We take a look through the archives to bring you some lesser-known facts about our most famous class
Do you know the story of how Douglas Bunn went to Hamburg in the middle of a snowstorm to measure the Derby course?
It was soon after the All England Jumping Course first opened its gates, and Douglas had decided to stage his own British Jumping Derby to rival the one in Germany, having been inspired by watching cinema newsreel footage of the Hamburg Derby.
After traipsing round Hamburg’s arena with his tape measure while the snow settled on the course, much to the bemusement of the groundsman and officials, Douglas went back to his hotel for a hot bath to warm up. Then he went out to the Four Seasons Hotel for a grand New Year’s Eve party, where the story of Douglas’s antics had obviously circulated, and he was met with great amusement. “Did you toboggan down the Derby Bank?” asked one particular wag.
In the years since then, so many wonderful facts and statistics have emerged from the Al Shira’aa Derby. Every showjumping fan worth their salt knows that Eddie Macken and Boomerang are the only combination to win four times in a row, or that there was a 33-year gap between Nelson Pessoa’s first win on Gran Geste back in 1963, and his final win with Loro Piana Vivaldi in 1996. We all remember Marion Mould’s amazing Stroller as the smallest of all Derby winners, and John Whitaker’s Gammon as the oldest. And no one could forget that infamous Harvey Smith v-sign moment, some 53 years since it occurred.
The first Derby took place in 1961, meaning we have more than 60 years’ worth of memories, standout moments and quirky records. We’ve been busy digging through the archives to bring you some lesser-known facts that you might not know – or might have forgotten – about one of the most famous classes in showjumping.
Young guns
It was remarkable when David Simpson’s Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve won the 2023 Al Shira’aa Derby at the age of eight. But did you know the youngest winner was just six years old, and it was – like last summer’s result – a winning debut? Despite his age, Seamus Hayes’ ride Goodbye made easy work of the Derby course to win the first running of the class in 1961, producing the only clear round of the competition. The pair won again in 1964, and finished runner-up in both 1966 and 1967.
Frustratingly close
No rider has ever done what William Funnell did last year, which is to jump two horses clear round the Derby in the same year. What’s even more remarkable is that he did this feat but still missed out on winning!
Doing the double
There are only two combinations who have won the Hickstead and Hamburg Derbies in the same year. Nelson Pessoa and the diminutive grey Gran Geste won both in 1963 and 1965; as did Eddie Macken and Boomerang in 1976. Other horses to win both Derbies – though not in the same year - include Marion Mould and Stroller, John Whitaker and Gammon, and Nelson Pessoa again, who won the German Jumping Derby three times on the trot with Vivaldi (1992-1994) before his final Hickstead win in 1996.
Move any mountain
The Derby course has barely changed in six decades, but one major alteration did occur in 1970 when the Bank was moved closer to the arena perimeter and rotated, so that horses came down towards the grandstands – previously horses came down the bank straight towards the Devil’s Dyke. When it was moved, the angle of the Bank was modified to make it slightly easier.
Stroller’s triple clear
He’s one of the most famous equines to win the Derby, but Stroller actually jumped three clears around the tricky Derby course. As well as their sole clear in 1967, Stroller and Marion also finished second twice, first in 1964 where they were bettered by Seamus Hayes and Goodbye in the jump-off, and again in 1968 where they finished behind Alison Westwood and The Maverick. And did you know that in Hickstead’s first season, some years before his Derby triumph, Stroller scored his very first win at the All England Jumping Course? Ridden by Sally Cripps, Stroller took first prize in the Working Pony class.
From Burghley to Hickstead
Quite a few event riders have been placed in the Hickstead Derby in recent years, including Irish rider Esib Power and Olympic medallist Gemma Stevens, who finished 12th on her first attempt last summer. But only one rider has won a major three-day event as well as the Hickstead Derby, and that’s Anneli Drummond-Hay, who won the 1969 renewal with Xanthos. Anneli had already won the very first Burghley Horse Trials with Merely-a-Monarch, and the pair then went on to finish third in the Hickstead Derby in 1963, behind Nelson Pessoa and Gran Geste.
That other v-sign
Do you know the story of Harvey Smith’s SECOND Derby v-sign? In 1981 the Yorkshireman picked up his fourth win in the class, this time courtesy of catch ride Sanyo Video, who was normally ridden by his son Robert. When the pair produced the only clear round, Harvey dropped his reins and gave a double v-sign, much to the delight of the crowd.
Small but tricky
The smallest fence in the Derby course is the 1m upright on top of the Derby Bank. The challenge is to jump it carefully before immediately collecting before descending the bank. It has been knocked down on a number of occasions, including in 1997 by Comex, denying William Funnell the chance of a first win. It also gave Nelson Pessoa and Gran Geste their only faults back in 1963, though they managed to jump clear in the jump-off to claim the trophy.
Ultra-consistent
His name may not (yet) grace the roll of honour, but by far and away the most consistent horse in the history of the Al Shira’aa Derby is Harriet Biddick’s A Touch Imperious. The grand campaigner has clocked up five runner-up places and a further two thirds since making his Derby debut back in 2014. He has won nearly £117,000 in prize money from this class alone.
Mega stars
A few of showjumping’s best loved horses have come close to winning the Derby but not quite managed to lift the trophy. They include Douglas Bunn’s Beethoven, who came third with David Broome in 1968, two years before going on to win the World Championship at La Baule. Anne Moore’s prolific Psalm was another, with the pair finishing third in the Derby in 1970.
Royally good effort
Did you know that a member of the Royal Family has jumped round the Derby? Captain Mark Phillips came second in the Derby Trial with Hideaway back in 1976, when he was married to the Princess Royal. Mark and Hideaway went on to compete in the Derby itself.
In the family
The Whitakers are synonymous with showjumping success, and indeed John, Michael and William are all among the past winners of the Hickstead Derby. But Ellen and her father Steven both came close to joining them thanks to one horse – Locarno. In 2004, the stallion took 18-year-old Ellen to second place in her first ever Hickstead Derby, finishing behind Uncle John on Buddy Bunn. Then in 2012, Dad Steven took the ride on Locarno to finish in third equal with four faults.
William Whitaker’s Glenavadra Brilliant not only gave William his sole victory in 2016, he also jumped round the Derby course with both William’s brothers – George in 2013, and he finished fifth in 2018 with Jim in the saddle.
So close
Clear rounds in the Derby remain a rarity, and double clears even more so. Only two riders in history have jumped double clear in the Derby but not won – Tim Stockdale and the part-Clydesdale Wiston Bridget in 2000, and Tina Fletcher and Promised Land a decade later in 2010.
Countdown to success
Most horses need to take a few trips round the Derby before they win it, but a few horses in recent years have produced a perfect pattern of finishing third, second and then finally winning. These include Guy Williams’ 2010 Derby victor Skip Two Ramiro, 2016 champions William Whitaker and Glenavadra Brilliant, and Trevor Breen’s prolific Hickstead winner Adventure De Kannan. What was special about the latter was that ‘Addy’ didn’t produce that coveted win until after having an operation to have his eye removed, making him the only one-eyed horse to win the Derby.
A fair trial
Only one rider has won both the Derby Trial and the Derby in the same year but on two different horses – and that’s Peter Charles. He won the 2001 Trial with Carnavelly before going on to win the first of three consecutive Derbies with the grey mare Corrada.
Man power
Most Derby winners have been geldings, but in recent years we’ve had a run of stallion victors dating back to 2019. Will we have another stallion taking the prize this summer?
This article was first published in June 2024
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