HORSE SHOWS
TICKETS & MEMBERSHIP
OTHER EVENTS
VISITOR INFO
SHOPPING
COMPETITORS
LATEST ENTRIES & RESULTS
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
The honour of being the youngest winner of the Hickstead Derby has long been subject to a bit of confusion. Some have proclaimed a 20-year-old Michael Whitaker to be the record holder, though in fact the 1967 winner Marion Coakes was a few months younger when she secured her Derby win.
But in 2019, in the most recent running of the Al Shira’aa Derby, the debate was silenced altogether when the then 19-year-old Irish rider Michael Pender claimed the win and scribed his name in the record books. It was a remarkable victory, not just for the youthfulness of the winning rider, but also because neither horse nor jockey had competed in an international jumping Derby beforehand. Coincidentally, the last rider to win in their first year of trying was Michael Whitaker, nearly four decades earlier, on Owen Gregory.
Mikey’s winning horse, Hearton Du Bois Halleux, was best known as a bit of a Puissance specialist, with wins at Dublin and Liverpool under his belt in 2018 as well as a victory at Bolesworth just 10 days before his Hickstead debut. He had more than proved his scope and bravery, but what he would make of the Al Shira’aa Derby’s unique fences and lengthy track remained to be seen.
The first test he faced in Hickstead’s Longines International Arena was the Derby Trial, the class in which all Derby contenders must qualify. The course features a number of Hickstead’s fixed obstacles, including the less steep side of the Derby Bank, the water jump and two elements of the Devil’s Dyke, and often the class acts as a good indicator of form for Sunday’s showcase. But for Mikey and Hearton Du Bois Halleux (that’s Harold to his friends), it wasn’t the most auspicious of debuts.
“The Trial didn’t quite go to plan,” recalls Mikey, who completed the course but finished on 20 faults in 33rd position, worryingly close to the qualification cut-off placing of top 35. “When he’s jumping a course he can get a bit strong the further round he goes.”
The twisting track of the Derby Trial with its 17 jumping efforts all coming up quickly wasn’t the best for the strong-willed Belgian Warmblood stallion by Nonstop, who tends to take a hold. But the Al Shira’aa Derby itself, with a generous time limit and plenty of space between each jump, would prove to be better suited to his skills. “It’s a lot easier when you can set him up one fence at a time,” says Mikey, who adds that’s what makes him so good at the Puissance.
While Pender had competed at Hickstead in the summer of 2018, he had left the showground on the Saturday – so the 2019 renewal was his first chance to see the famous fences up close. “It was big!” he says, recalling that course walk. “But I was always quietly confident in him, I knew he could jump it.”
He walked it with fellow Irishman David Simpson, who had previously ridden Hearton Du Bois Halleux and competes several other horses for owner Paul van den Bosch. The fences that caused Pender concern were the usual suspects, the Devil’s Dyke and the upright Derby rails following the water. The Bank, however, didn’t overly faze him. “When I was walking the course, I spoke to David Simpson and a few of the lads, and they said when I was coming down the Bank to make sure I put my leg on, to not let him fall in a heap at the bottom. But as soon as I put my leg on, he leapt off from a bit too high up! But he gathered up and jumped the upright at the bottom so well. He was unbelievable.”
The resulting photo was quite spectacular, but it wasn’t the only gasp-worthy moment during their round. Having cleared the Bank, then put in a foot-perfect display over the Devil’s Dyke, Mikey really pushed on to the water and met it on a decidedly long distance. As Harold took off a stride out, it seemed impossible that he could land without getting his feet wet, but not only did he clear the wide open water, he also managed to collect in time to clear the Derby Rails, one of the fences that had concerned Mikey the most during the course walk.
Having made easy work of the double of gates and the final oxer, Mikey’s clear round guaranteed a jump-off against Derby Trial winner Shane Breen. When the ultra-consistent Harriet Nuttall matched their jumping clears, it meant the Hickstead crowd was going to be treated to its first three-way jump-off since 1993.
While Harold can look quite frenetic in his jumping, his tendency to get strong and Mikey’s need to keep his exuberance under control means he’s not the fastest against the clock, so he knew he was up against it, particularly since both Breen and Nuttall were hugely experienced Derby campaigners. His technique was to go for a clear round, and hope the others faulted.
First to go, Shane set off at a strong pace on Golden Hawk, hoping to pile pressure on his rivals, but when he knocked the Derby rails and the first part of the double of gates, his dream of winning the Derby looked to be over. Mikey came in next, managing to keep Harold cool to net a vital double clear – albeit with another dramatic leap over the water.
He’d done exactly what he set out to do, and now only Harriet and A Touch Imperious could stop him from claiming the Boomerang Trophy. But a foot in the Open Water meant they had to settle for runner-up spot once again, with Mikey claiming the £34,650 first prize. “It’s what every rider dreams of,” he says. “I didn’t ever imagine he’d win, but I knew the class would suit him and we’d have some kind of a shout. But for it to actually happen was a completely different story.”
In making such an impact at Hickstead at such a tender age, Mikey follows in the footsteps of fellow Irish talents such as Bertram Allen, who was 19 when he finished second in the Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup in 2014, and Michael Duffy, who was 18 when he won the first of two back-to-back All England Grands Prix, before going on to be part of the winning Irish team in the Nations Cup leg in 2018.
Like Duffy, Pender has his sights set on senior team selection, and with an impressive string of horses and the kind of cool-headedness that’s needed for top-level showjumping, he appears to have all the right attributes. His background is typical of so many young riders – his mother rode, ran a riding school, and produced and sold ponies, so Mikey naturally started riding at an early age. He was a member of the Carlow Branch of the Pony Club and went on to compete on ponies, making his Pony European debut in Arezzo in 2013. The following two years he picked up team silvers in Malmo and Millstreet, and went on to represent his country at Junior and Young Rider level.
He truly announced himself on the world stage in 2016 when winning the Silver and Bronze medals in the five-year-old final at the World Breeding Jumping Championships at Lanaken in Belgium, despite being just 16 years old, riding Irish Sport Horses bred by the Hughes family and owned by Team Z7.
A student at Knockbeg College, Mikey initially tried to combine his schooling with his riding career, but when he returned from a spell working for Team Z7 in the United Arab Emirates he decided it was time to concentrate on horses. “School was not really my thing – I went in, I kept my head down and stayed out of trouble, but I was always looking out of the window thinking and planning about the horses.”
He began working full-time for Olympic showjumper Marion Hughes and her husband Miguel Bravo. The Hughes Horse Stud is perfectly situated, just 20 minutes from his childhood home, and Mikey benefits from their immense support, training and mentorship as well as getting the chance to ride some extremely good horses. Like Pender, Marion has a stellar record at Hickstead, having won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 1995 and 1996 with the great Flo Jo, so it’s little wonder her protégé has gone on to follow in her footsteps. Marion describes Mikey as a ‘genius on a horse’ so it’s obviously a partnership that benefits all parties.
His recent successes have seen Mikey leap into the world’s top 100 riders and slowly climb up the rankings. In 2019 he was selected to be part of the international Young Riders Academy, which chooses a group of talented young equestrians each year and helps them with their showjumping careers. It’s led to Mikey getting some incredible opportunities, such as the chance to work and train with Jos Lansink and invitations to compete at the CSI5* in Geneva, where he finished second in the Trophée de Genève and 11th in the Rolex Grand Prix on HHS Burnchurch, plus an invitation to take part in the Longines Global Champions League, representing the St. Tropez Pirates.
After their Derby win, Mikey and Hearton Du Bois Halleux went on to win the Olympia and Liverpool Puissances, while Mikey made the most of an invitation to compete at the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show in January 2020 where he picked up a number of top three placings with Casanova Van Overis Z and HHS Fortune. With the latter ride, he also won the Al Shira’aa Derby of Abu Dhabi, becoming the first rider to win both of Al Shira’aa’s Derby classes – as well as winning the first car of his career and getting to ride a camel in the prizegiving!
After a two-year hiatus for Hickstead’s iconic class, Mikey hopes to bring Hearton Du Bois Halleux back to try to defend his Derby title. “Harold has all the good attributes you’d want in a Derby horse. He’s brave, he has all the scope and he tries to be so careful,” says Mikey. “I don’t jump him too much at home, he knows his job at this stage. He’s hacked out, he spends lots of time in the field, and he knows he’s the king. He’s a fantastic character in the stable, he’s always straight over to the door to see you, and he’s super friendly.”
Grand Prix wins and championship medals may be the ultimate focus for every professional showjumper, but there remains something extra special about winning classes like the Al Shira’aa Derby or the Puissance – those are the competitions that resonate most with the crowds, the ones that stand out in the memory. In Hearton Du Bois Halleux, Mikey has found a horse that excels in both.
Whether the pair are riding down towards the vast red wall or the 10ft 6in slope of the Derby Bank, Mikey has every confidence in his striking bay stallion. “Riding him, you just know you’re going to get to the other side. He doesn’t even feel like he’s stretching himself, and there aren’t many horses who can jump clear round the Derby but feel like they’re not even making much of an effort. It’s an amazing feeling, riding a horse like that.”
This article was first published in June 2022
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
Young guns
They are two of the best under-25 riders in the world, and last year they stood first and second in the King George V Gold Cup. Victoria Goff caught up with Gilles Thomas and Harry Charles
Quick as a Flash
Victoria Goff spoke to Gemma Stevens, last year's winner of the Ashby Underwriting Eventers' Challenge
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
Showing's standout moments from 2022
We take a look back at the best moments from the show ring at the 2022 Royal International Horse Show
Home turf
Shane Breen chats to Victoria Goff about finally winning the Al Shira'aa Derby, after nearly 20 years of trying
An Olympic ambition
Victoria Goff visits Al Shira'aa Farms, to find out more about their journey in showjumping.
Career change
It's been nearly two decades since the first RoR showing championship took place at Hickstead. Victoria Goff finds out more about transforming former racehorses into showing stars
In his prime
He's been one of the most consistent horses in the history of the Hickstead Derby - Victoria Goff finds out more about Harriet Biddick's remarkable horse A Touch Imperious
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
Hickstead's Christmas 2022 countdown
We count down our best moments from a brilliant year here at the All England Jumping Course
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.
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.
Superb Swedes
Victoria Goff reflects on the current strength and depth of the Swedish showjumping team
Thirty glorious years
Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Goff looks back over three brilliant decades of the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead
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
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
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
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
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.
60 facts about the Hickstead Derby
How well do you know the history of the famous Al Shira'aa Derby?
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
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.
Holly Smith Q&A
Alex Irwin caught up with Hickstead star Holly Smith at the Science Supplements All England Jumping Championships
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
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.
Top Speed
We take a look back over the history of the British Speed Derby.
By Victoria Goff
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.
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.
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
10 magical showing moments
We take a look back over some of the standout showing moments from the 2017 season
Perfect Timing
Paul Tapner talks to Hickstead Press Officer Victoria Goff about his first win in the MS Amlin Eventers' Challenge
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
Fiesta Time
Brazil had an extraordinary run of form at last year's Longines Royal International Horse Show. Victoria Goff finds out more.
Worth the wait
Victoria Goff describes the wait Nigel Coupe had before he finally become the Al Shira'aa Derby Champion in 2017.
Doing it for Ella
Hickstead's press officer Victoria Goff caught up with Matthew Sampson, the winner of the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby
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.
A New Era
Victoria Goff finds out more about Al Shira'aa, the title sponsors of the Hickstead Derby
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.
#RoadToHickstead contenders reveal...
We ask some of our leading Al Shira'aa Derby contenders some killer questions.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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
William Whitaker: How to win the Derby
The 2016 Hickstead Derby winner William Whitaker shares his winning formula!
William Whitaker: Advice for Hickstead newcomers
If you haven't ridden at the All England Jumping Course before, the 2016 Hickstead Derby champion William Whitaker shares his insights into competing here.
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.
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.
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
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...
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
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.
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.
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...
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...
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
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...
Breen’s Derby dream comes true
Hickstead's Press Officer Victoria Spicer chats to the 2014 winner of the Equestrian.com Derby, Trevor Breen.
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...
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.
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.
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...
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…
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...
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
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...
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
EVENTS
& TICKETS
MEMBERSHIP
& SPONSORSHIP
Our website uses cookies
Find out more about how these are used in our privacy policy.