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.
The Hickstead Derby history book is full of shock wins and surprise twists – but sometimes, just sometimes, the class plays out exactly as expected. Take last year, for example. William Funnell was the pre-class favourite to win last year’s Al Shira’aa Derby. His horse, Billy Buckingham, had made his Hickstead debut 12 months earlier, coming straight from victory in the Eindhoven Derby a few weeks earlier. They had a superb round, leaving every fence standing and having just a moment of hesitation on the top of the bank to put them in fifth place on four faults plus a time fault. With such a promising first attempt, it was little wonder everyone expected them to be top of the line up the following year.
Billy Buckingham came back to Hickstead a more mature and confident horse, and this time he dropped down the Al Shira’aa Bank in textbook fashion and went on to finish clear within the time. Often a clear round is good enough to secure victory in the Derby, but having been drawn 18th out of 26, William still had to wait and see if any of the other competitors could match his faultless round.
They could. Holly Smith – another of the likely contenders, having finished third in 2017 – produced a lovely clear on Quality Old Joker to push William to a jump-off. In the second round, William and Billy Buckingham once again left all the fences standing, though a foot in the water left the door slightly ajar for Holly to go clear. But when Holly knocked the gate at fence three and Quality Old Joker also dropped a toe in the water, she retired and William was announced the winner – making him only the fifth rider in the history of the class to win a total of four times.
So how did it feel – joining the likes of Harvey Smith, Eddie Macken and John and Michael Whitaker? “It was lovely to equal those guys,” says William. “I remember seeing Eddie Macken winning for the fourth time and taking the trophy home afterwards, I grew up watching Harvey Smith, and John and Michael both really inspired me too, John especially really helped me out at the beginning. To be in the record books with them is really something.”
What made William’s win even more special was the fact he did it on a homebred horse. Billy Buckingham is by Billy Congo, described by the Funnells as the ‘flagship stallion’ for the Billy Stud, which William formed with business partner Donal Barwell nearly 25 years ago. The stud began with one Irish mare, Tatum, who was covered by top showjumper Animo and produced firstly Billy Orange, whose name became the prefix to all the Billy Stud horses, and then secondly Billy Autumn, a filly who would later go on to be the broodmare who produced Billy Congo.
More than two decades after that pivotal first foaling, the Billy Stud has grown to become a huge commercial breeding operation, with extensive facilities over three separate sites – Pippa’s yard and William’s yard, which are both located in Forest Green in Surrey, and Donal’s yard, which focuses on the foals and youngstock. The stud now produces 80-90 foals a year with many going on to have careers in top-level sport. “I’m very lucky to have Donal as a partner, he organises getting the mares in foal and does all the groundwork with the youngstock until they are three,” William explains. “Donal is a big importer of Irish horses so we were lucky to have a good nucleus of Irish blood in the beginning which we’ve mixed with the high breeds of Europe. The more experience we get, the better we’re getting, and the hit rate of breeding top jumpers gets better.”
While showjumping is the main focus, plenty of Billy horses have gone on to be top event horses – Pippa rode two homebreds at last month’s Badminton Horse Trials. “As Pip would tell you, primarily we are trying to breed jumpers, but we’re also trying to breed a sport type – in showjumping competitions have got faster, horses are jumping more often, so we need more and more blood. Event horses are a by-product of this,” says William.
Pippa has been an integral part of the Billy Stud’s success, helping to produce the horses and training the large team of stable jockeys, as well as competing some of the showjumpers herself – who can forget her runner-up spot with Congo in last year’s Science Supplements BHS Queen Elizabeth II Cup? Whatever a horse’s final career, they all begin their training in a similar way and will do plenty of flatwork as well as going cross-country schooling, to get them used to the idea of jumping natural obstacles – Billy Buckingham and his sire were no exception.
As father and son, they couldn’t look less alike – Congo is compact and black, Buckingham is huge and chestnut – but Billy Congo has undoubtedly passed his talent down through his genes. In 2013 William rode the stallion to team gold at the European Championships, he was a regular on Nations Cup teams, and he has amassed around three-quarters of a million pounds in prize money during his career. Buckingham, who was on the British team at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon last September, is certainly emulating his father’s championship credentials. He is not just a Derby specialist – like many of the Hickstead greats, Buckingham is a Grand Prix horse who isn’t remotely fazed by the permanent obstacles.
His scope is undeniable, but Billy Buckingham’s carefulness has meant he’s been caught out by the time. A single time fault kept them out of the jump-off in last year’s Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup, and though they jumped clear in WEG the pair did collect a few time faults. “The Derby suits him, because it’s all about getting in a good rhythm and giving the horse time to jump the fences. Having said that, he’s 11 and that’s not old, and he’s improving all the time – I think he’s stronger in his body this year.”
He’ll have a light competition schedule in the run up to this year’s Al Shira’aa Derby, focusing mainly on Nations Cup duties and only doing a handful of shows in the season, including Hickstead. So was he a horse whose Derby credentials stood out from the start? “Lucy Bunn produced him as a young horse and she jumped him in some two-star Grands Prix, and he looked like he was going to be a nice horse, but I didn’t think he would be a horse who would go on to win the Hickstead Derby,” says William. “But at nine years old, out of the blue, he jumped the only clear to win the Eindhoven Derby and at then at that point we thought Hickstead could be a realistic goal.”
Buckingham looks like a laid-back type when you see him in the ring, but that’s not always the case. “He’s sensitive and his mind can be all over the place. Sometimes silly things or noises can frighten him – Mondriaan was the opposite, he was so laid back. But now having really bonded with him, he really trusts me and that’s important for a Derby horse.”
Mondriaan, of course, was the horse who began William’s Derby domination, and gave him his long-awaited first win in 2006 – a victory that turned into a hat-trick in the space of four years. “Mondriaan was a lovely horse, and I was very lucky he came along,” he says. “He was a real Grand Prix horse who also loved jumping natural obstacles.”
The third of the pair’s treble of victories came just two weeks after the death of Hickstead founder Douglas Bunn, a friend and supporter of William’s, and it is this win that stands out most in William’s memory. “I could almost hear him that day, saying to me ‘come on, don’t mess it up’,” he recalls.
Not only has William won the Al Shira’aa Derby four times, he’s come very close on several other occasions. In 1997, he finished runner-up after Comex knocked down the 1m high jump on top of the Derby Bank, in 2004 he lost out on the winning ride on Buddy Bunn after straining his groin, and in 2012, William jumped a clear in the first round with Dorada but ended up second to Ireland’s Paul Beecher after a jump-off. “There are a lot of unlucky stories in the Derby,” William adds. “With 21 jumping efforts, it’s common to have just one fence down that costs you the win. I’d always wanted to win the class and to have lost on Comex because of the smallest fence on the course was really tough.”
By now, William knows more than most about what it takes to win our most iconic class. He first competed in the class at the age of 17, when he took a tumble at the bottom of the Bank (though got back on to complete) and he is now 53, having had a Derby ride for most of the years in between. So can the farmer’s son from Kent, who has been coming to Hickstead since he was a child and who was once inspired to make showjumping his career by watching Eddie and Boomerang’s fourth victory, actually go one better with a fifth win?
“It would be lovely, but you never know what’s round the corner. There’s more pressure this year because everyone is expecting we can win it again, but having been round the course twice now without knocking a jump the odds are he’s got to have a fence down one year!” William says wryly.
But wife Pippa believes he could be the one to ride into history books with a fifth victory, whether that happens this year or at some point in the future. “I’m not being biased but the way he rides and the trip he gives the Derby course is exceptional and last year was amazing to watch,” she says. “I’d love him to win a fifth time, he’s very capable of it and it would be lovely to see him do it.” The crowds at Hickstead will no doubt be wishing and hoping for the exact same thing.
This article first appeared in June 2019
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
