Hickstead’s season could open with a two-pronged attack on its record books - starting with the 48th running of the DFS Derby, H&C has learned.

The year’s first show, the British Jumping Derby (June 25-28), could see the chance of enhanced fame for one rider in particular. John Whitaker has won four times on four different horses, and he will be eager to become the first rider in history to win five times.

Ben Maher will also be hungry for victory in the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby, where he has two wins to his credit - and in 21 years only David Bowen and John Ledingham have claimed it three times.

And as Hickstead moves towards its half century, it was the show ground’s high standards that were the deciding factor to clinch owner Douglas Bunn to keep the British round of the influential Nations Cup competition for 2009 there and ensured that show jumping fans can continue to watch a Great Britain team compete on home ground.

The competition, held during the Longines Royal International Horse Show (July 22 – 26), runs this year under a new sponsor, Meydan Group LLC, developer of the new UAE landmark racecourse in Dubai. It will be known as the Meydan FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain.

Nations competing have been boosted from eight to ten, while hosting venues remain at eight.

In line with the FEI’s demands for a high-value Grand Prix competition at the same meeting, prize money for the Longines King George V Gold Cup has been increased from £60,000 to 200,000 Euros. Last year, the rules were changed for the first time in half a century to open this championship to riders of both sexes, but male domination was maintained when it went to German rider, Holger Wulschner.

Showing classes are the cornerstones of this annual equine extravaganza. As the oldest horse show in Europe, and, with championships for every British breed of horse and pony, it is the ambition of every horse owner to take home a championship rosette. And this opportunity is now open to a new section of cob exhibitors in 2009.

“Many people buy or breed cobs which although of show quality then grow above the maximum height for cobs of 15.lhh,” said Hickstead’s show director Roger Stack. To cater for these over-height animals, Hickstead is introducing a Maxi-cob class this season.

“This will get them on to the show circuit and offer the chance to compete at the Royal International, which is the ambition of most people interested in showing.”

The class is supported by the British Show Horse Association and there will be qualifying classes held around the country.