EQUESTRIAN
Edward Bunn, whose family own Hickstead, turned groundsman to help with staff shortages during lockdown © John Perlam
comments Edward. “The cross-country hire scheme has been a big success - it was used by 2,000 people over the winter - and will make a welcome contribution to our income. We’ve undertaken an extensive risk assessment so that we can meet social distancing and hygiene requirements.” Advance bookings are taken from up to six individual riders (reduced from the usual eight) for timed slots in the arenas. To meet government guidelines they may only be accompanied by a trainer or groom - who must travel separately if they are not from the same household - and group bookings are not being accepted. Collapsible marker flags on the fixed obstacles have been removed where possible and hand sanitiser points located around the arena and marked parking spaces. Toilet facilities will only be available by phoning for a lock combination to avoid overcrowding, and signs have been posted to remind participants about social distancing.
We don’t want to lay staff off - we’ve been grateful for the government’s staff retention scheme and, including the admin team, we’ve got
”
twelve on furlough. They are one of our greatest assets and they are keen to have a job to come back to
On site first aiders will have appropriate PPE and the local ambulance service has been alerted. “We’re only taking bookings two weeks ahead - we’re normally booked up months in advance - in case lockdown is tightened but from the moment we announced the re- opening we have been inundated with enquiries.”
Edward says that the family-owned business has reserves that it can call on, but some major renovations may be delayed for twelve months due to the shortfall in income from cancelled events. “We’ll continue to do safety-critical work,
for example we’re re-decking one of the grandstands.”
He adds that there are few opportunities for cost cutting - the venue’s insurance bill alone is £70,000, which could be reduced by £10,000 if public liability for events is not
required, and business rates will be returned. “We don’t want to lay staff off - we’ve been grateful for the government’s staff retention scheme and, including the admin team, we’ve got twelve on furlough. They are one of our greatest assets and they are keen to have a job to come back to.” Plans for a celebration of Hickstead’s 60th anniversary will merely be put on hold, he says.
“No problem is insurmountable. We will
run next year and, although we have been unable to celebrate 60 continuous years, it will still be our 60th anniversary!”
Guards Polo Club Antony Fanshawe
Guards Polo Club began stick and balling in mid-May, ahead of a possible return to competitive polo in mid-June. Polo Manager Antony Fanshawe explains that a reduced team of ten groundstaff has been busy getting the fields ready, whilst adhering to social distancing rules. “We’re progressing steadily, gradually reducing the height of cut down towards 20- 22mm where it will need to be for tournaments. May was very dry, so irrigation has been key, and we also verti-drained the fields - it takes 4-5 days to do each one, so it’s a slow process,” he says. Topdressing with sand is on hold until just before play begins and, whilst slow release fertiliser has been applied, liquids will also be reserved for final preparations. “We have to do as much as we practically can otherwise we won’t be able to catch up when the resumption is confirmed,” he explains. “We’re just waiting for rain so that we can take the cut height down. Frosts in May were also an issue - I didn’t want to mow too close and risk damage but, on the other hand, if you leave the sward too long,
Polo Manager Antony Fanshawe 114 PC June/July 2020
Guards Polo Club is home to the Cartier International Polo; as the grounds are within Windsor Great Park, consideration will have to be given to managing public access once the season starts © Images of Polo
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