The History Of The Hickstead Derby

The Hickstead Derby is an annual showjumping event held at the All England Jumping Course in Hickstead, West Sussex, England1. Here`s a brief history of the Hickstead Derby:

Douglas Bunn founded the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in 1960. A year later, he created the Hickstead Derby, a showjumping competition that would become one of the most famous courses in the world. The inaugural Hickstead Derby took place on 29 June 1961, and it quickly became a popular and iconic sporting event, drawing crowds from all over the UK23.

The Hickstead Derby is known for its challenging course, which features a water jump, bank, open ditches, and other obstacles that test the skill and ability of both horse and rider3. Over the years, the course has undergone various modifications, but it remains one of the toughest and most prestigious showjumping events in the world.

Today, the Hickstead Derby continues to be popular among showjumping enthusiasts and equestrian fans alike, attracting top riders from around the world to compete for the top prize. The course has become a symbol of British showjumping and remains a beloved and iconic event in the equestrian world.

Past Winners of the Hickstead Derby

2022 - Shane Breen IRL Can Ya Makan

2021 - Not Held

2020 - Not Held

2019 - Michael Pender IRL Hearton Du Bois Halleux

2018 - William Funnell - GBR - Billy Buckingham

2017 - Nigel Coupe - GBR - Golvers Hill

2016 William Whitaker GBR Glenavadra Brilliant

2015 Trevor Breen - IRL - Loughnatousa WB

2014 - Trevor Breen - IRL - Adventure De Kannan

2013 - Phillip Miller - GBR - Caritiar Z

2012 - Paul Beecher - IRL - Loughnatousa WB

2011 - Tina Fletcher - GBR - Promised Land

2010 - Guy Williams - GBR - Skip Two Ramiro

2009 - William Funnell - GBR - Cortaflex Mondriaan

2008 - William Funnell - GBR - Cortaflex Mondriaan

2007 - Geoff Billington - GBR - Cassabachus

2006 - William Funnell - GBR - Cortaflex Mondriaan

2005 - Ben Maher - GBR - Alfredo II

2004 - John Whitaker - GBR - Buddy Bunn

2003 - Peter Charles - IRL - Corrada

2002 - Peter Charles - IRL - Corrada

2001 - Peter Charles - IRL - Corrada

2000 - John Whitaker - GBR - Welham

1999 - Rob Hoekstra - GBR - Lionel II

1998 - John Whitaker - GBR - Gammon

1997 - John Popely - GBR - Bluebird

1996 - Nelson Pessoa - BRA - Loro Piana Vivaldi

� 1995 - John Ledingham - IRL - Kilbaha

1994 - John Ledingham - IRL - Kilbaha

1993 - Michael Whitaker - GBR - Monsanta

1992 - Michael Whitaker - GBR - Monsanta

1991 - Michael Whitaker - GBR - Monsanta

1990 - Jozsef Turi - GBR - Vital

1989 - Nick Skelton - GBR - Apollo

1988 - Nick Skelton - GBR - Apollo

1987 - Nick Skelton - GBR - J Nick

1986 - Paul Schockemohle - GER - Deister

1985 - Paul Schockemohle - GER - Lorenzo

1984 - John Ledingham - IRL - Gabhran

1983 - John Whitaker - GBR - Ryan`s Son

1982 - Paul Schockemohle - GER - Deister

1981 - Harvey Smith - GBR - Sanyo Video

1980 - Michael Whitaker - GBR - Owen Gregory

1979 - Eddie Macken - IRL - Boomerang

1978 - Eddie Macken - IRL - Boomerang

1977 - Eddie Macken - IRL - Boomerang

1976 - Eddie Macken - IRL - Boomerang

1975 - Paul Darragh - IRL - Pele

1974 - Harvey Smith - GBR - Salvador

1973 - Alison Dawes (nee Westwood) - GBR - Mr Banbury

1972 - Hendrik Snoek - GER - Shirokko

1971 - Harvey Smith - GBR - Mattie Brown

1970 - Harvey Smith - GBR - Mattie Brown

1969 - Anneli Drummond-Hay - GBR - Xanthos II

1968 - Alison Westwood - GBR - The Maverick III

1967 - Marion Coakes - GBR - Stroller

1966 - David Broome - GBR - Mister Softee

1965 - Nelson Pessoa - BRA - Gran Geste

1964 - Seamus Hayes - IRL - Goodbye III

1963 - Nelson Pessoa - BRA - Gran Geste

1962 - Pat Smythe - GBR - Flanagan

1961 - Seamus Hayes - IRL - Goodbye III

The Hickstead derby is one of the most prestigous jumping classes in the world and has attracted many of the worlds leading horse and rider combinations. The first time the class was run was in 1961 and won by Irish rider Seamus Hayes and Goodbye III. Below you can scroll through our Hickstead Derby winners roll

The British Jumping Derby

1961 Seamus Hayes IRL Goodbye III

1962 Pat Smythe GBR Flanagan

1963 Nelson Pessoa BRA Gran Geste

1964 Seamus Hayes IRL Goodbye III

1965 Nelson Pessoa BRA Gran Geste

1966 David Broome GBR Mister Softee

1967 Marion Coakes GBR Stroller

1968 Alison Westwood GBR The Maverick III

1969 Anneli Drummond-Hay GBR Xanthos II

1970 Harvey Smith GBR Mattie Brown

1971 Harvey Smith GBR Mattie Brown

1972 Hendrik Snoek GER Shirokko

1973 Alison Dawes (nee Westwood) GBR Mr Banbury

1974 Harvey Smith GBR Salvador

1975 Paul Darragh IRL Pele

1976 Eddie Macken IRL Boomerang

1977 Eddie Macken IRL Boomerang

1978 Eddie Macken IRL Boomerang

1979 Eddie Macken IRL Boomerang

1980 Michael Whitaker GBR Owen Gregory

1981 Harvey Smith GBR Sanyo Video

1982 Paul Schockem�hle GER Deister

1983 John Whitaker GBR Ryan`s Son

1984 John Ledingham IRL Gabhran

1985 Paul Schockem�hle GER Lorenzo

1986 Paul Schockem�hle GER Deister

1987 Nick Skelton GBR J Nick

1988 Nick Skelton GBR Apollo

1989 Nick Skelton GBR Apollo

1990 Jozsef Turi GBR Vital

1991 Michael Whitaker GBR Monsanta

1992 Michael Whitaker GBR Monsanta

1993 Michael Whitaker GBR Monsanta

1994 John Ledingham IRL Kilbaha

1995 John Ledingham IRL Kilbaha

1996 Nelson Pessoa BRA Loro Piana Vivaldi

1997 John Popely GBR Bluebird

1998 John Whitaker GBR Gammon

1999 Rob Hoekstra GBR Lionel II

2000 John Whitaker GBR Welham

2001 Peter Charles IRL Corrada

2002 Peter Charles IRL Corrada

2003 Peter Charles IRL Corrada

2004 John Whitaker GBR Buddy Bunn

2005 Ben Maher GBR Alfredo II

2006 William Funnell GBR Cortaflex Mondriaan

2007 Geoff Billington GBR Cassabachus

2008 William Funnell GBR Cortaflex Mondriaan

2009 William Funnell GBR Cortaflex Mondriaan

2010 Guy Williams GBR Skip Two Ramiro

2011 Tina Fletcher GBR Promised Land

2012 Paul Beecher IRL Loughnatousa WB

2013 Phillip Miller GBR Caritiar Z

2014 Trevor Breen IRL Adventure De Kannan

2015 Trevor Breen IRL Loughnatousa WB

2016 William Whitaker GBR Glenavadra Brilliant

2017 Nigel Coupe GBR Golvers Hill

2018 William Funnell GBR Billy Buckingham

2019 Michael Pender IRL Hearton Du Bois Halleux

2020 Not Held

The British Speed Derby

1987 John Brown GBR G & A Castle Townsend

1988 Emma Jane Mac GBR Everest Gringo

1989 Joe Turi GBR Mill Ruby

1990 David Bowen GBR Delsey

1991 David Bowen GBR Delsey

1992 David Bowen GBR Delsey

1993 Capt. John Ledingham IRL Castlepollard

1994 Capt. John Ledingham IRL Castlepollard

1995 Capt. John Ledingham IRL Castlepollard

1996 Michel Robert FRA Alligator Fontaine

1997 Jane Annett GBR Pipakie

1998 John Renwick GBR Brookend Raphaella

1999 Chloe Bunn GBR Citi Dancer

2000 Billy Twomey IRL Sublime

2001 Jens Fredricson SWE RS Isaac

2002 Guy Williams GBR Be Precise

2003 Michael Whitaker GBR Dobels Frechdacks

2004 Guy Williams GBR Be Precise

2005 Ben Maher GBR Mercurius

2006 Ben Maher GBR Mercurius

2007 Ellen Whitaker GBR Henri De Herne

2008 Shane Breen IRL Royal Concorde

2009 Trevor Breen IRL Adventure De Kannan

2010 Ellen Whitaker GBR Henri De Herne

2011 Shane Breen IRL Magic Fox

2012 Trevor Breen IRL Beer Hunter

2013 Robert Power IRL Doonaveeragh O One

2014 Guy Williams GBR Casper De Muze

2015 Guy Williams GBR Casper De Muze

2016 Harriet Nuttall GBR Silver Lift

2017 Matt Sampson GBR Topflight True Carlo

2018 Matt Sampson GBR Topflight True Carlo

2019 Harriet Nuttall GBR Silver Lift

2020 Not Held

Hickstead Derby 1963

The Hickstead Derby is an equestrian event steeped in events, below you can see some vintage footage from 1963 with victory for Nelson Pessoa, you can also see the legendary Ted Edgar tackle the derby one handed because of a broken arm.

Watch John Whitaker & Ryans Son In The 1986 Hickstead Derby - Click Here