Three in a row

Journalist Andrew Baldock takes a look back over the Hickstead archives at the three riders who have won the Derby three times in succession - and finds out which other riders came close...

CORRADA 02.jpg

There are hat-tricks, and then there is the Hickstead Derby's hat-trick of hat-tricks. It is an exclusive club that currently contains only three members - Nick Skelton, Michael Whitaker and Peter Charles, all of whom achieved three consecutive wins in a row. Of course, Eddie Macken hit this milestone and then went one better by winning a record fourth time, but he remains the only rider to ever achieve this.

A potential new recruit to this ‘three in a row’ club is waiting in the wings this year after Ireland's Trevor Breen claimed the 2014 Hickstead Derby title on Advenure De Kannan, and then triumphed again 12 months later with Loughnatousa WB, who was a Derby champion three years previously, when ridden by Paul Beecher.

Given that there have only been 58 clear rounds since the Derby's inception in 1961, to win it once represents a Herculean feat, let alone claim a hat-trick, and just three combinations - Macken with Boomerang, Whitaker and Mon Santa and Charles aboard Corrada - did it on the same horse.

Boomerang, of course, is the greatest Hickstead legend of them all, a Derby king four years on the bounce from 1976 to 1979. Two of those triumphs were secured with clear rounds, while Irishman Macken also claimed second with Kerrygold in 1977, and then he completed a hat-trick just a week after finishing second in the Aachen World Championships.

Their Derby dominance was confirmed a year later when, despite terrible ground conditions, Macken and Boomerang conquered the field as last-to-go, collecting just four faults, with Macken commenting at the time: "For me, he’s the best horse ever. I am certainly very lucky to have him. I think people who saw him, saw what he did today, they’re very lucky, because they will wait a very long time before they see another one.”

And in Derby terms, so it proved. Skelton did the hat-trick between 1987 and 1989, winning initially on J Nick, followed by a double on Apollo, but it was a dozen years after Macken's final triumph that another hat-trick bid began, this time from Michael Whitaker and the Lady Harris-owned Mon Santa.

Mon Santa had already confirmed its world-class ability by partnering Whitaker to Great Britain team gold and individual silver at the 1989 European Championships in Rotterdam, while the following season, a team bronze followed at the Stockholm World Games, and 1991 saw European team silver in La Baule, which also the first of three successive Hickstead Derby triumphs.

Michael had previously won the Derby as a 20-year-old in 1980, riding Owen Gregory, but Mon Santa took him to another level, winning with clear rounds in 1991 and 1993, with that latter success coming following a rare Derby jump-off that also included Australian Chris Chadwick, riding Mr Midnight, and Frenchman Herve Godignon with Prince D'Incoville.

Captain John Ledingham, whose first Derby win had been aboard Gabhran in 1984, went close to emulating Whitaker with back-to-back wins on Kilbaha in 1994 and 1995, but the 1996 title went to Brazilian Nelson Pessoa on 19-year-old Loro Piana Vivaldi. Pessoa, 60, suffered a heart attack the previous November, and he wore a heart monitor at Hickstead to ensure his heart-rate didn't go too high. It was another truly inspired Hickstead Derby story.

The year 2001 saw the beginning of the Charles-Corrada Derby story. Corrada, a 12-year-old Holstein grey mare, had a slightly inauspicious opening to Derby life when Charles began his round slightly after the 45 seconds allowed to start. "I was actually speaking to the course-builders, asking them to tell the judges on the bank to be lenient on me, and I forgot to start in time!" he said.

Taking up his Derby memories, Charles added: "Corrada was an all-round good horse. She was a big. strong mare, and it took me a little while to figure the ride out. Funnily enough, I didn't do the Derby Trial that year, but I went into the jump-off class on the Saturday, and then the Derby, but the bank had always been an issue.

"At home, we could never get her to come down to the bank, we just couldn't do it. Our bank at home was much smaller than Hickstead's, but I think in the spirit of competition with the adrenalin up, she just went for it. It was much tougher in those days, certainly in terms of the bank.

"She was clear jumping in 2001 - we were the only ones - and in the three years, she didn't have a pole down. I remember in 2002, we had a jump-off with Mr Springfield, ridden by Robert Smith, which was maybe the fastest horse in the world at that time. I couldn't believe how fast Robert went. He obviously didn't know Corrada, because he went round like a scorched cat and had three down. I actually thanked him on the way out! He gave it to me on a plate. We jumped four Derby rounds at Hickstead and never had a fence down.

"I told everyone I would win it, and the only way I wouldn't was if the rider took the wrong course! She was a dead-cert. It wasn't me being cocky, she was just that good around Hickstead. She won the La Baule Derby as well, and also got a European team gold medal, and her back foot stopped me getting in the final four at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez. She was a good mare. She did a lot of good things.

"If you have got a really good horse, the Derby shouldn't trouble you. You should jump it. It is a lot more friendly than it used to be - the hedge has been cut down and the ditches are a lot more friendlier now, and the Bank is not as steep, which I can understand, but it is still a tough test. They were all very good horses - Boomerang, Mon Santa, Corrada.

"I never wanted to go into the Derby just to take part. When you are at the top of the Bank, it is purely a case of believing in your horse and that he will do it. Some horses don't like it, and if they don't like it, there is no point forcing the issue. You know straightaway when you are up there. They might have a little look, then they will go down the Bank. If they don't want to go, then all the people in the world won't get them down it."

Barely had the ink dried on on Corrada's Derby chapter, than another Derby legend, this time the Will Funnell-ridden Cortaflex Mondriaan, a combination that triumphed in 2006, then again in 2008 and 2009 before missing out on a hat-trick when Guy Williams and Softrack Skip Two Ramiro beat Tina Fletcher and Promised Land in a jump-off.

Speaking to Funnell the day before his 2010 Derby title assault, he offered a candid insight into what Derby day is like when the stakes are so high.

"It is probably one of the most nerve-wracking days," he said. "When it goes right, the Derby, it's fine, but there are so many fences. There are so many things that can go wrong on the way round - everything needs to go right on the day.

"Even when your horse is on good form, there is no way you ever get blase about it. Rider and horse need to be fully focused, but you need a bit of luck as well. When Mondriaan went into that ring, he raised his game. I didn't have to worry about him not wanting to jump The Dyke or something, so that was one thing I could put out of my mind.

"All I had to do was help him as much as I can to clear the fences, which halves your job. He's a fantastic Derby horse that won derbies all over the world."

So, now it is over to Trevor Breen, and an attempt to gain entry into Hickstead's Derby pantheon. It will not be easy - it never has been, or never will be - but he will probably start as favourite, and his record during the past two years suggests the Irishman could once again set a soaring standard.

Only 28 riders and 38 horses have ever won the Hickstead Derby - that is the elite nature of it all - and as a two-time champion, Breen is already alongside the very finest Hickstead exponents. If he makes it three - and siginificantly, three in a row - then he will be firmly established as a true Derby great after once again conquering arguably the toughest showjumping track of all.

This article first appeared in June 2016

15 outstanding moments from the Royal International

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff takes a look back at some of the best moments from last month's Royal International Horse Show 

Read more

A view from the Press Office: June 2023

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff takes a look at some of the standout moments from the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting

Read more

An outright victory

Clear rounds are a rarity in the Hickstead Derby, and often the class is won by a single first round clear. Victoria Goff takes a look back through the roll of honour

Read more

Hickstead's Christmas 2022 countdown

We count down our best moments from a brilliant year here at the All England Jumping Course 

Read more

10 best moments from this year's Royal International

This year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show was a cracker – and wasn’t it wonderful to have five-star showjumping back at Hickstead where it belongs? Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff picks out her top 10 moments from this year’s show.

Read more

The view from the Press Office - June 2022

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff reflects on a fabulous week at the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. 

Read more

Still much more for Maher

Victoria Goff catches up with Olympic champion Ben Maher 

Read more

Superb Swedes

Victoria Goff reflects on the current strength and depth of the Swedish showjumping team 

Read more

Thirty glorious years

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff looks back over three brilliant decades of the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead 

Read more

Magical moments from the Royal International

We choose some of the best moments from the past 30 years since the Longines Royal International Horse Show moved to Hickstead 

Read more

Doney’s legacy

We pay tribute to Jon Doney, a highly-respected FEI official and an important part of Hickstead's team for many years 

Read more

Doing the double

Only a select band of riders have won the British Jumping Derby and the British Speed Derby - Victoria Goff reveals which famous equestrians hold the honour of winning both 

Read more

Teenage Dreams

In 2019, 19-year-old Michael Pender became the youngest ever rider to win the Hickstead Derby. Victoria Goff sat down to chat with him about his win  

Read more

The Hickstead Derby in numbers

In 2022 we’ll see the 60th running of the Al Shira’aa Derby, one of the most iconic classes in showjumping. We take a look back over the decades at the Hickstead Derby in numbers.

Read more

60 facts about the Hickstead Derby

How well do you know the history of the famous Al Shira'aa Derby?

Read more

The 60th Hickstead Derby

The 60th Al Shira'aa Derby takes place in June 2022. Victoria Goff looks back on the history of Hickstead's most famous class 

Read more

Harriet Nuttall Q&A

Showjumper Harriet Nuttall has an extraordinary record at Hickstead, having won the Science Supplements Speed Derby twice, the Science Supplements BHS Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Science Supplements All England Grand Prix - plus finishing runner-up three times in the Al Shira'aa Derby. Alex Irwin caught up with her to find out more about what makes her tick. 

Read more

Holly Smith Q&A

Alex Irwin caught up with Hickstead star Holly Smith at the Science Supplements All England Jumping Championships 

Read more

The unstoppable Irish

Victoria Goff looks back at Ireland's stunning win in the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain, and goes back into the history books to remember the other memorable Irish wins at Hickstead 

Read more

William’s fabulous four

William Funnell joined the elite band of four-time winners of the Hickstead Derby last summer. Victoria Goff spoke to him about what it means to join the likes of Harvey Smith, Eddie Macken and brothers John and Michael Whitaker. 

Read more

Top Speed

We take a look back over the history of the British Speed Derby. 

By Victoria Goff

Read more

Five of the best

Five riders share the record of having four wins in the Hickstead Derby. Victoria Goff takes a look through the archives to relive these legendary performances. 

Read more

Coming of age

A few days before his 21st birthday, James Whitaker scored his first major Hickstead win. Victoria Goff caught up with him ahead of the 2019 Longines Royal International Horse Show. 

Read more

A Platinum President

The BHS President Martin Clunes is a regular visitor to Hickstead. Victoria Goff finds out more about his role at the British Horse Society, and why he loves coming to our shows 

Read more

10 magical showing moments

We take a look back over some of the standout showing moments from the 2017 season 

Read more

Perfect Timing

Paul Tapner talks to Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Goff about his first win in the MS Amlin Eventers' Challenge

Read more

Miss Consistent

Harriet Nuttall proved she's no Hickstead bridesmaid, when adding yet another major title to her CV last summer. Victoria Goff caught up with the reigning Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner 

Read more

Fiesta Time

Brazil had an extraordinary run of form at last year's Longines Royal International Horse Show. Victoria Goff finds out more. 

Read more

Worth the wait

Victoria Goff describes the wait Nigel Coupe had before he finally become the Al Shira'aa Derby Champion in 2017. 

Read more

Doing it for Ella

Hickstead's press officer Victoria Goff caught up with Matthew Sampson, the winner of the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby 

Read more

Race against time

Victoria Goff takes a look back at some of the famous Hickstead Derby jump-offs that have taken place over the years. 

Read more

A New Era

Victoria Goff finds out more about Al Shira'aa, the title sponsors of the Hickstead Derby 

Read more

12 moments we loved at this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting

The Al Shira’aa Derby drew our June fixture to a close, and what a way to round off four fabulous sunny days of showjumping and showing. We take a look back at some of the best moments of this year’s show.

Read more

#RoadToHickstead contenders reveal...

We ask some of our leading Al Shira'aa Derby contenders some killer questions.

Read more

Harriet and Nigel go head-to-head

Two of the main Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby contenders, Harriet Nuttall and Nigel Coupe, discuss this year's challenge.

Read more

Hickstead Q&A - Hamad Ali Al Kirbi

UAE rider Hamad Ali Al Kirbi made his Hickstead debut last summer when he competed at the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. We caught up with him ahead of this year's show. 

Read more

Can you spot our Mystery Guests?

We're very busy preparing the International Arena ahead of this year's Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting CSI4*, and with spring being somewhat late to arrive this year we've had to ask some special guests to join our Ground Crew! 

Read more

Billy the King

Ireland's Billy Twomey enjoyed an amazing run of success at the 2016 BHS Royal International Horse Show, including a win in the Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup. Victoria Goff spoke to him about his golden run.

Read more

A home from home

Hickstead is very familiar stomping ground for David Simpson, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner in 2016. Victoria Goff spoke to him about winning on 'home territory'. 

Read more

The One to Watch

In the run up to the 2017 Longines Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Goff caught up with Amlin Plus Eventers' Challenge winner Esib Power.  

Read more

The nation's favourites

Earlier this year, we asked you to vote for your favourite Derby-winning horses. Victoria Spicer counts down your top 10. 

Read more

An unforgettable Adventure

Adventure De Kannan is one of the most successful Hickstead horses of recent times. Victoria Goff looks back at the remarkable career of the one-eyed wonder horse

Read more

William Whitaker: How to win the Derby

The 2016 Hickstead Derby winner William Whitaker shares his winning formula! 

Read more

William Whitaker: Advice for Hickstead newcomers

If you haven't ridden at the All England Jumping Course before, reigning Hickstead Derby champion William Whitaker shares his insights into competing here.

Read more

William Whitaker: The perfect warm-up

The current Hickstead Derby champion William Whitaker explains how to nail your warm-up routine, both at home and at competitions. 

Read more

William Whitaker: Winning a jump-off

Want to nail those jump-off rounds? Hickstead Derby 2016 champion William Whitaker shares his advice, and suggests two training exercises to improve your performance against the clock. 

Read more

William Whitaker's training secrets

In the run up to this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, reigning Derby champion William Whitaker shares his showjumping training insights.

Words by Victoria Spicer, photos by Daisy Honeybunn

Read more

6 links between Hickstead and the Grand National

The home of British Showjumping and the most famous race on earth have more in common than you might think, writes Victoria Spicer...

Read more

A winning debut

Chloe Winchester, winner of the Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2015, chats to Victoria Spicer about her winning debut at Hickstead

Read more

Elizabeth the first

Last year Elizabeth 'Beezie' Madden became the first woman ever to win the Longines King George V Gold Cup. In 2015, she did it again. Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Spicer caught up with America's first lady of showjumping. 

Read more

12 moments we loved at this year's Derby meeting

There was rain, there was mud, but much more importantly there was some brilliant competition at this year's Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting. We choose our top 12 moments from this year's show. 

Read more

Back on top

Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Spicer chats to the connections of Loughnatousa WB, a horse who holds a very special record in the Derby...

Read more

Three in a row

Journalist Andrew Baldock takes a look back over the Hickstead archives at the three riders who have won the Derby three times in succession - and finds out which other riders came close...

Read more

A cool guy

Victoria Spicer chats to Guy Williams, the winner of the 2015 British Speed Derby, about setting records and why Hickstead will always be special to him

Read more

Eight great Derby rivalries

There have been some amazing clashes in the 56 years of the Hickstead Derby. Pippa Cuckson takes a look at some of the great rivalries over the years...

Read more

Breen’s Derby dream comes true

Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Spicer chats to the 2014 winner of the Equestrian.com Derby, Trevor Breen. 

Read more

Five Minutes with Fran Callan

Continuing our new Five Minutes With... series, we caught up with Fran Callan, the head travelling groom for Trevor Breen. As part of her job, she looks after Hickstead megastar and reigning Equestrian.com Derby winner Adventure De Kannan...

Read more

Miller's tale

Victoria Spicer meets Phillip Miller, winner of the 2013 Hickstead Derby, to talk about his rise from riding school lessons to Hickstead champion. 

Read more

A lesson with Derby winner Phillip Miller

When we ran an exclusive Hickstead Derby Community competition to win a lesson with the 2013 Derby winner Phillip Miller, we had a great response. In the end, we selected 25-year-old Jodine Brooks from Kent and her seven-year-old Dutch gelding, Camorasun.

Read more

15 facts about the Derby course

From poles that 'twang', resident newts and motorway fences turned into showjumps, Victoria Spicer investigates 15 things that you might not know about the most famous course in British showjumping...

Read more

Five minutes with Phillip Miller

Her latest victim in the 'Five Minutes With Series…', Daisy sits down with natural born comedian and Hickstead Derby superstar, 2013 winner Phillip Miller…

Read more

Five minutes with Bob Ellis

Daisy Bunn is back in the interviewer's chair this week with Hickstead's very own Bob The Buider, world renowned, Olympic course builder Bob Ellis...

Read more

10 iconic Derby moments

Last seen disappearing into our dusky archives, Hickstead Press Officer and journalist Victoria Goff has put together a review of 10 of our most iconic Derby moments over the years 

Read more

Five Minutes with Steve Wilde

Continuing our new Five Minutes With... interview series, Hickstead Director Daisy Bunn sits down with Hickstead's 'golden tonsils', commentator and Director of Ceremonies Steve Wilde...

Read more

Five minutes with Daisy Bunn

As part of a new series, exclusively for our HDC members, Hickstead Director Daisy Bunn is going to catch key members of the Hickstead team for mini 5 minute interviews, to give our members a unique, behind-the-scenes take on everything Hickstead. Who better to start with than Daisy herself!

Read more

The best of the best

Equestrian journalist Charlotte Ricca-Smith asks Hickstead Derby winners to name the performance - apart from their own! - that impressed them most. 

Read more

A Hickstead first

In 2013, Paul Beecher became the first person to produce a clear round having been drawn first to go in the Hickstead Derby, then go on to win the class. Victoria Spicer spoke to him about his achievement.

Read more

A National treasure

Harvey Smith is the only man to have won both the Hickstead Derby and trained a Grand National winner. Victoria Spicer reflects on his remarkable achievement.

Read more

Olympic heroes

Did you know that three out of the four showjumping gold medallists from London 2012 are past winners of the Hickstead Derby? Victoria Spicer catches up with them to find out what those wins meant.

Read more

FOLLOW US

CONTACT US
 

THE ALL ENGLAND JUMPING COURSE HICKSTEAD HASSOCKS WEST SUSSEX BN6 9NS Tel: +44 1273 834315 Fax: +44 1273 834452 View our Privacy Policy.

Our website uses cookies

Find out more about how these are used in our privacy policy.