IRELAND’S Billy Twomey headed an Irish one-two in Thursday’s ClipMyHorse.TV Derby Tankard, the feature international class on the day at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting.

Riding the 10-year-old Jumping Jack Van De Kalevallei, Twomey came out on top of a five-strong jump-off, crossing the finish line in a time of 42.26 seconds. It saw him take the top spot ahead of his compatriot Commandant Geoff Curran and Tempo Manor, who were more than a second in arrears on 43.83 seconds.

It’s quite a new partnership for Twomey, who got the ride at the end of last year and the pair have been shortlisted for next month’s FEI European Championships. “I haven’t had him that long, just since December, and he’s done nothing but be seriously competitive at all the shows he’s been to, so I’m very lucky to have him,” said Twomey, who is based in Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

“He has all the attributes: he’s very powerful and very careful. Although he’s a stallion, he’s very brave and always wanting to do his job correctly,” he added.

The world famous Hickstead Derby takes place tomorrow (Sunday) when last year’s winner William Funnell will return with Dublon in the hope of extending his record with a sixth victory. However, there is a chance that his record of five wins could instead be matched, with four-time winner and British show jumping legend Michael Whitaker among the list of international entries.

Among the Irish entries is the 2022 winner Shane Breen; he returns with Fanfan de Beaufour who finished fourth on his debut last year. The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby will be shown live on ClipMyHorse.TV at 3pm.