Walk the 2015 Amlin Plus eventers’ challenge course at Hickstead*PICTURES*

Twenty riders lined up for the Amlin Plus eventers’ challenge at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead earlier today (30 July).

The class, reinvented from the original eventing grand prix by Hickstead directors Lizzie and Edward Bunn, saw event riders tackle a 19-fence course of both solid and knock down cross-country style fences, including some of the Hickstead arena’s best famous natural obstacles including the devil’s dyke, derby bank and Irish bank.

Andrew Nicholson and Cillnabradden Evo proved unbeatable over the technical track against the clock to take the title.

Hickstead’s eventers’ challenge course pictures

1.  Amlin Plus box

2. Gate: a very upright fence, coming off a turn away from the collecting ring

3. Log pile

4. Open ditch: this has a dry ditch underneath it

5. Brook: this fence has a water tray underneath it. Riders will need to ride around the back of the Derby Bank to get to the fence, off a fairly tight turn

6. Corner

7. Corner: this corner is a 270 degree turn back for riders after the corner at fence six

8ab. Derby Bank: Riders go up a fairly gentle slope to the top of the bank. They then have to ride down a very steep side of the bank. There is a black flag alternative if riders fancy a slightly less steep decline! This will waste some precious seconds though

9. Oxer: located just a few strides away from the base of the bank.

10. BHS Trakehner

11abc. Horse & Hound Irish Bank: This fence features a skinny brush followed by two strides to the bank then approximately another two strides on the landing side of the bank to another narrow triple brush

12. Longines Flight Butt: A very tall bullfinch!

13ab. Devils Dyke: Ridden in the oppostie direction to the Derby course, the second and third parts of the Dyke are jumped

14ab. Road jump: Jumped two strides on the angle

15. Log and Lake: A narrow log and then splash through the water

16. Corner: the same corner jumped at fence seven

17. Road Jump: Three strides ridden over the top of the road crossing

18. Amlin Plus Privet Oxer

Keep up with all the action from RIHS on www.horseandhound.co.uk, and don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue Horse & Hound magazine, out 6 August 2015

Gemma Redrup

H&H features, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, having been part of the H&H team since 2014, who is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting talents have taken her to numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.