Hickstead British Derby Meeting - 45 years old this year and the statistics have only 49 clear rounds recorded in that time!

This years class saw 24 combinations lining up for starters orders with John Whitaker having two rides, as did son Robert. With niece, Ellen also fronting the starter this year making it three Whitakers competing - this must surely be the biggest and most successful dynasty in showjumping! Joe Whitaker, 18 years old, rode well in the Speed Derby on the Saturday.

The weather was incredible with bright blue sky, a light breeze but high heat by English standards which was going to make it hard on horses and riders - with everyone commenting that the ground had never been in such perfect conditions for jumping this toughest of Derby tracks.

The Speed Derby on Saturday was a hotly contested class for many reasons - in 2005 Ben Maher then 22 years of age took out the double winning both the Speed Derby and the Derby so the pressure was on to see whether he could defend his title this year and he made an excellent start when he again took out the Speed Derby claiming first place honours riding Mercurius.

Ireland's Peter Smyth and the gutsy and talented trotter Zara's Pride - pictured below left - flew around the course - they came through the start flags at a gallop and never drew breath from there but the enormity of the field took its toll and Zara's pride got noticeably tired towards the end of the track but she never stopped trying and finished with a very respectable four faults which saw their final time sitting at 99.72secs.

Ellen Whitaker and Henri de Herne went wildly fast in this class but when they angled the balustrade fence a little wrong it tumbled leaving her with four faults for a time of 97.18secs.

Jo Whitaker and Collector followed and although this horse is not a naturally quick horse, the 18 year old jockey rode with all the style and finesse the crowds have come to expect from a Whitaker and he rode superbly lowering just the white gate, with the horse looking noticeably tired towards the end.

Second last to go was Ireland's Shane Breen and Mullaghdrin Gold Rain and they took a very "sensible" approach to the first three difficult fences and then quietly cut out corners, seeing strides where others wouldn't dare - this combination calmly ate up the course, coming perhaps a little slower but when everything stayed in place they took the lead with their time of 96.16secs - and with just the one rider to go the worst Breen could do was second...................

Last out was the defending champion, Ben Maher and he was again riding his Speed Champion from 2005, Mercurius and this horse just ate up the ground. This big striding, calm horse jump the course at the gallop without needing to scrub the ears off the horse and when they came through the finish flags they had won the class with a time of 95.21secs which was just marginally slower than his 94.81secs in 2005 - but he now had back to back Speed Derby classes and the pressure was on to see if he could win the Derby class again this year!

On winning the class Ben said "I had my plan and I stuck to it - but I have one of the quickest horses here and he was great!"