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‘Keep the trophy well away from me this time!’ How William Whitaker’s previous Hickstead Derby win was ‘ear today, gone tomorrow’…

Eleanor Jones Eleanor Jones

    • When Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn brought the famous Boomerang trophy to William Whitaker yesterday (21 June), he said: “Make sure you put a helmet on it this year!”

    William and Vicky Smith’s fabulous Flamboyant III won the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby yesterday, in a jump-off with 2023 winners David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve, having come second in the class two years running.

    And after his victory, William revealed things had not gone entirely to plan the first time he won the Derby, with Glenavadra Brilliant in 2016.

    ‘I forgot to say,” Hickstead director Edward Bunn said in the post-Derby press conference. “I checked the trophy and it’s got two ears.”

    William explained the story, which most of those present would not have heard before.

    “Last time I won the Derby with Glenavadra Brilliant, we had a big party, believe it or not, that evening,” he said. “When I woke up in the morning, I was at Daisy [Bunn’s] house, and I woke up with a great feeling.

    “I walked into the kitchen and the trophy was there on the table. And I thought ‘that’s a bit like in a movie’, looking at the trophy. And I looked, and I looked again, and I thought, ‘Oh no’. One of the ears had been knocked off. I immediately went to Daisy and said ‘Who’s going to tell Lizzie [Bunn]?!’ But anyway, she took it very well.”

    Commentator John Stokes said he thought Daisy was planning a party again that evening.

    “But hopefully we’ll keep the trophy safe,” he said.

    “Keep it well away from me, anyway!” William said.

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    Eleanor Jones
    Eleanor Jones

    H&H news editor
    Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
    Eleanor Jones

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