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

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William Whitaker holds up the Boomerang trophy
Careful! William holds up the Boomerang trophy – with both ears attached.
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

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

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

Eleanor Jones
Eleanor Jones
News editor

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