian.

23 starters were in the invite only Grand Prix with a smattering of showjumpers and familiar faces and at 3pm the show got underway. The first part of the course runs over showjumps at around 1m30 with some tight turns required and then out of the arena and over a hedge into the Bunn’s back garden with a series of cross country fences all crammed into a small, hilly wooded space. Through a spooky water twice, most with knockdown rails on top and back over the hedge, up the famous Derby bank before a fast and furious run around the main arena over the Derby feature fences such as the Irish Bank, the Devils Dyke, a huge bullfinch, another water and then the final long run down to a hedge with a single white pole just inches above it. Mark Kyle is a bit of a Derby specialist and his early challenge was laid down with an incredibly fast round on the diminutive Step In Time which despite adding 20 seconds for 4 knockdowns held the lead for the entire class until Gary Parsonage and Peter Street went last. Andrew Nicholson jumped an immaculate clear on Avebury but could not match the leaders speed to wind up 3rd, Oliver Townend went fast and clear on Pepper Anne and was flying down to the last hedge with a real chance of taking the lead when the mare just tipped the rail on top to leave her 3 seconds adrift and eventual 4th place. In the meantime there had been some good tries, some smart rounds and a few eliminations when at nearly 5pm Gary Parsonage rode in on Peter Street, set off at speed and jumped an immaculate fast clear to win the class. Gary becomes the only rider in the classes 14 year history to win 4 times, most notably with Peter Street winning back to back on 08/09, 2nd in 10 and an emotional win here yesterday upon which he immediately retired Peter Street who at 17 looked amazing. He really has been a class specialist here, as Gary said, it takes a lot of looking to find a horse to excel here, they have to be careful but brave, fast and athletic, not fazed by the atmosphere and fit and sound as well. Hats off to Peter Street and also to Gary who retired him when at the top of his game, a delighted crowd cheered him round his laps of honor and I am sure Peter Street will have the cheers of Hickstead ringing in his ears for a good while into his retirement.

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