Irish showjumpers claimed a trio of major wins over the weekend, led by Trevor Breen taking out the famous Hickstead Derby for the second year in a row, this time riding Loughnatousa WB to win the Boomerang Trophy on Sunday. Also on Sunday, 19 year-old Bertram Allen and Molly Malone V won the Geesteren Grand Prix in the Netherlands, and a day earlier David Blake won a grand prix on Binkie at Tryon in the US. Tipperary native Breen, who last year won the Derby on Adventure de Kannan, took an early clear round with Patricia Brown’s Irish Sport Horse Loughnatousa WB and then had to watch 36 other competitors attempt to come home with a matching zero score. In an unusual twist, Breen also competed last year’s winner Adventure de Kannan in the Derby, effectively jumping against himself, but Karen Swann’s gelding had two rails down to finish further down the field. With no other clear rounds recorded in the Equestrian.com sponsored competition, Breen took home Hickstead’s Boomerang Derby Trophy and the €46,200 winner’s prize. It was also a remarkable achievement for Loughnatousa WB, who became the first horse to win twice under different riders, having claimed the Boomerang Trophy in 2012 with previous rider, Paul Beecher. Five combinations finished in equal second place, and Britain’s William Whitaker became the first of five to finish on four faults with Glenavadra Brilliant. He was followed by Irish Olympian Billy Twomey and his Hickstead Derby first-timer Diaghilev, who knocked only the first part of the Devil’s Dyke. As the class moved towards the business end, Steven Franks became the third of the four-faulters on Carlow Cruiser, a horse who has had several near-misses when it comes to winning the Hickstead Derby. Nigel Coupe and Golvers Hill – who were seventh last year – also got four faults, so only the 2013 winner Phillip Miller (Caritiar Z) and Harriet Nuttall (A Touch Imperious) could push it to a jump-off. But eight faults for Miller and Nuttall meant the title was Breen’s for the second year in a row. Afterwards Breen said: “It’s amazing to win this famous competition two years in a row. I was very nervous at the end, as the last few horses came out, and my fingernails were bitten right down. Loughnatousa WB was magnificent, and he’ll have a couple of weeks off now. “I knew I had a good chance because I was riding two former winners, but you never know and it’s such a tough course,” he said. “It’s extremely difficult to win, and you need a lot to go right – and luckily everything did. I felt WB I was running out of petrol a bit towards the end so I was pleased I didn’t have to jump-off.” Liz Harris won the Tattersalls and Retraining of Racehorses Thoroughbred Show Horse Championship, riding seven-year-old chestnut gelding Wild West. Breen also gave credit to his fellow Irishman Paul Beecher, who rode Loughnatousa WB to victory in the 2012 Derby. “Paul produced him his whole life so he has to take a lot of the credit – I’ve only ridden him for a year. It’s great for WB’s owner Patricia Brown, who is a huge supporter, and for Bernice Cuthbert who looks after Patricia’s horses.” Harriet Nuttall was unlucky to have the first part of the Devil’s Dyke down to finish equal second with the other four-faulters. She has finished in runner-up spot in four major classes this week, but remained upbeat despite not taking home the winner’s cheque. “I’ve had the best weekend of my life. A Touch Imperious is just unbelievable, he has made my career, and I’d have paid good money to be second here,” she says. “I still think he has it in him to win. We’ll be back.” Nigel Coupe, who also shared second prize along with Nuttall, William Whitaker, Billy Twomey and Steven Franks, added: “As a sportsman you want to win and you want to see your name up on that board so it’s disappointing to have the four faults, but you’d definitely take that result.” The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting has reached its conclusion after five superb days of top class equestrian sport. In total, more than 56,000 people watched the action via the new Hickstead.tv livestream, with viewers from 68 different countries tuning in from around the world. The action was also shown live to viewers in the UK and Ireland on the Horse & Country TV channel.
