Posted: 25th May 2016 | Back to news feed
Irishman Trevor Breen won the Equestrian.com Derby in
both 2014 and 2015, and next month he plans to bring both his winning
rides back to the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, to have a third crack
at the title.
The Derby is Hickstead’s most iconic competition, forming the finale to the
Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting (23-26 June). First held in 1961,
and every year since, there have been just 57 clear rounds in the history
of the class. With fences including the Devil’s Dyke, the double of ditches,
one of the widest water jumps in the world and the famous 10ft 6in descent of
the Derby Bank, the course has barely changed since its inception and remains
as challenging today as it always has been.
Trevor Breen had won many of Hickstead’s most prestigious titles, but the Derby
had kept eluding him. He finished third in 2012 with Adventure De Kannan, with
the pair finishing second in 2013 – a result the Buckinghamshire-based rider
described as ‘the worst second place I’ve ever had’. His longed-for win finally
came in 2014, when both Trevor and the reigning champion Phillip Miller
completed the course with just four faults apiece, meaning both had to jump-off
for the title. In the jump off, both riders knocked down a fence, but Trevor
was just 0.2sec quicker, giving him the prized Boomerang Trophy at last. It was
the closest Derby jump-off of all time.
“It was getting frustrating, having come so close to winning the Derby the
previous two years. I knew Addy was good enough, and he’s won so much for me in
his career, especially at Hickstead. To finally win, it was just ecstasy,” says
Trevor.
Last year, it was his other ride Loughnatousa WB who claimed the Equestrian.com
Derby title. It was the second time for both Trevor and the horse, who had already
won the class in 2012 under former rider Paul Beecher. WB jumped the only clear
round to claim the title, while Adventure De Kannan produced another good round
to finish equal seventh with eight faults. “I honestly thought I had a
realistic chance of being in the jump-off against myself last year,” Trevor
says.
If all goes well, Trevor plans to bring both horses back with the hope of
winning the class for a third year in a row. Adventure De Kannan is now 16
years old, while WB is 17. Both are being targeted for Hickstead’s most famous
class, and won’t do many other competitions in the run up to this year’s
Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting. “They don’t need experience, they just
need to be fit and match sharp,” he says. “It’s all about getting them there
fit, healthy and sound to give them the best chance of winning. They’re both a
year older and they’re both doing less in their careers, so whether that turns
out to be a good or bad thing or if they’ll be fit, we don’t know.”
Adventure De Kannan spent the winter back in Ireland with his owner Karen
Swann, doing some local level competitions, before returning to Trevor’s yard
in March. “Karen and I made the decision to give him a long break. If it works,
great, and if it doesn’t, he doesn’t owe us anything,” Trevor adds. “Addy
will always give 100 percent on the day, and if things go our way there’s no
reason why he won’t be in the line-up.”
This will be Trevor’s third ride on Patricia Brown’s Loughnatousa WB in the
Derby. Their partnership has really developed over the past few years, with
Area Trial and International Stairway wins to their name in addition to last
year’s Hickstead success. From the minute he completed his lap of honour in
last year’s Equestrian.com Derby, this year’s class has been his main aim.
The first step of Trevor’s triple Derby bid begins on Friday 24 June in
the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial, in which riders must qualify for Sunday
afternoon’s Equestrian.com Derby. It just remains to be seen if Trevor can join
the ranks of Olympians Nick Skelton, Michael Whitaker and Peter Charles, who
all won the Hickstead Derby three times in a row.
Tickets are on sale now at www.hickstead.com
Trevor Breen with Loughnatousa WB (left) and Adventure De Kannan (c) Craig Payne
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