Source: hickstead.co.uk

 

 

Guy goes all guns blazing on day two of the Derby meeting

 

Reigning Derby champion Guy Williams was on top form on the second day of Hickstead's four-day international show. The British number one finished first in the Hickstead Master's Challenge, and second in the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial, to take home a paycheque of £5,500. The 39-year-old rider from Kent won the afternoon's feature class on board the Chestnut gelding Titus, finishing clear in a time of 47.18 sec. Shane Breen (Magic Fox) and Nick Charles (Murka's Midnightlady) were both very close on Guy's heels - finishing on the exact same time of 47.83 to finish second equal.

Guy is feeling confident ahead of the Carpetright Derby, and is pleased with how Skip Two Ramiro - whom he rode in the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial - and his other horses are all going.

"Titus has won every single class he has been entered into, winning six classes in the past two weeks," said Guy.

Just 0.22 of a second kept Guy Williams off top spot in the Bunn Leisure Derby trial, with the spoils going to Peter Charles (Murka's Vindicat W).

Despite winning the Derby Trial, Peter will not be riding the nine-year-old gelding in Sunday's Carpetright Derby.

"I'd love to jump him in the Derby, and I think he will be a winner of the class in the future, but I'm going to give him one more year's preparation," he said.

 

Steven Whitaker scores first win in the International Arena at Hickstead

 

Steven Whitaker took the first major class of Hickstead's British Jumping Derby Meeting when he won The Stoner Jewellers Vase. Going clear on board his 13-year-old stallion Royal Rose II, he finished almost three seconds faster than Gerard Clarke (IRL) in second. Steven had never won a class before in the International Arena at Hickstead, although he's been enjoying a particularly successful run - winning 15 international classes in the past 12 weeks.

 

"I had a point to prove, after last year in the Derby when the commentator described me as a 'failed rider'," said Steven.

 

Steven is part of the famous Whitaker showjumping dynasty - he is brother to top riders Michael and John, and father to Ellen. Steven has always ridden and competed, but in recent years has focused on training his daughter.

 

"Ellen has been asking when she can get the ride back [on Royal Rose II], and then if I'll tell her how to ride him," he added.

 

Jane Annett from Kent was delighted with her win in the afternoon's main class, the Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard with Zidane V.

 

She said: "I thought the ground was superb and held up very well in the international arena, and Zidane V loved the going."

 

Zidane V, a 10-year-old gelding, was originally a dressage horse but he proved far too naughty for it and went to Jane as a showjumper.

The going is good for Hickstead's British Jumping Derby Meeting!


The massive redevelopment of Hickstead's International Arena has been given the thumbs-up from competitors at the British Jumping Derby Meeting, with riders praising the 'excellent' going in the main ring.The Bunn family, owners of the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, invested more than £500,000 towards improving the ground. Work began last August when the turf was completely stripped, an extensive drainage system installed, and new grass re-laid. The ground is designed to offer 'all-weather' style going combined with the absorption of natural turf.

Show director Edward Bunn, who masterminded the groundworks, is delighted with how the arena is looking.

"The results are well beyond expectations. We've had over 40mm of rain since last Friday, plus a short downpour this morning, but it's continued to perform brilliantly and the riders are all commenting on how well it is riding."

Action kicked off this morning in the main ring with the Camardo Coffee 1.35m Open Championship, the first class to be held in the new-look International Arena, and was won by Abigail Newbery and Olympia III.