There have been emotional wins, records broken and Brits on top this week — here’s your weekly round-up of just some of the international sporting action from the world of showjumping.
The Hickstead Derby returns
It was standing room only around the International Arena as the Hickstead Derby returned after a two-year Covid-related absence. It was Irishman Shane Breen who fulfilled his long-held dream of lifting the Boomerang trophy, taking the title on Can Ya Makan with the only clear and finishing joint second, with Harriet Biddick (A Touch Imperious), Carlos Eduardo Mota Ribas (Jella Van’T Kathof) and Dermott Lennon (Gelvins Touch), with four faults on Golden Hawk.
“People have kept saying this has to be my year and I’ve said it’s been my year for the last 15 years!” he said. “It’s nothing about the money, it’s a class that everyone tunes into, at home in Ireland and around the world. I used to think when I was 80, I’d come down with a zimmer frame and an old horse and jump round, but I won’t have to do that now!”
It was another heartbreaking second place in the Derby for Harriet Biddick, but she and Silver Lift equalled records by taking their third speed Derby win. 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,” Harriet said.
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Joe Stockdale jumped his first CSI5* Nations Cup double clear, on his European Championships ride Equine America Cacharel, at Rotterdam on 24 June. The team, which also included Harry Charles on Stardust, Jack Whitaker on Equine America Valmy De La Lande and Ellen Whitaker on Equine America Spacecake, was otherwise unlucky, finishing in seventh place. “Yesterday was a big one,” Joe said. “What a horse, she jumped unreal once again.”
The Paris Panthers, featuring Ben Maher, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet, snatched victory in the Global Champions League of Paris round two. Ben and Faltic HB jumped double clear to secure the win ahead of the Miami Celtics.
“This win was a long time coming, we have had a tough year, the Paris Panthers have been jumping a lot of good rounds but just not quite good enough,” said Ben. “But finally here we did it, maybe the home crowd helped us. It was a tough competition!”
Young British rider Lily Attwood produced the best performance of her career to date, finishing second in the Paris Global Champions Tour grand prix on Cor-Leon vd Vlierbeek Z. The 20-year-old finished just behind Marlon Módolo Zanotelli and Like A Diamond van het Schaeck.
Full GCT results
Ireland triumph
Daniel Coyle became the first Irish rider since 1964 to win the Rotterdam grand prix, taking the win on Carlyle with the Netherlands’ Kevin Jochems in second.
Daniel said he could not quite believe what had happened. “To be honest, we weren’t the most hopeful heading into the competition,” he said. “With this horse, you don’t really know beforehand what you’re going to get. But last Thursday he did very well and so I decided to also ride him in the grand prix. And he did his very best for me today.”
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
