WILLIAM Funnell became the first five-time winner of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby last Sunday, following a masterclass display of jumping with Dublon.

The Surrey-based show jumper had come close to beating the record 12 months ago, when he produced clear rounds on both Dublon and Equine America Billy Diamo, only to miss out to Ireland’s David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve in a jump-off.

This year’s competition also ended up with a three-way jump-off after Funnell, William Whitaker (Flamboyant) and Brazil’s Carlos Ribas (Juan Van’t Arkelhof) all had a fence apiece for four faults, with no one jumping clear for the first time since 2014. Dublon had very nearly repeated his faultless round of last summer, only to knock the 1m rail on top of the Derby Bank – the smallest fence on the course.

First to go in the jump-off was Ribas, who completed the shortened jump-off round on 12 faults to leave the door open for the two Williams. Funnell came in next and, if the pressure of his record-breaking attempt was getting to him, he didn’t let it show in the slightest, producing a beautiful clear in 89.91 seconds.

The clear round laid down the gauntlet to Whitaker and Flamboyant, who already had two top 10 finishes in this class under their belts. They were up on the time, but when the middle of the Devil’s Dyke fell his hopes of a second Hickstead Derby title came to a halt. Funnell finally had that coveted fifth title, elevating him above four-time winners Eddie Macken, Harvey Smith, and John and Michael Whitaker.

There had been murmurs that a fifth win might lead to William retiring, as he has now scaled back his riding career to concentrate on his role as chef d’equipe to the UAE Olympic team. But if anything, today’s win has inspired him to keep going.

“Last year, I thought if I’d won it, I’d have retired,” he admitted. “But today, with the enormity of the day, cantering into the ring, the challenge of the course, the Derby – it’s so special, and it’s why we do it. As a kid, this was something I dreamed of – and now, I’ve won it more times than Eddie Macken and Boomerang.”

As always, the Devil’s Dyke and the Bank caused a few problems for a lot of the Derby contenders – with the endlessly wet winter causing the turf on the Bank to cut up more than it has in decades – but the class ended in yet another classic battle. “These guys gave me a fight!” said Funnell of his two jump-off rivals.

“There’s always stories, and that’s what makes the Derby such a spectacle. We’re very lucky to have Al Shira’aa sponsor the show here. So many people wouldn’t come and watch a World Cup or a Global Champions Tour, but they’ll come and watch the thrills and spills of the Derby, and we need to make sure that we keep this in our sport going forward.”

William Funnell and Dublon won the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby, becoming the first five-time winner of the famous class \ Nigel Goddard

The 2022 winner, Ireland’s Shane Breen, who is based at Hickstead, finished in joint-fourth place with Fanfan De Beaufour after picking up eight faults.

Speed derby winner

A new name was added to the Liz Dudden Memorial Trophy on Saturday at the venue, when Britain’s Elliott Rowe landed the British Speed Derby with Daisy Crisp’s 11-year-old stallion Hyperion VP Wisbecq.

Drawn 19th out of the 26 starters, Elliott scorched round the course with just one fence down, to finish on a total of 100.97 seconds, taking over the lead from Jessica Hewitt and Hot Bluebird (eventual third). Last to go was the three-time champion Harriet Biddick and Silver Lift, who were aiming to not only set new records with a fourth win, but also to redress last year’s viral mishap when a broken bridle led them to retire.

But having both parts of the Road Jump (fence six) down added an expensive eight seconds to their time.

“I’m absolutely buzzing – the jumps were coming at me quite fast, but he was brilliant,” said Uckfield-based Rowe. “It’s my second time jumping the Speed Derby; last year, Ryan Lockwood rode the horse for me, because I had a broken collarbone. So today, I didn’t have to watch from the stands. It’s a dream come true, to join all these riders to have won the Speed Derby.”

Shane O’Meara was best of the Irish in fourth place with the Eamon Kenny-bred Irish Sport Horse Kenny’s Flight. Four faults meant they finished in a time of 106.77.