William Funnell third win in the Hickstead Derby
William Funnell gained the most emotional success of his career when he and Cortaflex Mondriaan won their third DFS Jumping Derby at Hickstead after achieving the first clear round in the competition since 2004.
“He’s a fantastic horse – I couldn’t have asked for more,” Funnell said. “He jumped down the Bank without me having to do anything. He made it look easy.
“I always wanted to win it with a clear round, and to do it this year of all years made it very special.”
The competition started with a minute’s silence in memory of the late Douglas Bunn, the founder of Hickstead who died 10 days ago aged 81.
Paying tribute to Bunn in the post-event press conference, Funnell, who lives in Surrey and regards Hickstead as his “local” showground, said: “It’s only because of him that we’re all here – I always knew it was going to be emotional this week.”
William Whitaker, the 19-year-old on Animation 11, and Guy Williams, on Skip Two Ramiro, shared second place on four faults. Whitaker, who had 16 faults on his first ride Leonardo, had only been given the ride on Animation – normally ridden by his uncle Michael – at the eleventh hour. Whitaker Sr had learnt this week that he has been suspended from all international competitions pending the outcome of a positive drug test from his stallion Tackeray at the La Baule Nations Cup Show last month.
With the 16 formidable fences on the Derby course exacting their usual toll, it was not until halfway through the competition that Williams broke the eight-fault barrier with a stylish round in which he faulted only at the tenth fence, the Devil’s Dyke. Whitaker, bidding to become the youngest winner of the event made his four faults at the same fence.
Funnell, 43, drawn last of the 30-strong field, had gained his two previous wins in 2006 and 2008 after a jump-off, faulting both times in the first round at the Dyke.
“I had a different plan this year,” he said. “I wanted to cut in to the fence so the horse would have a shorter run-in, with less time to be distracted.”
The plan worked to perfection. Mondriaan, now 15, was foot-perfect through the three elements of the tenth fence. The crowd then held its breath as he negotiated the six stamina-sapping fences that followed. Safely over the huge final jump, Funnell threw his cap high into the air, and the crowd responded with a prolonged standing ovation.
Results
DFS Hickstead Derby 2009
1º William Funnell (Gbr) / Mondriaan – 0 pontos
=2º Guy Williams (Gbr) / Skip Two Ramiro – 4
=2º William Whitaker (Gbr) / Animation II (British-Bred) – 4
=4º Tina Fletcher (Gbr) / Promised Land – 8
=4º Ben Maher (Gbr) / Quainton Quirifino Z – 8
=4º Robert Smith (Gbr) / Vangelis S – 8