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Funnell secures place in Hickstead history books with third Derby triumph
William Funnell and his trusty partner Mondriaan made history when they won the £120,000 DFS Hickstead Derby title for a third time.
They were the last to go and knowing that a clear round would take the title, Will and the 16-year-old Dutch bred gelding took the 16-fence course in their stride.
The pair have secured their place in the Hickstead history books by winning the world-famous Derby in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Delighted Funnell said: "Mondriaan has been aimed at this competition all year and it's fantastic when all the hard work and preparation pays off."
William Whitaker and Guy Williams shared second place, both finishing on four faults. British riders also took the next three places with Tina Fletcher, Ben Maher and Robert Smith all finishing on eight faults.
The Derby was a poignant occasion this year. All the riders competed in black armbands in memory of the late Douglas Bunn, the founder of Hickstead.
The Junior Regional Tetrathlon Championships were held at Thornton Watlass Hall, Bedale with 155 youngsters aged between 11 and 15 competing.
Teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and across England travelled to Yorkshire to take part in the two-day event which involved four phases – pistol shooting, a three-minute swim, cross-country riding and a 1,500m cross-country run.
The cross-country riding course proved to be the deciding factor in the results where competitors could earn a maximum score of 1,400 points.
The North of England squad produced some good scores, including Alistair Weymouth, from the Cumberland Foxhounds Pony Club, who came fourth individually in the boys' section.
Republic of Ireland B teams swept the board, winning the girls and boys events. Teams from Wales and Borders and Scotland chased them home.
A member of the East of England team, Rebecca Dunning, was air-lifted to hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance after a fall. Organisers say she is recovering well in the James Cook University Hospital.
Results
Boys: 1 Republic of Ireland B, 2 Wales and Borders, 3 Republic of Ireland A, 4 Scotland A, 5 Northern England Red.
Girls: 1 Republic of Ireland B, 2 Scotland A, 3 Wales and Borders, 4 Scotland B, 5 Northern Red.
Two West Yorkshire riders took part in the famous Golden Horseshoe Ride.
The ride is a true test of endurance over the hilly and sometimes rough going of Exmoor. Jenny Vesey, a GP from Bingley, and Vicky Atkinson, a nurse from Halifax, rode their horses Beckmeetings Kahruba and Vlacz Zamin in the Exmoor Experience, consisting of two 25-mile rides on consecutive days .
Jenny's horse finished with a heartrate of 48bpm at an average speed of 12.7kph and gained a gold award. Vicky's horse, which averaged 12.3kph, had a penalty point for a high heart-rate but nevertheless won a silver award. Both riders said they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Riding on the Pennines on Sunday, July 12 might not be quite so tough as Exmoor but if anyone wants to find out what endurance riding is all about, it could be a good place to start. Details from Julie Martin on 01484 681423 .
The Middleton Hunt Pony Club team of Will Easterby and Matley Merlin II; Emily Easterby and Nunun Cyclone; Sophie Lear and Manor Guns and Amy Milburn and Loughnatousa Orange won the Area 3 Novice Challenge Show Jumping Competition.
It was staged by the Derwent Hunt Pony Club at Carr Farm, Wykeham. The team qualifies for 2009 Pony Club Novice Championships to be held on August 29 in Cheshire.
Amy Milburn, riding her pony Jazz, won the 138cm Charles Owen series race after the main racing had taken place at Doncaster on June 14.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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