Hickstead Derby Spectating - Tips Please

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Mithras

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I am thinking of going down all the way from Scotland to see the Hickstead Derby and possibly the Saturday as well. Can anyone give me any tips on spectating at Hickstead? Is it essential to buy your tickets well in advance or are there plenty available on the day?
 
Hickstead is a great day out. There are always tickets on the day, no need to buy in advance. There are two huge unticketed grandstands - one is covered and the open one is higher and right next to the bank. You can walk up to the ringside next to the Devil's Dyke and the bank.

Plenty of tradestands and don't forget that there are several other rings with SJ, showing, driving, etc, going on behind the main ring.

Have fun!!
 
If you want members tickets so that you get the covered nicer seating - you can buy them in advance but I don't think you're guaranteed seating though, it's a first come, first served basis. You just get to enter the members' area. Normal tickets are available on the day as there's no limit to how many people they let in. The public seating which is either covered or non-covered is on a first come, first served basis.

Every year that I've been, we've been sat down about an hour before the derby starts to get a decent position. The stands fill up pretty quickly.

With regards to where's the best to sit for the derby. The members' seating is as far away as possible from the bank that you can get but you are sat directly opposite the front of the bank - you're staring straight at it. The public seating runs alongside the arena which starts about 20m from the bank. IMHO you get a better view from the public stands. There is a big screen tv though.

Course wise as well, with the public seating you get the double of water ditches/white rails, the bank, a good view of the planks etc. Members' wise - the final fence, the water jump and a closer view of the devil's dyke.

There's nothing stopping you standing around the rails of the arena so you can get a very view of some of the jumps and probably the closest you'll get to the bank.

These were all taken from the public seating to give you some idea of what you can see:

Non covered seating which is closer to the bank than the non-covered:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a380/stickyVix/Hickstead/hickstead.jpg

Covered seating:

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v77/205/1/267400043/n267400043_27149_6078.jpg

Taken from literally the side of the arena:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a380/stickyVix/Hickstead/RIHS07/100_1618.jpg

The seating in the background of this piccie is the members to give you an idea of how far away it is:

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v77/205/1/267400043/n267400043_27158_8175.jpg

Hope that gives you some idea of what the arrangement's like. We always always go for the non-covered seating for the Derby unless it's peeing it down as you can pretty much see the entire course
 
if you want to gey in the covered grandstand get seated early about 1pm for the 3pm start will get you the best seats, i take some lunch and a copy of h&h and settle in for the afternoon!
 
I love Hickstead...it's a great day out and you always feel a real part of it as you can mix and mingle so closely with riders. Have a drink in the riders bar area out by the warmup rings and really 'feel' the place.

Don't forget you can do the public coursewalk around midday on Derby day too where you get to wander around the main arena and get really close up and personal with the fences
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I've been a member many times but to be honest i've only ever bothered sitting in the members stand a couple of times. The view is much better from the public stands and you've about the same chance of getting a seat
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Entried close this week for those planning on competing
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If you are staying over, get your accomodation booked asap.!
You may have to go as far at Gatwick or Birghton, or search Farmstay for B&B.
 
I have only been once as a fair way from me but it was a great day and getting the chance to walk the derby course was great and I realised how i would never ever dare go down that bank. it was bad enough standing at the top let alone being sat on a horse on top of it!

I also though tthe pony class before was excellent, the heights they jump...!

I have to say the weather was fantastic though the year I went and we had members tickets so would have been handy had it rained to get under the covered members area. We certainly didn't struggle to find a seat as I think most people were sat out in the sun anyway!
 
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