HICKSTEAD / ALL ENGLAND JUMPING COURSE / SHOWJUMPING / HORSES / EQUESTRIAN / SPORT / ENGLAND
SHOWJUMPING
ROBERT WHITAKER REIGNS AS 2025 CHAMPION OF AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY
In arguably one of the most challenging courses in showjumping, riders and their horses are fortunate to complete a clear round at the Hickstead Derby. The course features daunting obstacles like the imposing Bank, the Devil's Dyke, and the ditches—features that differ significantly from standard fences seen elsewhere in the sport.
The final began with 27 competitors, with only four managing to jump clear to give audiences a jump-off.
Three finalists were Britons: Sammie Jo Coffin with Chaccomo Blue, Robert Whitaker on Gentlemen VH Veldhof, the 2016 Derby winner William Whitaker riding Flamboyant III, and finally, the 2022 winner Ireland’s Shane Breen with Fanfan De Beaufour.
But Breen’s ride was spoiled by two-time faults, preventing him from going through to the jump-off.
In the jump-off, Sammie Jo Coffin knocked down a fence and clocked a time of 96.07 seconds. Robert then followed, also taking a fence, but finished faster at 88.33 seconds, setting a new target and applying pressure on William.
William, seemingly calm and composed, initially went through his round smoothly but also, took a fence. Determined to beat the time he galloped with speed to the last but ultimately finished in 89.75 seconds—just 1.42 seconds shy of Robert’s time, missing the win by a narrow margin to come in second place.
**Robert’s father John Whitaker has won the Derby in 1983, 1998, 2000 and 2004.
••William Funnell has won the Derby in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018 and 2024.