SHOWJUMPING
On a truly momentous day for the sport, William Funnell is celebrated as the greatest Hickstead rider of all time, claiming a record fifth Derby title
Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, The All England Jumping Course, W Sussex
“THIS is why I ride horses – for days like these,” said William Funnell, after he won a dream, record-breaking, fifth Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby title.
William and Dublon triumphed in a jump-off of first-round four-faulters, against Carlos Mota Ribas with Juan Van’t Arkelhof and William Whitaker riding Flamboyant III, jumping the only second-round clear to put William’s name firmly in the history books.
He had previously won a hat-trick with the great Mondriaan in 2006, 2008 and 2009, then won a fourth title in 2018 with Billy Buckingham.
He had been part of a select group – the others Eddie Macken, John and Michael Whitaker and Harvey Smith – who had lifted the Boomerang trophy four times, and came so close to surpassing them last year when he finished second on Dublon and third on Equine America Billy Diamo.
He set a record then, as the first rider to jump the Derby clear on two horses in the same year, but the fifth title had remained tantalisingly out of reach – until now.
“It’s a great feeling to be here again, and winning it,” William said. “Last year, I thought if I can’t jump two clears and win it, I would have retired. But just the enormity of this class; cantering into the ring, the challenge of the course, it’s so special. It’s why I do it.”
It had been a class full of faults, as is the Derby’s wont, and until Carlos and his own and K&R Horses’ 15-year-old came in as 18th of 22 starters, Shane Breen (Fanfan De Beaufour) and Emeric George (Dune Du Ru) were sharing the lead on eight apiece.
As the three riders agreed, each four-faulter fell foul of a “silly fence”, and Carlos’s was the privet hedge at six. It must have felt like a long way home but the pair put in a polished performance, a copybook descent of the bank and faultless through all the hardest challenges of the course, to get their noses in front.
But not for long. William and Dublon came in 20th, to silence from the crowd who had been reminded of a r
