What's the Hickstead Derby?

The British Jumping Derby Contest- also populalry known as the Hickstead Derby- is an annual showjumping event, conceived back in 1962 at the All-England Jumping Course at Hickstead in June every year. It is considered one of the premier events in the equestrian calendar. The Derby itself is now sponsored by (CARPETRIGHT). The British Jumping Derby has been staged since 1962 on Hickstead's 1,195-meter long track with tricky jumps including what is aptly nick-named as the Devil's Dyke i.e. three fences in short succession with a water-filled ditch in the middle and the difficult Derby Bank, a jump with 3 feet and 5 inches rails on top and a 10 feet and 6 inches slope down the front. The British Jumping Derby is one of those most popular events akin to the Grand National where it is not only the runners and riders that make major news headlines but also the track in itself. Hickstead Derby is rare and inventive equestrian competition, the like of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world, no other course poses such challenges both to horse and rider and no other course