Sunshine Tour Hickstead

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horsefeed

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Anyone ever been, what's it like?
Our local centre has just started giving out qualification cards and never heard of it.
I would only be interested in senior show jumping, is it just weekend or weekdays too?
How much does it cost?
Any info greatly appreciated as not much on their site for this year yet.
Thanks
 
2016 it was very good fun and well organised! Excellent atmosphere, loads of trade stands - lots and lots of horses! Hickstead has great facilities so obviously that's a nice chance to ride on them without affiliating.

It ran Friday, Sat, Sun in September in 2016. Entries was ~ £15-£30 depending on classes, from memory/.
 
Its 14th - 16th September. You can see the details here http://sunshinetour.co.uk/

We did go in 2015 but not in 2016 because we felt the organisation was really poor. The stables were filthy and flooded from constant use over a wet summer. We had to queue for over an hour to collect numbers and register passports. Classes over ran and were moved from ring to ring without warning (although it is harder to move show jumping!). Some SJ classes were still jumping at 9pm on the second day. There were no stewards in the collecting rings resulting in some fairly dangerous practices. But I understand from others that 2016 was not quite so bad.

The showgrounds is absolutely top notch - we compete there 3 or 4 times a year with PC and NSEA. For us - I would rather compete there with other organisations - but I absolutely do not deny the buzz of a multi day stay away show if you are not used to that. You don't get to go into the international arena with the sunshine tour though. Only the back and warm up rings.
 
I went last year for the showing show. It ran over about 3/4 days inc the weekend and there were classes for showing dressage, wh and sj. Can't help on the sj although I did see it, it was over in a grass ring I think. Warm up looked quite busy but jumps look fine.

The event was well run I thought, great atmosphere and we had a ball. I stalled overnight and that all went smoothly, got shavings sorted through them but the box I had, a perm brick stable, already had loads of bedding in it.

Lots of atmosphere with people horses kids dogs tannoys and flags but it was great experience for me and my horse. Don't think it was that expensive. I stayed in a local b n b but lots of people camp. It's busy and bustling but I'd def recommend it. Amazing to say you've competed at Hickstead

Nice rosettes and sashes for the champs. Well organised and everything g was easy to find etc. I think previous years it hadnt gone as well run but last year seemed fine to me.

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Apparently in 2015 the class entries were not appropriately limited, leading to chaos and over running. However in 2016 it was pretty much spot on.
 
I went in 2015 and the admin at the event wasn't great, although beforehand it was good. I qualified and registered in 2016 but ended up not going as my dad died a few weeks before and I couldn't cope with a potentially stressful situation. But I saw that they were sending numbers out in the post, which must have made things a lot easier on the day. I'm going to try to qualify again this year and will definitely go if I do. The dressage arena was lovely, and well organised, but warm up wasn't great. Lots of show jumpers galloping around and no stewards. We were lucky enough to have a permanent stable and didn't need any shavings as there was so much in there already, but the one next to me was filthy - the poor woman took barrow loads out. Just the luck of the draw! Now I've been once I'm determined to go again and enjoy it more now I know the ropes.
 
Sunshine tour last year was fabulous! Great atmosphere and facilities - I would definitely recommend :) There were stewards in the dressage warm up who controlled things quite well but I cant say for SJ I'm afraid.
 
I have not been to the sunshine tour before, although did take my daughter via PC for showjumping there twice ,we camped overnight and had a great time, it is a lovely venue!

But like most people have heard mixed reviews on this event, we actually just qualified for the novice dressage a couple of weeks ago, so I am considering going along :-)
 
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