Mark Edwards’ superstar Dillinger NE had never seen a Derby fence before Thursday – but looked as though he’d been jumping them all his life as he cruised to win the 2026 Hickstead Speed Derby by over four seconds.

Mark and his father Martyn’s 11-year-old, who has excelled in every type of class, jumped clear in 97.43sec, ahead of Sammie-Jo Coffin and Big Star of Follyfoot Z and Georgina Ellis (Croisiere).

“Dillinger’s lovely,” said Mark. “This is the first weekend he’s jumped Derby fences and he’s taken to it like a duck to water.”

That was putting it mildly. When Mark and Dillinger came in, 18th of 25 starters, there had not been a clear round. Theirs was faultless; smooth and sure from the start. Their descent off the bank was faultless and without hesitation; every turn spot-on. It was deceptively fast too; Mark going with his horse, letting his natural speed and stride length take him to victory without taking a check.

It was all the more impressive as this Diarado gelding saw his first Derby fences in the trial two days ago, in which he and Mark finished ninth.

“We’ve got a couple of natural things at home, which we’ve done; walked down a couple of steep banks, and jumped a little dyke, and he’s just done really well,” Mark said. “He jumped the King’s Cup here last year and loved it so I thought he’d do really well.

“He’s got a massive stride, so I used that to our advantage, just kept in that same rhythm and every time we came off the corner, just stayed on that forward stride. He loved it, he’s a super horse.”

Clears were like buses in this class; once Mark and Dillinger had broken the duck, two more came straight afterwards; Georgina and her own 18-year-old finished on 102.23sec for third place and Sammie-Jo with Sally Jobson Scott’s eight-year-old crossed the line on 101.98sec to finish second.

Sammie-Jo said she made her decision to try the class a month ago when taking to three-time speed Derby winner Harriet Biddick at the Royal Bath & West.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” she said. “She’s only eight, so I didn’t really know how she’d react. We hadn’t done anything until Bath & West and talking to Harriet, who’s the fount of all knowledge, and she said about a place down the road that does cross-country. So we popped her on the lorry, and she absolutely thrived on it, loved it, so we thought we’d give it a go.”

Sammie-Jo’s round was another that looked almost effortless; the Big Star mare eating up the ground and turning tight and accurate. The only check Sammie-Jo took was to the gate and it paid off as the top section that caught out many others stayed up, setting them up for a gallop to the last line.

“There’s a lot I could have done differently,” Sammie-Jo said. “I lost my stirrup at fence three and didn’t get it back till I was on the bank so I was thinking ‘I need to keep going but I’d also quite like my stirrup back’! I was a little cautious every so often as I wanted her to stay confident. She was so careful and trying so hard, I just wanted her to have a nice trip round, and she loved it, so I’m hoping next year she might go one better.”

Gina has had good placings in the speed Derby; she and her own Harlequin Du Carel gelding came fifth last year so she was delighted to be on the podium after their faultless, fast and sure round. She also came 13th with her own Fireball.

“I’m very lucky to have two really good horses,” she said. “Showjumping isn’t really my main priority. I ride racehorses for a living, it’s just a bit of a hobby that’s got slightly out of control!”

Mark and Dillinger have also qualified for tomorrow’s Al Shira’aa Derby, and Mark said he had declared him to start.

“We’ll see how he comes out in the morning, and it’ll probably be more preparation for next year – but we’ll probably give it a go,” he said.

2026 Hickstead speed Derby: no Irish bank

This was the first Hickstead speed Derby to run without the Irish bank; a big brush oxer in the same location. Part of the rationale behind its removal was that it might encourage more riders to enter and at least one – Nicole Pavitt (Casque D’Or) – said it had influenced their decision to take on the class.

It rode well; only one horse had a fault there, and the top three riders all thought the change may mean the course record, 91.95sec as set by Guy Williams and Casper De Muze, could be broken before long.

“I only rode to it last year, and you’re never quite sure going to it, but I think with the new fence there, they’re going to get even faster,” Mark said. “But going six strides to the planks afterwards is probably very risky, so I think jump the brush and then going seven is the best option.”

Gina said the new fence is “a hell of a lot easier than the Irish bank”.

“I think that bank put a lot of people off doing the class, and it attracted more people to do it without it there,” she said. “For me, personally, I’d prefer it was still in, because I think it makes it more challenging.”

Sammie-Jo agreed, adding that she always enjoyed riding to the bank.

“I thought it always made a really good picture as well!” she said. “I think it will be faster because now you don’t have to think, really. Although you slid across the bank, I think it just slowed them down a bit. Now you can keep travelling, and they jumped it very easily.”

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Silver Lift, the most successful horse in British Speed Derby history, has bowed out aged 21 to enjoy a happy retirement with an old and dear friend.

The Irish-bred gelding, with whom Harriet Biddick won three Hickstead speed Derby titles and came second four times, had been jumping until last month with Harriet’s stable jockey Lily Wilson – and of course still winning.

“I wanted to retire him with the sun on his back; it seemed the right time,” Harriet told H&H. “He’s out with A Touch Imperious and a couple of four-year-olds, a nice group of them anyway, so it made sense. It’s been good to see him out with them and having a nice time in the good weather.”

Harriet said the family bought Silver Lift from Ireland as a four-year-old, as her younger sister Lucy’s first horse.

“He’d been hunting with an 11-year-old boy, at four years old, they loved him,” she said. “He was really dark, iron grey with a white mane and tail, so he looked stunning.”

Harriet started riding Silver Lift, then Lucy hunted him a bit and Harriet took him on as a six-year-old as Lucy was keener on hunting.

“The first year he did the speed Derby, he was only seven,” Harriet said. “He came 11th; he went clear but I took it slowly, and he’d not missed a year since.”

Harriet said jumping a seven-year-old in the speed derby is not something she would do now – but this was clearly his class, and Silver Lift enjoyed it from the start.

“He’d been started so well, he was so safe and unspooky, an 11-year-old boy rode him,” she said. “And with the hunting, he was so well rounded and grown up, we didn’t do young horse classes, we just did the fun stuff.

“He always wanted to be competitive and thrived on going fast, and he was ready. It was the right thing for him to do, and he loved it.”

At that time, Harriet had Highland Cruiser, with whom she also was very successful in the speed Derby; she came third on him when she and Silver Lift won for the first time in 2016.

They won again in 2019, securing back-to-back titles in 2022, after the two previous years’ classes were lost to Covid. For a few years, Silver Lift was ridden most of the time by young rider Joss Phillipps, coming back to Harriet for Hickstead.

But, Harriet, added, “I’ve probably made every mistake in that class!” such as the year she went the wrong way in the speed derby qualifier.

“I never try to win that qualifier as he’s already a racy horse and doesn’t need to go fast,” she said. “So I gave him a nice school round and I think I was in such a dream, and he was jumping so well – I don’t know what I did.

“Lizzie [Bunn, Hickstead director] rang and said ‘You’re a past winner but you have to complete a class to qualify’, so I had to jump a 1.45m in the main ring the next day. I went round the first phase and retired, but that was a worrying weekend!”

“And then, of course, I lost my bridle,” she added.

Harriet and Silver Lift were on course for a record fourth win in 2023, when the bridle came off before the treble of Hickstead planks. They jumped through the combination regardless, but the final fence would have been a step too far.

“My biggest worry then, when I was cantering round, was ‘Who’s going to catch me?’!” she said. “He’s such a shy horse and independent, does what he wants to do and just has certain people he trusts.

“But I knew he’d never hurt me. I was pregnant with Ollie at the time but even though I had no bridle, I knew I was safe.”

Those at Hickstead that day will remember the collective feeling of “Might she still be able to jump the last fence?”

“I can’t believe people thought I could – but I think I thought I could!” she said. “I looked at it, and I was almost trying to push him over, and then I thought ‘What am I doing, I’ve got no bridle!’ I think then in my head was ‘No, that’s a silly idea, let’s make sure this ends in a happy way and be a bit more sensible. But I think if the hill wasn’t there, he might have got to the last.”

One thing that incident did show is Harriet’s horsemanship and the pair’s relationship.

“I trusted him so much in that moment; I knew he’d be fine,” she said.

“We had such a bond; even if I hadn’t ridden him for a while as he’d been with Joss, it was something – I’d known him from the start and if I breathed a certain way, or leaned left, he’d go left. I only had to use my bodyweight for him to know where to go.

“He was just so agile and clever, and listened, and just wanted to do it; he wanted to win as much as you did.”

Silver Lift retires with Derby hero

Harriet said she was very fortunate to have Silver Lift and her Derby hero A Touch Imperious at the same time.

“I had such a bond with them both; I was so lucky they were in the same era as they gave so much diversity to my riding,” she said. “I had the small little racehorse-type Silver Lift then the giant dinosaur! Both of them did absolutely everything for me and now, I go out in that field and A Touch Imperious comes over. He always gives the best cuddles, puts his head down and we have a little chat – but once Silver Lift’s out, I won’t get anywhere near him as he goes feral!”

Silver Lift’s last speed Derby was in 2024, when he and Harriet came second. And Harriet said he always knew exactly where he was.

“He’s never been a horse who would go in the arena and do his flatwork, he already went in a nice way,” Harriet said. “So you’d more likely just go on a little ride; he loved it, like a whizzy little pony, leaping around sideways, jogging the whole way home.

“He was like a 12.2hh pony but when he got to Hickstead every year, he changed. He knew where he was, he’d be jogging back and forth to the stable, he knew it was the place for him. He had his routine, doing the qualifier, then waiting for Saturday, the speed Derby.

“He’s kind, he’s always been driven to win, he’s thrived at Hickstead. He loved his job and was so smooth to ride; he had that thoroughbred in him that made him move so elegantly across the ground.

“You saw some horses getting a bit stressed or hot, or tire halfway round but he wouldn’t blow a candle out when he came out. He enjoyed it, and didn’t find it hard work. I think he really is a legend.”

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It is the “end of an era” as the famous Irish bank at Hickstead has been removed after 60 years as a permanent fixture.

The All England Jumping Course revealed today (1 April) that the small bank – not to be confused with the Derby bank on the other side of the arena – has been “carefully removed after a period of consultation”. There was some confusion as the announcement was made on April Fools’ Day but Hickstead confirmed to H&H that it has gone.

“It’s the end of an era as we say goodbye to the Irish bank,” said Hickstead executive director Lizzie Bunn. “It has been part of the Hickstead landscape for nearly 60 years but was in need of a complete rebuild at vast cost.

“Because it was only used in two classes in the year, the decision was made, alongside our chief course-designer Kelvin Bywater, to remove the fence instead of reconstructing it.”

The bank was only part of the British Speed Derby at the Derby meeting and the Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS). Its removal will give course-designers much more freedom, including allowing different lines to Hickstead’s open water.

The 5ft bank, which horses jumped on to and off, just before the treble of planks in the speed derby, was first used in competition at Hickstead in 1969, causing a “minor rebellion” as riders including David Broome and Harvey Smith refused to jump it. Marion Coakes cleared it with Daddy’s Girl and won the Ireland Stakes, a story that inspired a fictional incident at “Crittleden” in Jilly Cooper’s Riders.

“You’ve got to introduce variety,” Douglas Bunn, the late founder of Hickstead, said at the time. “You cannot expect people to watch the same old thing time after time. There’s no question about it that when we put the Irish bank into a class here, you get a little round of applause when a horse does it nicely.”

The bank was the scene of a memorable moment nearly three years ago when Harriet Biddick and Silver Lift, attempting to win a fourth speed derby, had a tack malfunction. After they landed from the bank, Silver Lift’s bridle slipped off, and the combination jumped all three planks without it.

The bank will be replaced by a natural-looking hog’s back-style fence in the same position, for the speed derby; the rest of the course will be unchanged.

“We know some riders and spectators will be sad to see the Irish bank gone, and it was a tricky decision for us to make,” Lizzie said. “But we do also hope the change will encourage more riders to take part in the British Speed Derby with their best speed horses, perhaps if they had avoided entering previously because they weren’t sure how their horses would jump it.”

The speed derby will run on the penultimate day of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting (18-21 June) and the eventers’ challenge on the Thursday of the RIHS ((21-26 July).

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Showjumper Mark Edwards has paid tribute to his Hickstead speed Derby winner Royale Tale after the mare was fatally injured at Bolesworth International yesterday morning (6 July).

The 10-year-old, by Mark’s great former campaigner Montreuxs Tale and owned by Martyn Edwards, was competing in a CSI4* 1.35m two-phase class and jumping clear when she sustained a catastrophic leg injury.

“We are utterly heartbroken,” said Mark. “Royale Tale, bred by Sean and Charlene Daly, was a star with immense potential. She had recently showcased her talent with a win in the speed Derby at Hickstead, along with multiple victories in speed and grand prix classes internationally over the last few years.”

Mark said Royale Tale’s standout achievements include winning the newcomers and grade C final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2022, and the international Stoneleigh Stakes at HOYS the following year, as well as a two-star grand prix at Vlilamoura in 2023, and a four-star 1.50m grand prix in Warsaw and five-star class at the Royal International Horse Show last year.

“It is painful to know we will never see just how far she could have gone,” he said.

He added: “A huge thanks to our fantastic groom Brooke who has cared for her so well since last year, it’s hard to say goodbye. Thank you to everyone for their kind words and support, it means a lot.”

Royale Tale earned the 2025 Brilliance Horse Auction speed Derby title on her first attempt last month and had won CSI3* and CSI4* international classes at Bolesworth International Horse Show, presented by Al Shira’aa, over the last two weeks.

A spokesperson for Bolesworth International said: “It is with great sadness that we have to report that Royale Tale, ridden by Mark Edwards, and owned by Martyn Edwards, was put down as a result of a fracture to her hind leg.

“The horse was immediately attended and assessed by the FEI event veterinary team.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with Mark, his groom and all of Royale Tale‘s connections.”

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Mark Edwards is the “man to beat, every time he goes in the ring”, and he proved it once again today, as he and the fabulous Royale Tale won the Brilliance Horse Auction Speed Derby on their first attempt.

Mark and the 10-year-old jumped one of only two clears to clinch the title in 95.8sec, with Joe Whitaker (Icaterina) second in 103.63 and Jess Hewitt (Hot Bluebird) third in 103.95.

Mark has been flying of late; he and Flying Tinker II won on the opening day of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting, which came hot on the heels of Mark’s clean sweep at the South of England Show (6-8 June).

“She’s been on great form,” Mark said. “She’s naturally quick and a real winner.”

Mark said his plan was to start in a good rhythm, and they were smooth as silk all the way to the bank, which the mare, by Mark’s great former campaigner Montreuxs Tale and bred by Sean and Charlene Daly, popped up and down as if she’d been doing it all her life.

“Then we set sail from there,” he said. “We just just kept running, in a good rhythm, all the way to the finish. It was great fun, and a real thrill to be involved.”

Joe had gone briefly into the lead with Kathy Tansey’s 12-year-old mare, as the combination just before Mark, hitting just the gate at fence 12 and bellowed home by his uncle Michael and father Stephen.

“She never really got on the bridle well enough to be competitive, to keep up with Mark,” he said. “But she settled very well, and she’s such a genuine mare. I took the pedal off the gas, had an extra stride here and there and she got her confidence back. She had a little step back on the bank, which didn’t help but actually she felt more comfortable coming home and thankfully, I was quick enough to get second, so I’m absolutely delighted. Hopefully we’ll give it another spin next year.”

Jess, who came third last year with Hot Bluebird, said someone asked her for her prediction before the class.

“I said Mark will win it, Joe will be second, and if I do my best round, I might be third,” she said. “It’s Joe who got my horse going down banks as he’s got one and he’s let me practise both years – maybe he won’t let me next year!”

Mark was asked if he might return to try to beat Guy Williams’ 2015 course record time of 92.81 but said he may aim Royale Tale for the Derby itself next year.

“The way she went in the Derby trial yesterday, I think she would be really good at the Derby,” he said. “She should have gone clear but I mucked it up; we were tempted to put her in tomorrow and leave her for today, but maybe we made the right decision.”

Before the class, Jay Halim, who came sixth with Gentle, had also been asked for his predictions; he said Mark would win and “everyone else is battling for second”.

“I think everybody had that opinion,” Joe said. “His horses are going great; he’s the man to beat every time he goes in the ring at the moment, wherever he is.”

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Young showjumper Ella Dalton has long been an exciting talent on the national circuit, grabbing the headlines with her 2022 victory in the Hickstead speed Derby. But in a breakthrough year for the 22-year-old, she’s stepped up impressively to jumping 1.60m tracks, surprising even herself in the process.

“It’s been crazy, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to jump 1.60m – I didn’t even know if I wanted to, to be honest – but here we are!” says Ella, who credits her brilliant new partner Hurricane VDL for giving her the belief to step up.

“With him, I don’t think any jump or course could ever look too big, it’s bizarre,” she says of the 12-year-old gelding. “I walked the course for the Cock o’the North at the Great Yorkshire, my first 1.60m, and thought actually this is possible. I never used to like jumping big at all! Hurricane was very cool.”

New beginnings for showjumper Ella Dalton

Ella teamed up with new owner Klodian Allajbeu a year ago and is now based in Suffolk where she has 10 horses in work.

“Our aim is to have a few younger ones to bring up through, too,” says Ella. “It’s been a bit of a changeover this year and a great opportunity, so you just have to see where it takes you.”

Hurricane VDL and Orya Van Koekenhuyze, AKA Rita, are among her impressive string of quality 1.50m horses.

“Hurricane is fun, he’s so brave and he makes you fearless,” she says. “He’s a strange character in that he wants to love you – and he does love you – but he doesn’t want to show it because he’s quite grumpy at times.

“The plan for next year is just to try to get more experience round the bigger tracks,” adds Ella, who has also been selected for British Showjumping’s gold development programme. “I think that will be really helpful. It’s a great way to brighten up your future, open your eyes to different things and offer you training. Which also means I don’t have to blame my mum anymore!”

Ella’s turning point in the sport

While Ella’s mum was a showjumper, her daughter’s passion for the sport wasn’t immediately obvious.

“When I was little, Mum took me to Hickstead to watch the 128cm jumping and she said, ‘You’d like to do this wouldn’t you?’ and I said ‘No, not at all – you’ll have to adopt a child if you want them to do that, it’s not for me!’

“The turning point was getting the ride on [speed Derby winner] Quality Rubies N Diamonds as she’s quite similar to Hurricane in that she will give you so much confidence,” says Ella.

“The problem is you see all the good riders jumping and they never seem to make mistakes, so you feel like you’re the only one that’s useless – I think you always feel worse than you are.

“I do look back and realise how much I’ve progressed, so I’d like to keep going until I’m up there with all the big names,” adds Ella, who looks up to Ben Maher and Marcus Ehning as her favourite riders.

Ella’s plan is to continue within the under-25 age bracket while she’s still eligible, and then?

“Then I’d just like to keep going higher and faster!” she says.

Watch this space.

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Elliott Rowe has been owner and coach in previous British Speed Derby success stories – but he said winning it as a rider “is a bit better”.

Elliott and Rowebuck Stables’ Hyperion VP Wisbecq clipped just the white gate to finish on 100.97 seconds, with Harriet Biddick and Silver Lift, who had been aiming to secure a record fourth title together, second on 103.12.

“I’m absolutely buzzing,” Elliott said. “The jumps come at you really fast but I really enjoyed it.”

Elliott was eliminated in the class two years ago, then had a broken collarbone last year so had to watch Ryan Lockwood ride the Bentley Van De Kapel stallion into fourth place. He also trains Ella Dalton, who won in 2023 on Quality Rubies N Diamonds but could not defend her title after she had a fall from her first ride, Ellyette HH.

“It was good to see Ella win last year – I’d said to her the horse would be really good for this,” he said. “Training is good but winning it is a bit better!”

Elliott said it was a “dream come true” to lift the Liz Dudden memorial trophy, at his “local show”.

“I think it helps to have been round before, but he felt good at his last show and he’s been on a bit of form, “ he said. “His owner Daisy gives him an easy life, over small jumps, a good life. He’s lovely, a cool little guy.”

Harriet and Silver Lift, who were denied a win last year when their bridle came off, felled both parts of the double in an otherwise beautiful round, adding eight to their time of 95.12.

“I’m really proud of him,” said Harriet of her father Rupert Nuttall’s 19-year-old. “It’s hard to have early fences, with the gate and the planks to come, and I thought ‘What are you doing? This isn’t the plan!’ But he got better as he went round, and at 19, he came out bouncing so I’m really happy.”

Harriet has not ruled out one more attempt at a fourth title, adding, when asked her plans for 2025: “Just to put him first. If he feels good then yes, we’ll do the same routine of some early grass shows, let him enjoy life. There’s no reason not to think of next year, as long as he feels good.”

Jess Hewitt and Hot Bluebird finished third, felling the gate to finish on 104.45. The combination fell foul of the bank on their first attempt in this class, in 2022, but Jessica’s dedication to practising this meant they flew up and down it in textbook fashion this time.

“My preparation has probably been a bit different,” she said. “I’ve been driving to friends’ arenas and every time I see a hill by the road, I get out and go down it; I’ve been down those hills at 10.20pm! And she was amazing at everything today, our practice paid off.”

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A couple who are trying to swap their way from a gypsy cob to a grand prix showjumper say they have thoroughly enjoyed the process – and have qualified for the Hickstead speed Derby.

Tamsin Lott and Frankie Penford started with a £700 cob and now have 10-year-old warmblood Castleconnell Shamboozie (Paddy).

Tamsin told H&H the idea came about as she had lost her beloved horse after 11 years, last March.

“Frankie could see how devastated I was, and my horse wasn’t insured, and I didn’t have the money to buy one,” she said. “So he came up with this idea.”

The couple travelled to Wales to buy Misty, a 13.2hh cob, whom Tamsin said was “absolutely perfect”.

“She was so sweet,” she said. “I schooled her a bit and we did lots of hacking, and we found her a lovely home with some kids.”

The couple used the money from Misty’s new owners to buy Darcy, a coloured cob of about 13hh, who Tamsin said was also very sweet and enjoyed her jumping.

“We sold her to a lovely little girl also called Darcy, which was really cool,” she said.

The next project was a 14.2hh cob, whom they bought from Cornwall, called Sausage.

“I think he’s been my favourite,” Tamsin said. “We kept him for a bit, got him fit and riding, and jumping. We’re near Ashdown Forest [in East Sussex] and he loved hacking there.”

By the time they sold Sausage, last September, the couple had about £5,000, which they used to buy a horse called Julio, from Duckhurst Farm in Kent. They kept him till March, when he went to Scotland with his new owner.

“She’s really happy with him,” Tamsin said.

This left them with £9,000, and they bought Castleconnell Shamboozie (Paddy), who impressed both of them so much, they decided to aim for Saturday’s feature class at Hickstead, qualifying yesterday with Frankie (20 June).

“And I don’t think he’ll be the final one!” Tamsin said, adding that while they had Julio, she and Frankie had also started again finding good homes for other project horses.

“It’s quite difficult to find them, we’ve done a lot of travelling,” she said. “Some have just been in the field not doing anything so it’s been so nice to find them such good homes.

“I wouldn’t have believed we’d be able to do what we’ve done. I was so heartbroken over losing my horse, it just gave me something to focus on. I’ve treated them all as my own, then found them the best homes.”

You might also be interested in:

‘I was holding the throatlash’: Speed Derby superheroes jump triple planks with no bridle

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Showjumper Harriet Biddick made headlines last year when footage of her jumping Hickstead’s speed Derby on Silver Lift without a bridle went viral.

The Somerset rider and her Irish sport horse missed out on the chance to become the first combination to win the class four times after that dramatic tack mishap, but Harriet is back after the birth of her second child Oliver in December to make another record-breaking attempt in this year’s speed Derby with her now 19-year-old Hickstead hero.

Harriet Biddick and Silver Lift, who racked up their speed Derby hat-trick with high-octane victories in 2016, 2019 and 2022, warmed up for this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting (20-23 June) with a win at her local Bath and West Show in Shepton Mallet last weekend (30 May-1 June).

“He feels really good,” Harriet told H&H. “I’m only doing a few shows with him. Izzy, who rides for me at home, has jumped a few shows just so he’s been out doing bits and bobs.”

Harriet Biddick and Silver Lift: the most successful combination in speed Derby history

“I wanted to bring him to Bath and West for a run on grass and we’ll go to Royal Cornwall and then we’ll aim for the speed Derby,” said Harriet, who was on target for a fourth win on Hickstead’s hallowed turf when Silver Lift lost his bridle after the Irish bank last year, dramatically jumping through the triple of planks without any steering.

“I won’t have the hackamore on him this time, I’ll ride him in the three-ring!” she said.

Harriet’s horses are just returning to full fitness after she had Oliver. She didn’t take them on any tours this spring, but the horses seemed to improve as the show went on.

“The ground was sticky the first day and Night Of Glory found it a bit squishy, it was taking her jump away a bit,” she said.

“In the trial she had a couple of tired poles towards the end of the course but she was back to herself in the grand prix and was really game for it, whereas she’d felt a little bit rusty. The ground had dried out and was great.”

Harriet is also hoping the 20-year-old A Touch Imperious, with whom she has finished second in the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby an incredible five times, might make a return to Hickstead this year after a minor setback 12 months ago.

You can read the full report from Bath and West Show in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 6 June and we’ll bring you all the news of Harriet Biddick’s record-breaking speed Derby attempt at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting this month.

• If you’d like to be at Hickstead to watch all the action in person, tickets start from less than £20, with advance discounts and concessions available. Thursday 20 June is free general admission for all, while Friday and Saturday offer free admission to those under 15 years of age. Book tickets

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Not many horses have jumped round Badminton and Burghley then gone on to achieve grade A status as a showjumper. But 17-year-old superstar Drumbilla Metro is breaking the mould and at Hickstead’s forthcoming Al Shira’aa Derby meeting (20-23 June), the “barely 15hh” gelding and regular rider Simon Grieve will be making their debut in the show’s iconic speed Derby.

The Irish-bred son of Metropole, out of a Touchdown mare, has been owned by Merna Merrett since she bought him as a four-year-old and she describes “Splash” as a “very special little horse”. He is one of two “horses of a lifetime” she’s been fortunate enough to own, the other being five-star showjumper Lammy Beach who has been a star performer for Holly Smith, William and Jim Whitaker and now Isabel Saywell, but was originally produced by Di Lampard.

“Dreaming of going to Badminton and Burghley was enough but then to go to Horse of the Year Show and win a class, then to London Olympia and win were just beyond what I ever imagined,” Merna tells H&H.

Both hugely successful horses were sourced by Vere Phillipps.

Badminton final scores

“We’ve had several horses from Vere,” Merna continues. “Splash was four and Vere had not had him for very long and his wife Clea had been riding him. She said when she got off him, she was always very surprised when she hit the ground because he felt much bigger than he really was, which is literally just over 15hh – he’s tiny.”

Drumbilla Metro: “I don’t think any of us dreamt he’d go as far as he did”

Merna originally purchased the prospective eventer for her daughter Catherine, who Merna describes as having “a very good eye” having also picked out Lammy Beach.

“I don’t think any of us dreamt he’d go as far as he did though,” says Suffolk-based Merna, who met Simon Grieve through local coach Debbie Edmundson, who had completed one novice event on Splash before spotting his potential and suggesting Simon took over producing the exciting youngster.

The duo were selected for Le Lion d’Angers young horse championships in 2014 when Splash was seven, where the likes of Tom McEwen’s double Olympic medallist Toledo De Kerser finished on the podium.

“He’s just gone on from there really,” says Merna. “He did a lot of three-stars – as they were in those days [now four-star] – and didn’t have cross-country penalties, that’s just not what he did, and he was always a very good showjumper, which is understandable given his breeding.”

From Badminton and Burghley to grade A status

After moving up to four-star level, they narrowly missed out on Badminton qualification at their first attempt, but made their debut at the sport’s premier event in 2018, also adding Burghley to their illustrious CV.

“Simon was absolutely beside himself to ride there,” says Merna, who takes immense pride and joy watching her horses compete. “Then we went to Badminton again the next year and he just wasn’t quite right so Simon pulled him up, sensibly. He never really wanted to go eventing after that, but the good news is that he has another job now that he absolutely loves and he’s now a grade A showjumper.

“He’s quite a grumpy little soul – Simon has a wonderful groom called Maggie, who Splash adores, but he’s not always keen on other people! But he and Simon have such a lovely understanding,” says Merna.

As well as their recent successes in the showjumping world, Leicestershire-based Simon and Drumbilla Metro have also contested Hickstead’s eventers’ challenge twice and after some warm-up classes on grass at Bramham this weekend (8-9 June), Hickstead’s speed Derby is the next big goal for this remarkable team.

“Simon has always wanted to do the speed Derby,” says Merna, who revealed some expert tips from Michael Whitaker have helped Simon and Splash increase their speed over the poles. “I’ll certainly be going to Hickstead to watch.

“He’s a lovely little horse and because he’s so small, he loves running on any ground. He loves Hickstead – he just has to go a bit faster!”

You may also like to read…

‘I was holding the throatlash’: Speed Derby superheroes jump triple planks with no bridle

‘I can’t believe it’: young rider and ‘free’ horse take speed Derby win on debut

Horse and rider become the most successful Hickstead speed derby combination in history

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

An eventer who missed out on riding at Badminton after she broke her back has switched to showjumping – completing the British Speed Derby at Hickstead.

Serena McGregor and her parents Anthony and Sheila Russell’s Park Diamond Lux made their debut in the class on Saturday, which was their first time in the International Arena.

They finished in 15th place; some rails fell as the 18-year-old was having an uncharacteristic look at the crowds, and Serena told H&H they may give it another go next year.

“It was a good experience; I’m glad I did it,” she said. “I’ve jumped him in a few 1.40s, and someone said why didn’t I have a go at this. I thought it was ironic as he’s not a fast horse, but it was something fun to aim for.”

Serena said she had been warned about the Derby bank – which is jumped across in the speed Derby rather than coming down the steepest side as in the Derby itself.

“A few jumpers had told me but I hadn’t registered how steep it was; I thought ‘He’s an event horse, that’s fine’, then thought ‘Blimey, that’s steep’!” she said.

Serena had qualified for Badminton in 2018 with the Lux Z gelding but was out with the Pytchley in January that year when her horse slipped and fell on landing. As they got to their feet, the horse kicked out, fracturing her back and 10 ribs.

“I was in bed for a week, then in a brace for six weeks,” she said. “I managed to get to Belton [in the April] but didn’t really have the strength [for Badminton].

“So he had a change of career.”

Serena added that although Park Diamond Lux is now 18, he is “still up for it”.

“I’d like to have another crack at the speed Derby,” she said. “He’s still really full of himself so we’ll see how is is. I’d like to have another go.”

You might also be interested in:

‘I always do it before Badminton’: eventer who broke back faces race to be fit

The rider suffered a punctured lung and broke 10 ribs in the fall

‘I was holding the throatlash’: Speed Derby superheroes jump triple planks with no bridle

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Meet the mare who was bought for a “silly amount” as no one would ride her, who’s known as a woodpecker as “she always finds a fence” – and who came sixth in the British Speed Derby at Hickstead.

Ashley Boyce and 11-year-old Summerbridge Lulu put in a super round on Saturday (24 June) to finish four places higher than they did on their class debut last year.

Ashley told H&H the mare came to her in an unusual way.

“She won’t work conventionally; always has her head up in the air and has one speed – as quick as she can go,” she said, adding that she first rode Lulu for a client.

“His daughter was going to ride her and I said ‘There’s no way’,” she said. “Then their pony failed the vetting and they didn’t go ahead with the sale. So Matt Pike [Sussex Equestrian Sales] said ‘If you want her, you can have her’, for a silly amount. The minute I saw her, I knew she’d jump the speed Derby.”

Ashley said she had been fascinated by the class for years; 20 years ago, a horse owned by her friend Shirley Light of Brendon Stud competed in it.

“I was helping her, and have been fascinated by it ever since,” she said. “Shirley’s been telling me to win the Hickstead Derby but I want to win this. If Lulu does, she’s still got age on her side, so she can do that and then breed me beautiful babies. I worship the ground she walks on, and I think that’s why she tries for me.”

Ashley added that when she jumped Lulu in the class last year, the mare was still in 90cm British novice classes on points.

“I never doubted she’d take me through the start and finish,” she said. “Shirley’s encouragement has been unbelievable, and she says she’ll jump the Derby but that feels serious and the next step up; I like going mad and fast!”

Ashley said that although Lulu may not be the most careful, hence the woodpecker reference, and that “the consensus was no one would have the patience for her”, she loves riding her, and thinks the mare is ideally suited for the speed Derby.

“She’s a clever cookie; I wonder if that slightly clever, slightly insane brain cell makes her good in that class as it isn’t one for every horse but she loves it,” she said. “I’ve got beautiful, talented horses for the serious stuff, who will win me more, but I love her so much. She may be a woodpecker – but she’s my woodpecker.”

You might also be interested in:

A ‘stumbled upon’ horse and some home-made Derby fences – how amateur rider impressed in Hickstead speed Derby

‘I was holding the throatlash’: Speed Derby superheroes jump triple planks with no bridle

‘I can’t believe it’: young rider and ‘free’ horse take speed Derby win on debut

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

There was an emotional win in Hickstead’s International Arena for Jay Halim on Sunday (25 June), on a horse whose previous rider, his owners’ daughter, evented until her death a year ago.

Jay, also a former eventer, rode Charles Filmer’s 10-year-old Lachain Crux to win the Doney Championship by a second and a half from Lucy Townley on Billy Von Papan.

The gelding had been evented to novice level by Charles and Antonia’s daughter Miranda, who died aged 30 last June from neuroendocrine cancer, and who was a posthumous finalist in the inspiration of the year title at last year’s Horse & Hound Awards.

“I’m really pleased for him, and really pleased for the owners. It means so much,” said Jay.

Jay added that he could “feel every stride” yesterday; he had come third in Saturday’s British Speed Derby on Zuniek VD Tojopehoeve Z but had a fall from his other ride in the class, Gentle. But he rode a beautiful round on Sunday, on a horse he was sent to produce and sell, although he hopes to keep the ride.

“He’s a super, super horse; he’s got loads of ability, and so it’ll be really interesting to see if I could hold on to him and see what’s there, because he’s really proving to be a lovely horse,” he said. “He’s got so much stride – I could have taken another stride out on every distance with him.

“I don’t ride on grass that often any more, so I find it a little bit peculiar to be honest – having evented so much, it was kind of my comfort zone, and now I’m a bit like a fish out of water at times! But I’m naturally a very forward rider, and I think that’s a key element of jumping on grass. Hickstead is so special to me anyway, so I love being here, and it’s lovely to be in that arena.”

You might also be interested in:

‘I can’t believe it’: young rider and ‘free’ horse take speed Derby win on debut

‘I was holding the throatlash’: Speed Derby superheroes jump triple planks with no bridle

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

There are not many horses and riders who could jump the famous Hickstead planks with no bridle – but Silver Lift and Harriet Biddick did just that today in the British Speed Derby.

The 18-year-old gelding and Harriet were showing why they are the most successful combination in the class’s history, with three wins under their belt and challenging for a fourth, flying round the course they are so familiar with – when Silver Lift’s forelegs appeared to slip very slightly on top of the Irish bank.

They landed and carried on over the triple of Hickstead planks, just tipping one, and the crowd was starting to roar them home, they might still just do it – but then Harriet lifted her hands, one of which held the bridle, while her horse’s head was bare. It had somehow come off entirely between the bank and the triple.

“The bridle came off his head; I had the throat lash in my hand,” Harriet said. “I don’t know how it happened.”

Harriet said she realised the bridle had gone but the superstar pair jumped through the triple anyway, the penultimate fence, and for a moment it looked as if they might also clear the last oxer, but Silver Lift cantered past on the left side.

“I was going ‘Go right, go right!’” Harriet said. “He’s the only horse I would trust [to do that].”

But it was not to be and the pair completed a circuit of the International Arena before Silver Lift pulled up by the tunnel, Harriet with superb horsemanship sticking all the way.

“He’s such a good horse,” Harriet said.

The class went to speed Derby first-timers Ella Dalton and Quality Rubies N Diamonds.

You might also be interested in:

‘I can’t believe it’: young rider and ‘free’ horse take speed Derby win on debut

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Ella Dalton said that had someone told her, last night, that she would win the British Speed Derby on her first attempt, she’d have said “no chance!”

But the 21-year-old rider and Quality Rubies N Diamonds put in a superb debut performance at Hickstead this afternoon (24 June), tipping just one rail to finish on 101.72, a squeak ahead of fellow first-timers William Rekert and Concert Z.

“It’s emotional,” said a delighted and somewhat disbelieving Ella as her win was still sinking in. “And quite shocking that I managed to win. I was trying to enjoy it, but the bank is actually quite high. I was quite scared by that! But when you’re on a horse who’s bold and brave, you get braver.”

Ella took on the mare, who was owned by Dave Jones and Sue Walker of Duckhurst Farm, as a six-year-old, and the pair jumped in the 2021 newcomers final at Horse of the Year Show, after which she was sold.

“She jumped abroad for a bit but they didn’t get on with her, so they gifted her back to me,” Ella said. “We’ve got a few free horses! I’m very lucky. She’s really chilled at home; Mum hacks her out and she’s a proper granny’s hack, but at shows she gets excited.

“I didn’t really think this would be her sort of class, but I’ve had a few lessons with Elliott Rowe and he’s transformed our rounds, so a lot of this is down to him. I can’t believe it.”

William and Alan Fazakerley’s gelding had put in a scorching but controlled round, just tipping one of the Hickstead planks after a leap off the Irish bank, at only their first show together.

“We picked him up last weekend!” William said. “This is the fourth time I’ve sat on him, so I’m very pleased with that.”

William said he has had some help from four-time speed Derby winner Guy Williams, who “knows what he’s doing”, and made the most of the scopey 12-year-old gelding’s speed as he was bellowed home by the crowd.

“If you’d said last week I’d finish in the top five, I’d have said no chance,” he said.

Third-placed Jay Halim and Zuniek VD Tojopehoeve Z have only been together a few months but they set an early lead, tipping only the first part of fence two, as Ella did, and showing an effortless turn of speed to finish on 106.21 – despite Jay’s less than ideal preparation for the class.

“I was doing a working hunter class, so I only got on her 10 minutes before!” he said. “So I wasn’t entirely in the zone, but she was amazing. I’m really pleased to have her, and grateful to her owners Agrarian for giving me this opportunity.”

You might also be interested in:

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Loughborough showjumper Joss Williams’s fantastic mare Culmore Prospect, who jumped everything from puissances to the Hickstead Derby, has been put down at the age of 23. The Irish-bred mare was a “drunken sales purchase” who took Joss from 1.20m tracks to international success.

“It was fate, she and I – we were just meant to be,” Joss told H&H after making the “awful decision to say goodbye” to “Sox”, who retired from the sport aged 20 and had spent her last years being looked after by Joss’s devoted mum at home near Loughborough.

Exactly a decade ago, while working for Holly Smith, Joss had hurt his shoulder in a fall from a young horse and, while recuperating, decided on a whim to join his then partner on a visit to the Cavan Sales in Ireland.

After “copious amounts of alcohol” on the ferry over, Joss’s attention was caught by this “hairy thing” being sold.

“I didn’t see her in the catalogue or in the stable because I wasn’t buying anything, I was just there for the social side of things,” he said. “But this man rode in on her and she’s pure Irish draught and she had all this feather on, so you can imagine how hairy she was with her in all her winter woollies in March!

“I watched her jump four jumps – she flopped over a cross-pole, and she flopped over a vertical, then they came to an oxer which was about 1.40m. She was a mile off and she just went ‘Whoooosh’ and I said ‘I’m having that!’”

Joss was later enjoying himself in the adjoining bar when he spotted Culmore Prospect coming into the sales ring.

“All I knew about her was what the auctioneer announced – she was a 13-year-old registered Irish Draught chestnut mare,” said Joss. “I hadn’t spoken to the sellers at all.

“But I stuck my arm out, flapped my catalogue about a bit and I was actually bidding frantically against a rider who lives local to us. Eventually they dropped the hammer and she was mine.”

“I have zero money in my account!”

When Joss was asked how he would like to pay for his new acquisition, he had to confess: “I actually have zero money in my account.”

“So in the end our local transport guy who was there actually paid for her and she was delivered to his house. It took me about a week to scrape three grand together, so I took it to him and brought her home.

“He says to me now ‘I wish I’d never let you pay me for that horse!’”

But the partnership between Joss and Sox was anything but fruitful to start with.

“Here I was thinking I’d bought this brilliant horse who could jump amazingly, but we went to Weston Lawns and got eliminated,” said Joss. “Everyone was saying send her back – she’s awful, she bites, she kicks’. I said ‘It’s too late now!’

“She was really fussy, a really funny eater, just weird, then one day she seemed to say ‘Oh this is my home now and you’re my new people? OK then, hi!’ And that was it, it all clicked.”

From the Hickstead Derby to a HOYS prizegiving

Joss Williams and Culmore Prospect went on to huge success, both nationally and internationally, jumping in the Hickstead Derby twice, contesting puissance classes everywhere from Bolesworth to Horse of the Year Show, finishing third in 2018. Joss and the daughter of White Clover also won the Speed Derby qualifier at Hickstead in 2019.

“She won 1m, 1.10m, 1.25m, 1.35m and 1.40m national classes at Hickstead,” says Joss. “Then she jumped all the four-star classes, including four top 10 speed Derby placings.

“But to go into a Horse of the Year Show prizegiving is something else – she did stand and have a wee during it though! She used to have a wee every time she went in the ring and by round five of the puissance she didn’t have anything left in her but she’d still try anyway! That was her trademark.

“She was so popular and was still jumping grands prix at 20. She was just an absolute little freak – only 16.1hh, really hairy and she hated being clipped, we tried every which way! She once tolerated little clippers but it took me six hours. You asked her questions of what you could do with her.

“But she was great because when she got going, she brought in sponsors for me and I’d never jumped bigger than a Foxhunter before I got her.”

Joss even notched up a spectacular winning hat-trick with a 19-year-old Sox after employing some help from a psychic.

“She would jump anything – she could go on any stride,” says Joss. “She cleared a 2.20m puissance like it was a hurdle. No other horse could give me that feeling.

“You always knew she would take off over anything – it was just a matter of getting her into the right sort of area to take off! Then I just let her get on with it.”

Joss, who has been selected for the British Showjumping gold development programme this year, paid tribute to the wonderful, unforgettable, Sox by saying: “Sleep tight old girl and keep taking strides out up there”.

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‘It’s a money can’t buy opportunity’: showjumper embarks on amazing journey – riders to watch for 2023

‘He went a happy horse’: goodbye to legendary Hickstead Derby winner aged 28 after golden retirement

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The rider of a horse who united a family in their love for him has paid tribute to the eventing and showjumping superstar who has died aged 21.

Esib Power’s Doonaveragh O One had to be put down on Monday (31 October), at his home of 16 years, with those who loved him best. He had evented up to four-star (now five-star) level with Esib, and won countless national grands prix and at Dublin Horse Show, as well as winning the Hickstead speed Derby with Esib’s brother, Grand National-winning jockey Robert (Robbie).

“There will always be special horses but there will never be one who unites the family as much as he did,” Esib told H&H. “Robert loved him as much as I did, and Mum and Dad too. He brought us all together, as he gave us those amazing days.”

Esib bought Irish-bred gelding “Tommy” as a five-year-old from Ryan Crumley.

“He’d been to Lanaken showjumping but I bought him as a potential superstar event horse, which to be fair, he was,” she said. “He came 10th in his first three-star [now four-star] as an eight-year-old, at Barbury, where he was incredible. But he picked up an injury, and that was really the start of his change in path.”

Esib was based in England at the time, and she made a deal with Robert over Tommy’s rehab.

“He was happy to do all the legwork and help him come back from the injury, as long as I let him ride him in the Hickstead eventers’ challenge, that was the deal!” she said.

“He started jumping him in the summers when he wasn’t busy racing; he won the Hickstead speed Derby and some national grands prix in Ireland.

“Then I went to Badminton and knocked the whole place down on the Sunday. I was in the depths of depression and decided I needed to work on the showjumping.”

Esib said there was a huge number of highlights to Tommy’s career, for many reasons.

“Where he’s taken us, and what I’ve achieved that I never thought I’d do,” she said. “I never thought I’d do the Hickstead Derby but to jump it, and jump it well – but probably winning at Dublin [in 2019] was the one; I’d been there through my pony years and thought my days of jumping at Dublin were over. There were only two nationals who got to go so we earned our ticket, and I knew it was my one opportunity and we had to make our mark. To win was just incredible.”

Esib and Tommy won countless national grands prix, including last year’s GAIN Equine Nutrition Alltech National Grand Prix at National Balmoral Championships.

After the win, she told Showjumping Ireland: “Tommy has the secret we all as humans need to learn; he loves life. When you put the headcollar on him and get him ready for a show, he loves it. He absolutely loves his job. He was as happy today with that win as I was; he loved it.”

“Every time he went on the box, you knew you had a chance,” Esib told H&H. “He always gave his best and never jumped a bad round.

“He was a very strange but wonderful horse; there was probably only a handful of people who could put his bridle on, and if he didn’t know and trust you, you weren’t going near him. He was super-sensitive but once he trusted you, he gave you everything.

“When Robert had his daughter Emma, from the day Tommy met her, he knew; he loved her and was so quiet around her. He was incredible with her and now she wants to know why he’s gone to heaven.”

Esib said Tommy had been in fine form, and could have competed this summer.

“There was no physical reason for him not to but I would never have forgiven myself if something had gone wrong,” she said. “It was a shock as he’d never been an ‘old horse’; he was perfect on Sunday night and then something must have gone wrong internally because on Monday morning, he couldn’t get up.

“Thank god he was at home, and I was there and Robbie was there. It was horrible but he’s here for ever now.”

She added: “You touched the lives of every member of my family, above and beyond. You were your own person but you had the kindest soul of any horse I’ve ever met. You were more than a horse, you were part of our family and it will never be the same again without you.

“We will miss your beautiful face more than I thought imaginable. I hope I gave you the best life that you deserved and I am heartbroken without you.”

You might also be interested in:

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Winning racehorse turned five-star eventer retires after top-flight career

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Among the many Hickstead specialists competing at this year’s Derby meeting was a horse and rider who broke the mould.

Local Sussex rider Ashley Boyce finished a very creditable 10th in this year’s speed Derby, riding the 10-year-old Summerbridge Lulu, a Christmas gift from her boyfriend and a mare she describes as “not everyone’s cup of tea”.

The pair only started out jumping at newcomers level last year, but showjumping coach Ashley said she always knew Lulu was just the type to take on the unique challenges of the speed Derby, so set about making it her goal. Unfortunately last year’s Derby meeting was cancelled but Ashley says that was in fact a “blessing” – “I might have been running into that a bit too soon,” she says.

Ashley, who first rode in the speed Derby in 2014, fixed her sights on this year’s event instead.

“I’ve been like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for the speed Derby to come around!” she says. “Once we knew it was going ahead, I’ve been training like mad.”

But without any Derby fences of her own to practise over, she set about training her mare over every natural obstacle at her disposal on her local South Downs. Ashley even built her own set of “Hickstead planks”, complete with cones beneath, in order to put in the best preparation she could ahead of her international ring appearance. Hickstead’s Lizzie Bunn also suggested she watched plenty of speed Derby videos for tips as to how best to ride the course.

“There’s a huge natural bank on my doorstep on the South Downs which I used, plus plenty of natural ditches, gates, riding up and down mulberry hills, and jumping hedges between the fields. All for free!” explains Pyecombe, Sussex-based Ashley.

“It’s been great for her fitness too, but just by hacking out there she’s learning to be bold, to go into dark forests and over open undulating hills. It really helps horses find their feet.

“She’s now used to jumping anything quirky that you don’t find in a normal jumping arena – it just became the norm to her.”

Ashley hopes her approach will inspire anyone who doesn’t necessarily have top flight facilities to have a go at these specialist competitions.

“You just have to be a bit inventive sometimes!” she says. “I’ve practised and been dedicated for the past three months, particularly on the fitness side of things – it’s a long way round there. So I’ve taken Lulu to a water treadmill and I’ve done circuit training on the Downs. Fortunately it all came together.”

‘Riding over the Hickstead bank felt incredible’

The pair flew round with 16 penalties to add, finishing 10th behind winner Harriet Biddick riding Silver Lift.

“I knew Lulu could be very quick across the top of the bank – and she was over and down in a matter of seconds. That felt incredible,” says Ashley. “It’s only when you go up the top of the bank on a 16.1hh horse that you think ‘This is much steeper than I remember an hour ago walking the course!’

“The Irish bank is a funny one – you never know what they’re going to do there because you can’t practise that. But she pulled me like a train everywhere. She lives for those Derby fences and I’ve always believed in her.

“I’ve never had one like her and it’s been brilliant, a real whirlwind. I never envisaged being in the top 10 on my first attempt with Lulu! I feel like such an underdog. But next year I’m aiming for top five with a bit more mileage under my belt. We’ve already just done our first 1.45m off the back of that, so we’re getting there.”

Ashley has five horses at home that she “rides for fun” and she describes the talented Lulu as “a bit opinionated”.

“She’s wonderful to ride but a bit jiggy and hot-headed,” she says. “She’s a real character, with so much presence and ego. She’s only 16.1hh – she’s a pocket rocket!

“She wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. She’s a typical hot-headed chestnut mare. But from the moment I sat on her, I said ‘I’m going to ride in the speed Derby on this horse’.”

‘We stumbled on her by accident’

Ashley fell in love with Irish-bred Lulu when one of her clients pulled out of purchasing her from Matt Pike at Sussex Equestrian Sales.

“She’s been around the mill a bit – she’s been through a few dealing yards, so I feel like we stumbled on her by accident,” says Ashley. “I whinged and whinged to my other half that this horse was going to be amazing and I think he just got fed up of me in the end and bought her for me for Christmas!”

So what made Ashley, who had previously jumped round the speed Derby on another home produced horse, think that Lulu could be ‘the one’?

“It’s not even a star quality – it’s this air of madness, a certain wackiness, about them,” she says. “They have to be extra brave, very bold and Lulu has the heart of a lion. I’ve never had one like her, I’m so blessed. She’d jump a house if I asked her to.”

According to Ashley, her neighbour Shirley Light from Brendon Stud, whom she credits for so much guidance over the years, has been urging her to jump the world famous Hickstead Derby too.

“I said that might be next year!” says Ashley. “I’m not Trevor or Shane Breen, so this year I wanted to keep within my limits. But whether it’s 2023 or 2024, I truly believe that she’ll jump the main Derby one day. That’s the goal now and it would be incredible for a semi-professional rider like me.

“We’re just two nobodies who came together and we’re already doing some wonderful things, but hopefully she’ll make our dreams come true.”

You may also enjoy reading…

Horse and rider become the most successful Hickstead speed derby combination in history

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Charlene Bastone put in strong performances in the Hickstead British speed derby, holding the lead for three quarters of the class to finish in eventual third and fourth place.

She beat her own pathfinding ride on the green mare Halina HL with her second horse, 12-year-old Fyberlinus H, who is owned by her grandmother Susan Bastone.

The Dutch grey has jumped the class twice before but Charlene only competes him infrequently as he lives with her grandmother in Essex, while she is based in Sussex with David and Louise Simpson.

“My grandad David used to race pigeons and he lives in converted pigeon sheds in their garden, next to the other horses next door,” Charlene said.

Susan and David have owned the gelding since he was two and he was backed and started by Charlene. The horse has been based with her for six weeks to prepare to compete at Hickstead.

“He is really easy-going and doesn’t need too much preparation,” Charlene said. “My nan has a friend who comes in and rides him but it can be quite difficult to meet up for shows.

“I’m not normally allowed him for this long. She calls me all the time to see how he is! Last time I was only allowed him for three weeks.”

Susan added that she did sit on the horse herself a few times when he was younger but he is “a bit sharp” for her.

“A friend of mine comes and rides him. He does a bit of dressage which he hates!” she said. “Mostly, he’s my pet, he eats all the veggies and apples from the garden.”

Susan admitted to some nerves while watching his speed Derby round.

“He’s been wasted the last two years, as with Covid and Charlene being abroad he’s done nothing. It’s always a worry, is he going to be good enough to get round?

“I am still shaking,” she added. “I can’t tell you what it was like watching that, I was nearly sick in my bag!”

You might also be interested in:

Horse and rider become the most successful Hickstead speed derby combination in history

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

After a two-year hiatus, Harriet Biddick and the gallant 17-year-old Silver Lift picked up where they left off to claim their third Hickstead speed derby victory.

The reigning champions from the class’s last edition in 2019 took the win from last to jump, using all of their experience to find 0.62sec of headway.

Their three wins as a combination put them on a level with record-setters David Bowen and Delsey, who landed three consecutive victories between 1990 and 1992, and Captain John Ledingham and Castlepollard, who repeated the feat between 1993 and 1995.

But the partnership go down in history for their enduring consistency, as they have also landed second place on three further occasions.

“It seems a little surreal at the moment but I am over the moon really,” Harriet said.

A few things have changed for Harriet in the two years since she last claimed this title: she has got married to jockey Will Biddick and had son Archie, now 16 months old.

“Mickey”, meanwhile, has spent two years being ridden by 15-year-old Joss Phillips.

“My dad [Rupert Nuttall] had a great plan to ask if we could have him back in June this year for the speed derby and thank God he did,” Harriet said. “He goes back to them in two weeks time. I hope we will be back again though.”

There was a high percentage of inexperienced combinations in this year’s field, with Harriet’s greatest rivals in recent years Matt Sampson and Top flight True Carlo not competing, while Guy William’s double victor Casper De Muze has now retired.

The greatest threat looked like it might come from Guy’s new ride this year, the stallion Triomphe Kervec, only for the partnership to drop out of contention when they were eliminated at the second fence.

Two very quick mares were also in the running, having performed well in the back ring speed derby qualifier. Jess Hewitt and Hot Bluebird, winners of last year’s winter B&C championship at the July meeting, started strongly but the mare was reluctant to drop down the bank and was eliminated after ducking out at the treble of planks.

Jackson Reed Stephenson and Muna VD Bisschop, winners of the qualifier, also ended up retiring.

By the time 16 of 23 competitors had jumped, pathfinder Charlene Bastone was lying in first and second place. She had produced a solid clear with the green mare Halina HL from first-to-go and followed up with a round that edged 0.34 sec ahead on her more experienced second ride Fyberlinus H, who was fast but lowered two of the three planks.

But it was Brazillian Carlos Eduardo Mota Ribas, a regular Hickstead competitor who first came here in 1998, who challenged Harriet by breaking the 100sec barrier — the marker of a round in true contention.

While a Brazilian has won the Derby before — Nelson Pessoa in 1996 — no Brazillian has ever won the speed derby, but Carlos came close. He set a time of 97.23 aboard John and Clare Whitaker’s eight-year-old Trix, who was tacking the course for the first time.

“I knew a 97sec round is a winning time in the speed derby so my plan going in was to go in and go for it,” Harriet said. “I thought if I have a fence, I need to be a bit more cautious as I would only have another fence in hand before Charlene’s time.

“When I went in though I went too slow at the start, so I was in a bit of a panic at end, cutting it fine.”

Carlos took the ride on Trix following a conversation with Robert Whitaker at a show in Belgium in December and realised recently that he could be a contender for this class.

“I started riding him and we very much clicked together. A month ago we tried some natural fences and he didn’t hesitate. In my mind I knew we could have a good round here,” he said.

“To win I knew I would have to beat madame here [Harriet] and the top riders who are specialists in these kind of classes, but you never know what will happen. I jumped the trial yesterday and a two-phase to show him the way.

“I had my plan and I know the course very well — I fell off at the Irish bank before. I have had so much misery in this ring, but also so much happiness.

“I know exactly how I lost this though,” he added. “I jumped the white gate and saw the Irish bank and saw a straight line on a long stride long distance. I thought I’d prefer to go to the BBQ tonight rather than hospital, so I knew Harriet would be winning!”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Three-time champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy is returning to his showjumping roots to compete in this year’s British speed Derby at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting (23-26 June).

The 26-year-old, who is currently banned from race-riding, made his Hickstead debut over the coloured poles last year and won his first international showjumping class in Spain in December.

He is now targeting the speed Derby with his top mare, the 10-year-old Medusa Van De Kooldries, one of a handful of horses he has with Irish showjumper Richard Howley and his partner Morgan Kent.

“I’ve loved showjumping since I was a small child,” Oisin told H&H. “When I started wanting to become a jockey, showjumping had to take a place on the shelf, but in recent months and particularly last year, I started to ride and get some lessons again.”

Richard Howley rode Medusa, who had previously evented to novice level with Oliver Townend, in a Derby-style class recently and it “went really well”, so it’s now all systems go for Oisin to take the reins once again at Hickstead, where he will need to jump in the Thursday’s qualifier in order to line up for Saturday’s feature class. There, he’ll be tested over some of Hickstead’s iconic fences including the Irish Bank and Devil’s Dyke.

“She’s quite brave and quite sharp, so hopefully she’ll give me a good spin,” said Oisin. “I haven’t actually ridden her over anything natural myself but I hunt over the winter with the Ledbury, the Quorn and the Cottesmore at least twice, if not three times, a week, so hopefully I’ll be fine — and if Richard and Morgan are content for me to ride in the class, I’m sure the horse will be well-prepared.”

Oisin Murphy: ‘I’ve been watching the Hickstead speed Derby since I was a small boy’

Oisin is planning to have a few lessons this week but his next appearance in the ring will be at Hickstead itself, where he hopes to be jumping a few horses, followed by Bolesworth International.

“I might borrow a horse from Michael Duffy or David Simpson for the week,” said Oisin. “All those Irish guys have been super helpful and I’m very fortunate to get advice and lessons from them, albeit irregularly. They’re there when we can fit it in.

“I’ve been watching the speed Derby since I was a small boy. I’m sure I’ll be nervous on the day, but I never really focus too much on these things beforehand. There’s a lot to remember, from the course to just getting everything right.”

Might we see the Group One-winning jockey descending the legendary bank in the Hickstead Derby itself one year?

“Baby steps! When I started showjumping I just wanted to jump 1.20m and I’m comfortable around 1.35m now, so hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll be jumping a bit bigger than that,” said Oisin.

“My mother spent time, energy and money on getting me lots of lessons as a child, so I just hope I don’t embarrass myself!”

A truly cosmopolitan field of riders will be battling the showjumpers in a bid to compete in this year’s speed Derby, including top flight eventers Gemma Tattersall, who said she’s “just going to go for it” and Ben Hobday, while Grand National-winning jockey Paul Carberry will be hoping to emulate his former weighing room colleague Robert Power, who won the class in 2013.

You might also be interested in:

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Is this the ultimate saddle swap? Watch a champion jockey and Ben Maher switch disciplines…

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Hickstead speed Derby is one of the highlights of the showjumping calendar but this year Olympic eventer Gemma Tattersall will be targeting the class with her talented eight-year-old event horse Johan-Some.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Gemma, who combines her top-level eventing career with plenty of success in pure showjumping.

At the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting (23-26 June) she and the Dutch-bred son of Lexicon, owned by Linda Allen, will jump in Thursday’s qualifier from which the top 25 combinations go through to the British speed Derby on Saturday.

“Johan-Some is a real talent and has been jumping some 1.40m showjumping classes, so he combines the experience of eventing with an amazing jump, and a brilliant brain — he’s just not fazed by anything,” said Gemma, who rode the gelding to seventh place in his first four-star at Chatsworth last weekend.

“So I know he’ll just love going into that big arena at Hickstead and doing something like the speed Derby. He’ll probably think the whole show has been put on just for him anyway, that’s his kind of mentality!

“He has a lovely, big, scopey jump, he’s careful and he’s really brave. So all the ditches and banks on the course will hopefully not be a problem.”

Gemma has competed in jumping classes in Hickstead’s world-famous international arena, but she says she will be watching old videos of the speed Derby to help familiarise herself with the snaking 1.50m track which features the “easy” side of the Derby bank and a mix of ditches, the Irish bank, coloured rails, the wall and the famous Hickstead planks — all against the clock.

“I haven’t done any specific training — I’m just going to go for it!” Gemma told H&H. “I’ve watched the class before but probably not as much as the Hickstead Derby itself, which I could tell you the exact course off the top of my head. So I’ll watch some videos to get familiar with the speed Derby course and work out just how fast I need to go!

“Of course I always want to be competitive because that’s my nature, but we’re just going to compete and have a good time and the owners are really excited. So if we win a prize it’s a bonus.”

Gemma Tattersall: first the Hickstead speed Derby – then maybe Paris

This is all part of the bigger picture for the talented young Johan-Some, for whom Gemma has high hopes.

“We think an awful lot of him,” said Gemma, who won team gold at the 2018 world championships. “He’ll do Hickstead then he’ll have a break over the summer, then hopefully he’ll do the prestigious eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim.

“Then we’ll aim to do something pretty smart with him next year — the distant dream is to campaign him for championships and maybe even the Paris Olympics. You’ve always got to have an aim and if he wins the speed Derby along the way that would be awesome!”

It is not the first time a rider best known from another discipline has targeted the speed Derby – National Hunt jockey Robbie Power won the class in 2013. Other recent winners include Harriet Nuttall, Matt Sampson and Guy Williams. Ben Maher, Michael Whitaker and Capt John Ledingham are some of the other big names to have their names etched on the Hickstead speed Derby silverware.

So will the Hickstead Derby itself be on Gemma’s agenda eventually?

“One day maybe, we’re not there quite yet!” said Gemma, who will also be getting married to fiance Gary Stevens in less than a fortnight.

You might also be interested in:

Top British eventer and ‘force of nature’ mare on showjumping grand prix podium

Zara Tindall wins at Chatsworth as Class Affair returns to form after frustrating spring

Harriet Nuttall takes Hickstead Speed Derby after nail-biting finish

Olympic riders and rising stars among 14 British entries for Luhmühlen five-star

Teenage Derby horses, Holly Smith, and a son of the great Hickstead: who won showjumping ribbons at the weekend?

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting last week (20-23 June) is always a highlight of the equestrian calendar and this year’s record-breaker proved no exception.

From breathtaking launches off the Derby Bank to flying poles and joyful celebrations, we bring you some of our most memorable images from this year’s show.

1. Let’s just make this jump slightly easier…

A veteran of six Hickstead Derbies — including lifting the trophy in 2017 — Golvers Hill (ridden by Nigel Coupe) knows exactly how to tackle the famous fences, including how to make them infinitely more jumpable.

2. Wave to the crowd

It wasn’t their day, but Gerard Clarke and Hollystown Miss Lupin strike a great pose at the summit of the Irish Bank in Saturday’s Speed Derby.

3. If in doubt, slide down!

One of two representatives for Germany in Sunday’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby, Jan Peters and Kokolores 2 slide their way back down to earth from the top of the Bank, completing the track with 28 faults.

4. That winning feeling

Harriet Nuttall celebrates a hugely popular victory in the Science Supplements Speed Derby with the wonderful 14-year-old gelding Silver Lift

5. It’s a long way down!

Irish rider Elizabeth Power and Doonaveeragh O One let gravity assist in their descent of the 10ft6in Bank. This experienced combination came home with eight faults to share sixth place in this year’s class.

6. Well sat!

It’s not that often you see a coloured horse jumping round the International Arena at Hickstead so all eyes were on the striking San Franzisko 10, ridden by Ralf-Werner Konig of Germany.

7. Best foot forward

Hats off to PC Charlotte Lee of Forces Equine and the 15-year-old mare Zarina, who produced one of only five clear rounds in Saturday’s Speed Derby to finish just out of the prize-money.

Article continues below…

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8. He’s back for more!

Making his second appearance in our gallery, Gerard Clarke teams up with Lupins Lux Z for another attention grabbing picture — this time in Sunday’s feature class as they launch off the fearsome Bank.

9. And finally… even the winner had a heart-stopping moment or two

En route to becoming the youngest ever winner of the Hickstead Derby, 19-year-old Michael Pender and Hearton Du Bois Halleux sent pulses racing after their dramatic descent of the Derby Bank.

Don’t miss the full report from this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting in the current issue of Horse & Hound (dated Thursday 27 June).

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It was victory once again in the Science Supplements Speed Derby for Harriet Nuttall and Silver Lift – a result decided by the very last jump of the competition.

The 2016 champions showed their class yet again with a superb clear from 22^nd draw to take the lead in 95.33 seconds, but with Matt Sampson on Topflight True Carlo, who won last year and in 2017, among those still to come, it was always going to be a nail-biting finish.

Matt scorched round the course in customary style, flying to the last with seconds in hand – but that last rustic oxer tumbled to the grass to give Matt a final time of 95.83, and securing the win for Harriet.

“It means so much,” Harriet said. “I’ve been runner-up so often, so to now have two wins with this horse is so special.

“I seem to always come second here! So I’m so happy to have another win under my belt.”

Matt praised his “fantastic” horse, who hunted over the winter with his owner Christine Spanner.

“He loves that arena, and that class,” he said.

“He got a bit tired by the end, with the heat and everything, but he’s jumped that class I think seven times, and been in the top five seven times. He always tries his absolute best, and to lose to Harriet is no bad thing.”

Harriet has also had her share of runner-up spots in the Al Shira’aa Derby, which she is due to contest again tomorrow with A Touch Imperious. So could this be her year?

“100%, she’s going to win,” Matt said.

Harriet added: “He feels great. He made a couple of mistakes in the Derby trial yesterday [21 June] but nothing that won’t wake us up for tomorrow.

Continues below…

Popular British rider makes it a double in Hickstead speed derby

The rider proved last year’s Hickstead speed derby win on catch ride Top Flight True Carlo was no fluke as

William Funnell aiming for record fifth win as Derby line-up revealed

Two of the other four-time winners of the class believe William can break the record

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“I’m going to go for a clear again, but I don’t know anyone else who’s jumped four, four-fault rounds and one clear and not won! But he’s another amazing horse for me and what will happen, will happen.”

In third place his afternoon was Brazilian rider Carlos Eduardo Mota Ribas with the 13-year-old Brilexo, who just tipped the gate to finish on 96.59. Paul Crago’s seasoned Speed Derby campaigner Valentino IX also added four faults by knocking the second of the Hickstead planks to finish on 98.63 for fourth place.

For the full report from the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting 2019, don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, on sale 27 June.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The 58th running of the Hickstead Derby must surely go down in history as one of the best yet, with William Funnell joining that elite band of four-time winners on his charismatic 18hh home-bred Billy Buckingham.

But it wasn’t only the action over the infamous Derby fences that kept us enthralled last week — we’ve enjoyed thrills, spills, several near-misses and some top class sporting action from start to finish. The 2018 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting was an absolute blast and we can’t wait to do it all again next year…

1. Praying to the Hickstead Gods

Andrew Williams and the 13-year-old Bodieve Toyboy begin their descent of the mighty Bank

2. And the winner is…

William Funnell — three-time winner with the great Mondriaan — returns in 2018 to claim a fourth victory, this time with his second generation home-bred, the 10-year-old 18hh giant Billy Buckingham, a son of the great Billy Congo

3. Wait for me!

The 14-year-old Derby veteran Dollanstown is a bit too keen for Ireland’s Capt Geoff Curran at the rails at the bottom of the Bank

4. Will you push him or will I?

Ground staff hard at work at the open water, which caused an unusually high number of problems for riders this year

5. Olympic champion pays a flying visit

2012 Olympic team gold medallist Scott Brash was on a fact-finding mission to Hickstead with Hello Shelby ahead of their Nations Cup appearance here next month — they even managed to win the Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard

6. Drinks are on you, Matt Sampson!

After winning his second British Speed Derby in a row with Topflight True Carlo, Matt Sampson (and friends) head to the bar for a lemonade or two

7. Breen Family celebrations

Shane Breen is joined by his family after winning the Hickstead Master’s Trophy on Clyde VA. Shane went on to finish equal third in the feature class.

8. The winning team

William Funnell and wife Pippa enjoy the moment

9. Poles flying

Angelie Von Essen and Caluna Z take a slightly different approach to reaching the other side…

10. Sending the Hickstead turf flying

Graham Gillespie and D Alba R 15 scramble over the Irish Bank to finish 10th in Saturday’s British Speed Derby

11. And finally…

The final word goes to William Funnell — with a bit of prompting from commentator Steven Wilde — as he joins John and Michael Whitaker, Harvey Smith and Eddie Macken in the illustrious group of four-time Hickstead Derby winners. Can he make it a fantastic five? Roll on 2019…

Don’t miss the full report from the Hickstead Derby meeting in the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine, which is out tomorrow (27 June 2018)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Matt Sampson proved last year’s Hickstead speed derby win on catch ride Top Flight True Carlo was no fluke as he made it a double, securing the win with more than 2sec to spare at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting.

Paul Crago and Dawn Cooley’s 16-year-old gelding Valentino IX had set an early lead. Jumping ninth of 31 contenders, they set the bar at 98.97sec, having added a 4sec penalty for catching the troublesome gate before the Irish bank.

There were some strong contenders in the field, but each fell by the wayside leaving Paul out in front right up to the wire.

“I’d gone back to the lorry and started packing up and told them to ring me if I was placed,” confessed Paul, who has jumped the son of Andiamo in this class on five occasions, but produced his fastest round by 6sec. “It was left to my mum [Judy Crago] and Dawn [Cooley, the horse’s owner] to sit there watching them all.”

Brazilian rider Carlos Eduardo Moto Ribas were the next to break the 100sec barrier, producing a 99.69 sec round when he caught the middle element of the treble of planks with the Dutch gelding Brilexo.

The 2016 victors Harriet Nuttall and Silver Lift, who have a brilliant track record in this class, added an unexpected 12 sec in penalties, also falling foul of the gate, the Al Shira’aa fence and the first rail of the road crossing to finish with 103.91sec.

Course record holders Guy Williams and Casper De Muze were similarly off the target. The prolifically successful chestnut had four down, breaking the beam in 91.99sec [0.04 off their record time] but adding 16.

With the class running in reverse order of qualifying time — and last year’s winner jumping last — the competition always intensifies as the final few come forward to jump.

Joe Clayton has been producing competitive rounds throughout the show and set off to a blistering start here with 11-year-old Carolus K DHI, only for the gelding to duck out of descending the bank and briefly disappear down the wrong side.

As the class entered the final three, Matt’s girlfriend Chloe Winchester looked on-point with the naturally quick ex-eventer Sportsfield Our Clare but the 11-year-old mare went on to clip the red and yellow fence near the bank, also adding the gate and the first of the Hickstead planks.

Last year, Irishman Paddy O’Donnell’s grey mare Hey There Delilah had scorched round in an incredible 88.71 sec but had three rails, this time they had the gate and the miffle plank to slip into third place in 99.48sec.

Continued below…

Catch ride wins British Speed Derby at Hickstead

This year’s speed derby winner sat on his winning ride just twice after a three year break prior to victory

Singing Sampson eyes Hickstead glory after Hamburg win

Matt Sampson is returning to Hickstead as the defending British Speed Derby title holder and will also be aiming for

Showjumper who sang his way to Bolesworth serenades Nina Barbour to say thank you

Watch the hilarious videos of Matt Sampson singing his heart out

Just Matt and Top Flight True Carlo stood between Paul and victory, but the chestnut gelding looked to be in his element as he ate up the first three-quarters of the track ahead on the clock.

It was a year when no one in contention produced a clear and Matt was no exception, also clipping the hard-to-see gate — that is jumped towards the crowd — with Christine Spanner’s British Warmblood.

Despite adding 4sec, they crossed the line with a total of 96.58sec to the rapturous approval of the crowd.

“I just thought I’d do a similar round to last year,” said Matt. “There were quite a lot of experienced horses having fences today and mine did as well — maybe because it was hot and it was taking energy away from them.

“[Even with one down] I thought I wasn’t too far off if I could just keep going. I tried to speed up and the faster you go, the more he tries so it paid off.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Singing showjumper Matthew Sampson is eyeing Hickstead glory after his brilliant victory in the Hamburg Derby.

The 28-year-old, who famously crooned his way to Bolesworth last year, was the only rider to jump double clear in the class at the German show on 13 May aboard Gloria van Zuuthoeve.

Matthew won the British Speed Derby at Hickstead last year with Topflight True Carlo and will return to the meeting (21-24 June) with the aim of retaining his title and adding the Al Shira’aa Derby to his list of wins.

“Hamburg was the first time I’ve jumped in a derby, so I had a bit of luck on my side,” said Matthew.

“It was a great warm-up for Hickstead and it would be great to do well again there in a few weeks’ time.

“Hickstead is a very different course to Hamburg and not many horses have done well at both, but winning the class has really upped our confidence.”

The British Speed Derby takes place on 23 June this year, the Derby the following day.

The last rider to win the Speed Derby and Derby at Hickstead in the same year was Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher, who did the double in 2005.

Ireland’s Eddie Macken was the last rider to win both the Hamburg and Hickstead derbies in the same year, achieving the feat in 1976 and 1978.

Article continues below…

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The Hamburg Derby dates back to 1920 and inspired Hickstead founder Douglas Bunn to create a similar class in England.

After watching video footage of the Hamburg class, he visited the German showground to inspect the course.

Douglas arrived during a snowstorm on New Year’s Eve, and went round the showground measuring fences — much to the bemusement of the show’s officials. The layer of snow on top of the Hamburg bank must have affected Douglas’s measurements, as Hickstead’s bank stands 6in taller than its German counterpart.

The first Hickstead Derby took place in 1961 — featuring fences such as the Devil’s Dyke and the fearsome 10ft 6in Derby Bank — and the course has remained the same ever since.

Some of the biggest names in showjumping have won the class, including David Broome, John Whitaker and Marion Mould, all three of whom have also won the Hamburg Derby.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

This week’s edition (17 May) features a full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action. We go behind the scenes with the Household Cavalry as they prepare for the royal wedding, plus check out our interview with Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Matthew Sampson overturned the form book to win the British Speed Derby at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting on catch ride Topflight True Carlo.

Three-time winners Guy Williams and Casper De Muze and last year’s victors Harriet Nuttall and Silver Lift were both hot favourites to retake the title, but a scorching early round from Matt and Christine Spanner’s 13-year-old gelding left them trailing in his wake.

A “change in circumstances” meant Matt learned just yesterday (Friday) that he would be taking over the ride on the British warmblood from Christy Kemp.

He previously rode the horse, who is produced at home by his owner, for around eight months three years ago. They had one prior attempt at the speed derby in 2014, when they finished third to Guy and Harriet.

“I got back on him yesterday [for the first time in three years] and I just walked him out this morning as he’s better when he’s fresh,” said Matt. “I put the bit in that I used to ride him in and everything came together.

“I just tried to go as fast as I could but with Guy and Harriet at the end of the class, it’s never over. I just thought I needed to try and everything came off for today.”

Matt added that winning the speed derby was a life-long ambition.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid and watching it on TV. This class is thrilling, it’s the one everyone wants to win growing up.”

Matt set an insurmountable target when he jumped clear from 11^th draw in 92.73sec, undercutting the early lead set by Liam O’Meara and Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight by a dramatic 4sec.

Just Paddy O’Donnell and his second ride Hey There Delilah looked like they might come within touch, when they galloped round in a staggering 88.71 sec but added 12 for tipping the first part of the double, the gate and the final oxer.

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With Guy and Harriet jumping in the closing two slots, Matt had a nervous wait, but Casper De Muze — who set the course record of 91.95sec in 2015 — was not quite up to match fitness.

“At the end he felt tired and normally he’s pulling my arms out,” said Guy, who left all the fences standing, but stopped the clock in 95.59sec.

In closing draw, Harriet Nuttall zipped round with well-rehearsed economy on her father Rupert’s little grey Silver Lift, galloping through the finish in 90.75sec but adding a 4sec penalty for catching the innocuous yellow and red oxer at fence 11.

“He did such a good round, he was quick and I was happy but I think he was just a bit unlucky,” she said.

Don’t miss our full report covering all the action from the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, on sale Thursday 29 June.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Guy Williams was disqualified from his runner-up spot in this year’s British Speed Derby on Saturday (25 June) at Hickstead.

The 2015 Speed Derby victor returned for this year’s contest on last year’s winning ride Casper De Muze and initially slotted in second behind Harriet Nuttall and Silver Lift.

An official at Hickstead detected blood on Casper De Muze’s flank after his round and the information was passed on to the show organisers and an investigation started immediately.

However, the results weren’t amended until the following day (Sunday, 26 June) by which time the ground jury had had time to thoroughly investigate all the video evidence and discuss the incident with Guy.

“The FEI officials were clear in stating that this was an unfortunate accident, and that there was no misuse of spurs, but the presence of blood on the horse’s side means instant disqualification under FEI rules,” said Hickstead’s director Lizzie Bunn.

The spur mark is thought to have been sustained at the Irish bank when the gelding jinked slightly.

Guy’s disqualification resulted in Harriet’s other Speed Derby ride Highland Cruiser II moving up to second and the 26-year-old claiming a one-two in the class.

A deluge of rain at the West Sussex venue meant ground conditions were different to those last year and of the 28 starters, nine failed to complete.

French-based Guy and the 14-year-old gelding last year smashed the course record when winning the Speed Derby, having also triumphed the previous year. He also became the first rider to take the title for a fourth time.

There was further drama in Saturday’s feature class when Captain Geoff Curran — who had set an early lead aboard Seapatrick — was then disqualified under the FEI rules when his horse pulled up with a nosebleed. He took prompt action by dismounting in the arena.

The FEI blood rules have caused controversy in the past. In December, Irishman Bertram Allen was eliminated during the Olympia grand prix having produced the winning round. His horse Quiet Easy was found to have blood coming from a small cut on her offside caused by Bertram’s spur when they left the arena.

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Harriet Nuttall has reversed her 2015 fortunes by winning the British Speed Derby with Silver Lift.

Harriet, who finished second in four major classes including the Speed Derby at last year’s Hickstead Derby meeting, beat the 2015 winner Guy Williams into second place by less than a second.

The 26-year-old had taken the lead with her first ride Highland Cruiser, finishing on 102.77 seconds, then bettered her own time to hold the two top spots, until Guy relegated Highland Cruiser to third place.

Guy had been aiming for a third consecutive win on Casper De Muze, and a record fifth Speed Derby victory.

“Harriet deserved to win it and I’m happy for her,” he said.

“If anyone’s going to beat me I’m glad it’s her – last year she should have won and she threw it away, and this year I did the same thing.”

In the Tom Hudson Derby Trophy, Billy Twomey won on nine-year-old gelding Thomas, beating Phillip Miller and Unbelievable Lady into second place.

Billy, who went first in the jump-off, finished in a time neither Phillip nor Anthony Condon, who had two horses in the jump-off, could match.

“The ground was at its best when I went, so maybe I had an advantage going first but I don’t think the conditions were too much of a factor because the jump-off ground felt great,” said Billy.

“I know Phillip’s horse is fast and careful so I wanted to put down a decent marker and then hopefully they’ll have to go for it and make some mistakes.”

Billy, who won the Hamburg Derby in May, will be among the favourites for the Equestrian.com Derby tomorrow, the feature class of this meeting.

He rides Diaghilev, who finished equal second in the 2015 Derby.

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Others to watch include Trevor Breen, who is aiming for a third consecutive win with either Adventure De Kannan or Loughnatousa WB.

Today’s big winner Harriet was equal second in the Derby last year with A Touch Imperious, so she will be aiming for a Hickstead double, although no one has won the Speed Derby and Hickstead Derby in the same year since Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher in 2005.

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Tomorrow’s Equestrian.com Derby at Hickstead will include one notable first-time contender when Grand National-winning jockey Robert Power lines up.

Robert showjumped in his youth and won team silver at the European young riders championships, but switched to racing soon after.

He was tempted back in 2012 when he came to Hickstead to compete in the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix. Riding Doonaveeragh O One (‘Tommy’), a former event horse belonging to his sister, Irish international eventer Elizabeth Power, Robert finished third.

Last year Robert and Tommy returned to the All England Jumping Course and won the Speed Derby. Now they’re back for a 3rd year, and Robert has a new ambition — winning the Hickstead Derby.

“I’m feeling hopeful, as Tommy jumped fantastically in the Derby Trial,” said Robert. “Tomorrow we’ll have to jump challenging fences like the Derby Bank and the Devil’s Dyke, but he’s the ideal horse for Hickstead because he’s quick, brave and careful.

“If we were lucky enough to win tomorrow it would be on a par with winning the Grand National, They’re both unique events — every year there are thousands of races and thousands of grand prix classes, but the Grand National and the Hickstead Derby only happen once a year.

“I’ll no doubt be a bit anxious in the morning but I’m looking forward to it. It’s like being in the weighing room at Aintree, you just want to get on with it.”

How to watch the Hickstead Derby on TV

Find out how Robert fared in our report on HorseandHound.co.uk tomorrow and don’t miss our special report from the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby meeting in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out 3 July.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Guy Williams and Casper De Muze (pictured) jumped the fastest of only 3 clear rounds to win the Bunn Leisure British Speed Derby on Saturday afternoon at Hickstead.

It was an incredibly professional performance from the British team rider, who was chasing an extremely quick time set by Harriet Nuttall.

“He lost a shoe after the road fence, but I don’t think that lost us too much time,” said Guy, who last won this class 10 years ago.

This was the Belgian-bred Casper’s first Derby-type class, but Guy had no worries.

“He won in La Baule and Lummen, so I knew he liked a big grass arena,” he said.

Harriet Nuttall was delighted with her Irish-bred Silver Lift, who finished 2nd.

“He’s only little, so he doesn’t have the length of stride of the other horses, but he does have a great engine,” she said,

Penultimate-drawn Matthew Sampson managed to beat the time on Christine Spanner’s Top Flight True Carlo, but the slightest touch at the gate meant 4sec was added to his time and he ended up in an honourable 3rd place.

Saturday round-up

This has been a show for 19-year-old Irishmen. Michael Duffy won the first international class on day one and Daniel Coyle took today’s major jump-off class, the Tom Hudson Derby Trophy, on Zuidam.

Derry-based Daniel had to be fast, as Jay Halim — Mr Consistent at this show — looked on course for a win with Jen Goodman’s 17-year-old Goodman For Fun II. But some great turns and a few less strides gave Daniel the win by more than 1sec.

“My horse is a real winner, but I wasn’t that confident because we had a lot of competition,” he said. “I’ll take him on the premier show circuit in Ireland now, but my real ambition is to get a place on a Nations Cup team.”

The heavens opened during the morning and there were plenty of drenched riders in both national finals. After 10 years of trying, businessman Enda Ivanoff took Hickstead’s amateur title home to Wexford in Ireland, while the Beethoven seven- and eight-year-old championship stayed in Britain when David McPherson jumped a great winning round on Maya Beard’s 7-year-old Cevin Z mare Dreamer III.

“I’m riding her while Maya is busy with studies, but she’s just the nicest horse,” said David. “She coped very well with a strong course for a young horse. It was a proper 1.40m track.”

Stay up to date with the latest news from Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby meeting on HorseandHound.co.uk and don’t miss our special report in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out 3 July

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A huge crowd enjoyed the sunshine and some fantastic action during the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby at Hickstead.

Riders went faster and faster during this classic class and the first to break the 100-second barrier — despite a 4sec penalty for an early pole down — was Irishman Daniel Coyle on the little chestnut mare Special Leap.

Such was the standard that Daniel ended up fifth at the end of the class. He was first overtaken by last year’s runners-up, Somerset-based Harriet Nuttall and Highland Cruiser II, who jumped a lovely clear but looked to have left some room for improvement.

Five horses later, Irish rider Trevor Breen jumped the round of the class. He and Beer Hunter never looked like making a mistake and took the lead by almost 4sec. This proved the winning time, although Trevor had to bite his nails throughout challenges from his brother Shane and the last-drawn rider, Syria’s Ahmed Saber Hamcho.

The latter came closest with a flying round on the French-bred mare Orphee De L’Illon and Ahmad’s smile at the end of his round said it all.

“I love this class. It’s a huge test of horse and rider and my horse was brilliant,” said Trevor.

Read H&H’s report on the Hickstead Derby on Horseandhound.co.uk tomorrow and don’t miss next week’s magazine for aspecial report on all the action at Hickstead’s British Jumping Derby Meeting

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Watch Shane Breen’s round in the Speed Derby at Hickstead 2010. Shane finished third on Magic Fox behind winner Ellen Whitaker, and second placed Damien Griffin.

Ellen Whitaker and Henri De Herne reclaimed the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby title they last won in 2007 with a smooth, problem free round and one of only six combinations not to hit a fence.

“I thought I would be beaten because I was so early to go,” said Ellen, who was third of the 27 starters. “I was convinced [Irish riders] Shane Breen or Damien Griffin [the eventual runner up] would catch me.”

Soaring temperatures made the already tough course even harder, but overnight watering of the Hickstead turf has resulted in excellent going, which has received widespread praise from competitors.

“It was hard work out there in that heat,” said Ellen.

Herni De Herne, who has competed in this class on six previous occasions and is owned by Ellen’s father Steven, jumped the entire course with ease, not even pausing before his descent off the Derby bank.

“He knows his way round the course now,” said Ellen. “That can be both good and bad though. Two years ago he ran straight off the other side of the bank [rather than the side he was supposed to go down].”

Another 13 riders faulted, adding 4sec for each fence down to their finishing times, before Damien Griffin and his mother Margaret’s Lysseygan Clover Diamond completed without error. He was slightly behind Ellen’s time, blaming a few corrections he had to make on the course.

“I got a bad shot to the fourth fence, so then had to take a stride out to the wall,” he said. “Then my horse got a bit strong galloping to the gate, so I had to really take a hold of him.”

He finished 1sec slower with the 15-year-old gelding, with whom he has won 22 puissances, eight of which were bareback.

“This is the only international show I come to out of Ireland,” said Damien, 26. “And a couple of years ago I was second to Ellen in a 1.50m class here.”

Earlier in the day, Ellen’s uncle Michael Whitaker took his second class of the meeting with GIG Amai, the Falcon Feeds Derby trophy. However, this time he had to share with Belgium’s Guido Hornesch (Concorde) who had taken the lead earlier in the jump-off.

Don’t miss H&H’s live interactive written commentary service from tomorrow’s Hickstead DFS Derby on Horseandhound.co.uk, starting at 2.15pm

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now