BRITAIN’s Robert Whitaker became the fourth member of his family to win the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby last Sunday, coming out on top of a three-way jump-off with Caroline Blatchford’s Gentlemen VD Veldhof.

Whitaker (42) has had plenty of success at the West Sussex venue as he won the King George V Gold Cup in 2023 and the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain in 2024, both with Vermento. With this year’s Al Shira’aa Derby win, Robert and his father John Whitaker – a four-time Derby champion – have become the only father and son to win the Hickstead Derby. Asked what it meant to him to win, he said: “Hickstead is special, and the Derby is a special class. Al Shira’aa have really supported it, and that’s great for the sport.”

Gentlemen VD Veldhof, by Quite Easy 958, is an experienced Hickstead campaigner, having won the 2019 Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Ireland’s David Simpson. He also finished sixth with Joe Clayton in the 2024 Al Shira’aa Derby.

“Gentleman has done the Derby a few times before – last year, he was unlucky to have one down and time faults. But he’s been on form for the class, so I knew he had a good chance, and he pulled it off,” added Robert.

Robert’s first cousin William Whitaker finished second with Flamboyant III while Sammie-Jo Coffin and Chaccomo Blue were third.

There were three Irish men in the top 10. Shane Breen rode Fanfan De Beaufour into fourth place; Commdt Geoff Curran and Hawthornhill (Cardento) placed equal fifth and Paddy O’Donnell on Kilcorig Elysium (Cornet Obolensky) placed equal 10th.

Billy Twomey and Jumping Jack van de Kalevallei won the four-star 1.50m Derby Tankard jump-off class at Hickstead \ Hickstead

Breen one-two

The Breen brothers claimed a one-two and were joined by a third Irish man in the top five in Saturday’s four-star 1.50m jump-off class for the Hickstead Master’s Trophy.

Shane Breen rode nine-year-old GBBS Intl-bred BP Arctic Blue into first place in the only sub-40 second time of 39.71, followed by brother Trevor on Luidam’s Warrior in second place (41.12), while Billy Twomey on Jumping Jack van de Kalevallei wasn’t far off the time in fifth (41.79). Of the 76 starters in the class, only 11 kept all the fences intact first time out to get through to the jump-off, with just seven of those remaining clear in round two.

Derek McCoppin got the ball rolling for Ireland when he placed fifth in the 15-starter 1.10m two-phase class on board Comme Cruising 19 with a double clear round in a time of 41.50

McCoppin went one better in the 1.30m two-phase special class, this time placing fourth with Explosief’s Legacy, jumping double clear in 40.73. Fellow Irish man Peter Moloney rode CBI Jasper into eighth place, while Trevor Breen on ABC Cortana Cruise placed 10th. Class winner Holly Smith (GBR) on Nike van het Singraven stopped the clock in 36.60.

Trevor Breen went on to win the 1.35m Open Championship with Kannoon Blue, jumping double clear in a time of 43.76 and the rider then placed ninth in the four-star 1.45m speed class with Luidam’s Warrior, jumping clear in 84.20.

Twomey win

Twomey topped an Irish one-two in Thursday’s 38-strong four-star 1.50m Derby Tankard jump-off class, when he and Jumping Jack van de Kalevallei jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 42.26 seconds. His nearest rival was Commandant Geoff Curran on board the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Tempo Manor (Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) x Roxy Lux (ISH) by Lux Z (HOL)), bred by Noel Wright, who finished not far behind in 43.83. Tempo Manor had previously gone by the name of Candy Man and was produced through the age classes by Gabriel Tunney.

Friday saw two more Irish men on the podium, this time in the four-star 1.45m Hickstead Derby Two-Phase. Peter Moloney was best of the 77 starters, riding Neilson to a double clear round in 33.43 seconds for the win. Curran and DHF Alliance placed third in the class, when they stopped the clock in 34.34. They were separated by British rider John Crippen, who rode the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion Bennys Kelly (33.75). Jessica Burke placed sixth in the class with Romelus De Muze when clear in a time of 34.51. McCoppin was second in Sunday’s 1.20m jump-off class riding Explosief’s Legacy.