HICKSTEAD / ALL ENGLAND JUMPING COURSE / SHOWJUMPING / HORSES / EQUESTRIAN / SPORT / ENGLAND
SHOWJUMPING
GB’S ROBERT WHITAKER REIGNS AS NEW CHAMPION OF AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY!
In arguably one of the most challenging courses in showjumping, riders and their horses are fortunate to complete a clear round at the Hickstead Derby. The course features daunting obstacles like the imposing Bank, the Devil's Dyke, and the ditches—features that differ significantly from standard fences seen elsewhere in the sport.
The final began with 27 competitors, but only four riders managed to jump clear to give audiences a jump-off.
Three finalists were Britons: Sammie Jo Coffin with Chaccomo Blue, Robert Whitaker on Gentlemen VH Veldhof, the 2016 Derby winner William Whitaker riding Flamboyant III, and finally, the 2022 winner Ireland’s Shane Breen with Fanfan De Beaufour.
Unfortunately, Shane Breen’s ride was spoiled by two-time faults, preventing him from going through to the jump-off.
In the jump-off, Coffin knocked down a fence and clocked a time of 96.07 seconds. Robert then followed, also taking a fence, but finished faster at 88.33 seconds, setting a new target and applying pressure on William.
William, seemingly calm and composed, initially went through his round smoothly but also, took a fence. Determined to beat the time he galloped with speed to the last but ultimately finished in 89.75 seconds—just 1.42 seconds shy of Whitaker’s time, missing the win by a narrow margin to come in second place.
*Robert’s father John Whitaker has won the Derby four times: in 1983, 1998, 2000 and 2004.
Full results here
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