IRELAND’s David Simpson won the Al Shira’aa Derby for the first time at Hickstead, denying four-time winner William Funnell the chance to set a new record.

Funnell produced the first clear round of the competition, riding the 13-year-old Equine America Billy Diamo. His chances of claiming that historic fifth win were then given an even bigger boost when he managed to jump a second clear with new ride Dublon.

But 34-year-old David Simpson, drawn 25th to go out of the 27 starters, delivered the third clear round of the class on his own eight-year-old Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve, despite it being the horse’s first attempt in the Derby, guaranteeing the packed Hickstead crowds a jump-off.

Funnell then had the unenviable task of jumping first and second in the jump-off. The warm weather and long first round clear had clearly taken the energy out of Equine America Billy Diamo, who was retired after knocking four fences. Things looked far more positive with second ride Dublon, who just had one part of the Devil’s Dyke down to finish on four in a time of 91.68 seconds.

But that one fence down gave David a little bit of breathing space. Despite knocking the Derby Rails, he crossed the finish line in 90.48 seconds to take the win.

“To win on a horse I have had from a two-year-old is amazing. We broke him, we did everything with him, it’s incredible,” said an emotional Simpson. “William is one of my best friends, but you go in there and you want to win, and we will have a drink later. Shane [Breen] gave me my chance, I moved here to Hickstead in 2007. I learned my trade here dreaming of doing that.

“I said beforehand that I’d be delighted to finish with one or two down; the horse is only eight years old, and it’s his first trip round, but he’s an amazing horse, and we’ll see what the future holds for him. For now, we’ll just celebrate this!”

The Derry native, who is based close to Hickstead in West Sussex spent many years at the venue riding for Shane Breen, has won many international classes at Hickstead and has two Queen Elizabeth II Cup titles to his name. “I came here for the first time when I was very young working for Shane and Chloe Breen, and for as long as I can remember, the Hickstead Derby has always been the show. To lift that trophy – words can’t describe it,” he added.

Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve, a bay stallion by Bamako De Muze, is one of the youngest Derby winners. “He’s an incredible athlete, very intelligent, and just a great worker – he makes my life very easy,” said Simpson who took home the top prize of £34,650.

William Funnell did end up taking home the lion’s share of the prize money by finishing second and third, plus he has now equalled John Whitaker’s record of jumping five clear rounds around the tricky Derby course. The 57-year-old Surrey-based rider now hopes to return in 12 months’ time for another crack at breaking the record of four wins that he currently holds alongside Eddie Macken, Harvey Smith, and John and Michael Whitaker. “Now I’ll be hanging around for another year to try to do it, which seems to get more and more difficult!” he said.

Two Irish riders shared fourth place with four faults apiece – Derry’s Jordan Coyle who came from his base in America with Elan Farm’s Eristov and debutant Daniel McAlinden riding Sharon Fitzpatrick’s 12-year-old geldingKeatingstown Z Wellie Two, with former two-time Derby champion Trevor Breen from Co Tipperary in sixth with Gonzalo. Sammie-Jo Coffin was the next best of the home nation in seventh place, riding Chaccomo Blue.

Speed Derby drama

On her first ever attempt, 21-year-old British rider Ella Dalton won Saturday’s British Speed Derby riding Quality Rubies N Diamonds (OBOS Quality x Coevers Diamond Boy), bred by Eamon O’Dwyer. In a class full of drama, best of the Irish in fifth place was former Derby winner Mikey Pender with Marion Hughes’ home-bred mare HHS Fortune (Catoki x VDL Douglas).

Drawn 11th to go out of the 26 starters, Dalton set off in determined fashion, especially after an early fence down put pressure on. But even with the four second time penalty, she still finished in a time of 101.72 to take the win by over three seconds from runner-up William Rekert and Conert Z

“I wasn’t happy fence two came down, but I just thought, keep going really fast – it doesn’t matter. It was quite incredible, and quite shocking that I managed to win!” Dalton commented afterwards.

The young rider has grown up competing in working hunter classes as well as eventing up to three-star level. “I was definitely just trying to enjoy being out there, but the bank’s actually quite high up, so I was quite scared about that! But when you’re on a horse that’s bold and brave, you get the confidence from that.”

It was a class filled with thrills and spills – especially right at the end when three-time winner Harriet Biddick was looking like collecting another victory with the fantastic Irish campaigner Silver Lift (Easy Lift x Silver Cloud) when her bridle broke over the Irish Bank three fences from home. The grey 18-year-old gamely carried on through the tricky treble of Hickstead planks despite Harriet having no bridle at all, but they were unable to jump the final fence and retired.

Super week for Lennon

Dermott Lennon prevented a home win in Saturday’s four-star £24,400 Agria Hickstead Master’s Trophy with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Millview Cicero (Cicero Z Van Paemal x Royal Dutch), bred by Harry Marshall and owned by Bronte Stables.

Eight made it through to the jump-off in the main arena and, for a significant chunk of the class, it looked as though the home nation would dominate the top of the leaderboard, however, Lennon knew what he needed to do when he cantered into the arena with the talented nine-year-old. “I knew the boys were quick, and it was very close, so there was no room for error,” said Lennon, who threw down a jump-off time of 42.75 to win by more than three seconds. “We like to try to beat the English on home ground! My horse was jumping super, and so it was easier to go fast – and for once, the jumps came to me in the right place.”

He bought the gelding as a five-year-old from breeder Harry Marshall in Northern Ireland.

“I’ve always believed he can do the very biggest stuff, and he’s doing some lovely things along the way to that. He’s jumped every day here and he’s gotten better every day, so I’m delighted with him. He makes me look better!

“The horse has a very easy scope, and he’s careful, so you can really ride him at the jumps. He’s brave, too – sometimes, the horses come to these big arenas for the first time and with so much going on, they can be a little bit intimidated, but he’s gone right in and taken it all on.”

Following on from a victory at Bolesworth, Jonathan Smyth scored a four-star win at Hickstead riding Noletta Smyth’s 11-year-old gelding Mulvin Lights Out (Kroongraaf x Diamond Serpent).

The pair galloped to victory in Thursday’s Table C Speed and Handiness 1.40m in a time of 80.02 seconds.