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Beecher claims famous Hickstead Derby win

Paul Beecher yesterday claimed the famous Hickstead Derby for only the 13th time for Ireland in its 52-year history.

In doing so, the Waterford rider ended an eight-year British winning streak at the renowned West Sussex fixture.

Beecher picked up €42,000 for his win, which came with the home-bred Loughnatousa W B.

The 29-year-old rider and the Spring Elegance gelding showed their class when one of only two to jump clear over the demanding course, with its iconic bank, from 31 starters.

The other was 2008/2009 winner William Funnell on the Irish Sport Horse Dorada, but when the Briton and the 14-year-old Harlequin du Carel chestnut gelding retired in the jump-off, victory was Beecher’s.

Ireland’s Seamus Hayes and Goodbye III claimed the first derby, but it was Eddie Macken’s four-in-a-row with Boomerang that will be uppermost in people’s memory.

The last Irish win came with Peter Charles in 2003, when the British-born rider and Corrada recorded a three-in-a-row. Charles has since reverted to being a British rider.

Beecher’s win, meanwhile ensured a derby whitewash for the Irish, with Tipperary brothers Trevor and Shane Breen placing first and fourth, respectively, in the Hickstead Speed Derby.

The former, and younger, teamed up with the Irish-bred gelding Beer Hunter to match his Hickstead-based sibling with his second Speed Derby win. To claim the top prize of €8,000 Trevor had to hold off a late challenge from Syrian Ahmad Saber Hamcho on Orphee de I’llion.

The Breens now hold the three fastest times in the contest and while Shane was faster than Trevor on Saturday, he four faulted with Ominerale Courcelle.

Earlier good results at the four-star show included Keith Doyle’s second place with Walk Tall II in a 1.50m jump-off, while Derek McCoppin and the Irish-bred Whiterock Lucky Lady placed third in the contest for seven and eight-year-old horses.

At the nations cup show in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Denis Lynch sent out a strong message days before manager Robert Splaine announces his pairing for the Olympics, when fifth in the grand prix, jumping a double clear.

Jessica Kurten and Vincente put up eight faults in round one, while Clones rider Clem McMahon retired with Pacino.

The promotional league nations cup in Drammen, Norway, saw Ireland finish a disappointing sixth, despite a double clear from Shane Carey and Ballymore Eustace. Joan Greene (Biscaya d’Eversem) opened with a clear, but incurred eight faults in round two, while Thomas Ryan and Cruise on Clover scored four each time out. Captain Michael Kelly and Ringwood Abbey provided the discard in each round, putting up 12 faults apiece, for a team total of 16, versus four faults for victors, the Ukraine.

Yesterday’s TRM National Grand Prix League contest in Charleville, Co Cork, saw Greg Broderick and Mrs Quinn beat Francis Connors, riding Heracross, in a second-round head-to-head. Liam O’Meara and Mr Coolcam were the fastest of the first-round four-faulters to place third.

The first of a weekend TRM League double-header in West Clare was won by Kevin Mealiff on Gamble On Diamond with the better of only two double clears, the second coming from Sheila White on Tebertha.

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