Posted: 27th June 2015 | Back to news feed
A huge class of Derby hopefuls came
forward to compete in today’s Bunn Leisure Derby Trial at Hickstead, with the
top placings going to two of British Showjumping’s most promising lady riders,
Holly Gillott and Harriet Nuttall.
A total of 68 horses came forward for the €24,500 competition, from which the
top 35 qualify for the Equestrian.com Derby, with seven combinations jumping
clear to go through to the jump-off.
The first rider to come forward in round two was Robert Whitaker, who has been
on a great run of form of late, but he picked up four faults on the stallion
USA Today. Spencer Roe and Wonder Why, a combination who represented Great Britain
at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games, then netted a steady double clear in
a time of 68.63sec to set the standard.
Nigel Coupe and Golvers Hill, who were seventh in last year’s Equestrian.com
Derby, knocked more than 4sec off Spencer’s time. They didn’t hold pole
position for long, however, as Harriet Nuttall – third in the 2014 Derby – duly
shaved another two seconds off the target time to take the lead.
Peter Smyth and Douglas Duffin both picked up four faults apiece, leaving only
Holly Gillott who could oust Harriet from the top spot. This she duly did,
producing a fast clear on her Team GB horse Dougie Douglas to win in a time of
61.72sec.
“I always come second here!” said runner-up Harriet. “He’s not the fastest
horse so I knew Holly would beat me,” she added, referring to her 11-year-old
gelding A Touch Imperious.
Both Harriet and Holly have been regulars on Britain’s teams this season – and
indeed Holly has her sights set on the FEI Nations Cup series with her
10-year-old gelding Dougie Douglas. “I will not be jumping him in the Derby,
but I’m hoping to be here for the Nations Cup next month,” said the 26-year-old
from Leicestershire. “It’s the best ring in the world to ride in by a mile – my
horse was loving it today."
But one rider who will definitely be coming back for another crack at the
Equestrian.com Derby is Harriet. A Touch Imperious has proved he’s more than
capable of jumping round the famously fearsome course, but there’s one jump
that is set to prove the biggest challenge. “Riding my horse down the bank has
to be the most daunting thing, he’s 17.2hh so it looks even more huge from up
there!” she said.
Harriet was also second in the British Speed Derby in 2014 with Silver Lift and
she’ll be one of the favourites for tomorrow’s renewal. But while Holly isn’t
going for the Derby, she will be having a crack at tomorrow’s Speed Derby and
is one to watch.
“I’ve never ridden in the Speed Derby before – but I’ve got two horses in that
class and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Holly.
Harriet was once again runner-up in the afternoon’s main class, the Bunn
Leisure Hickstead Master’s Challenge, which was won by Guy Williams and Casper
De Muze. Guy was victorious in Thursday’s Derby Tankard so he’s having a superb
week – and he, like Harriet and Holly, will be one to watch in tomorrow’s Speed
Derby.
In the showing classes, top producer Jayne Ross won the supreme cob
championship with the prolific Cob In Hood; while the mountain and moorland
supreme championship went to Alex Baxter and the fell pony Townend Candyman.
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