William Funnell is the greatest Hickstead Derby rider of all

William Funnell became the first five-time winner of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby at Hickstead today, following a masterclass display of jumping with DubPhoto © Boots and Hooves Photography.

William Funnell became the first five-time winner of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby at Hickstead today, following amasterclass display of jumping with Dublon (Centauer Z x Up To Date Miltoo).

The Surrey-based showjumper had come close to beating the record 12 months ago when he produced clear rounon both Dublon and Equine America Billy Diamo (Cevin Z x Andiamo), only to miss out to David Simpson and Pjotr Van DeKruishoeve (Bamako de Muze x Taran de La Pomme) in a jump-off. 

This year’s competition also ended up with a three-way jump-offafter Funnell, William Whitaker on Flamboyant (Cardento xNiveau) and Brazil’s Carlos Ribas on Juan Van’t Arkelhof (Diamant de Semilly x Ahorn Z) all had a fence apiece for four faults, wno one jumping clear for the first time since 2014. Dublon had very nearly repeated his faultless round of last summer, only toknock the 1m rail on top of the Derby Bank – the smallest fence on the course.

First to go in the jump-offwas Carlos, who completed the shortened jump-offround on 12 faults to leave the door open for thtwo Williams. Funnell came in next, and if the pressure of his record-breaking attempt was getting to him, he didn’t let it showthe slightest, producing a beautiful clear in 89.91sec.

The clear round laid down the gauntlet to Whitaker and Flamboyant, who already had two top 10 finishes in this class undertheir belts. They were up on the time, but when the middle of the Devil’s Dyke fell his hopes of a second Hickstead Derby titlecame 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 toconcentrate on his role as chef d’equipe for 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 ringthe 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 – andnow, 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 wetwinter 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 William of his two jump-offrivals. “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 WorCup or a Global Champions Tour, but they’ll come and watch the thrills and spills of the Derby, and we need to make sure thatwe keep this in our sport going forward.”