Breen Scoops Hickstead Speed Derby

Irish riders produced more excellent performances at Hickstead's Derby Meeting in England today (Saturday) with Trevor Breen headlining achievements with a win in the famous Speed Derby.

The Tipperary rider piloted the Irish Sport Horse gelding Beer Hunter to victory, despite strong challenges from his brother Shane and the French-bred Ominerale Courcelle, who finished in fourth, and early leader Daniel Coyle with the Irish Sport Horse mare Special Leap, who completed the competition in fifth place.

Winner Trevor Breen, who collected 8,000 euro for his first place, saw a late challenge from Ahmad Saber Hamcho and the French-bred mare Orphee de l'Illon, but the Syrian was over half-a-second off the pace and settled for the runner-up prize of 4,800 euro.

Earlier in the day Ireland's Keith Doyle with Walk Tall II was runner-up in the Derby Trophy jump-off, losing out by one-and-half seconds to Britain's talented Sammie Jo Coffin and Willem de Lux in a seven horse jump-off.

In the Seven and Eight year-old Championship Ireland had another good placing when Derek McCoppin finished in third with yet another Irish Sport Horse, the Longford-bred Whiterock Lucky Lady.

In Drammen in Norway, meanwhile, the Irish Nations' Cup team of Shane Carey, Joan Greene, Capt. Michael Kelly and Thomas Ryan finished in sixth place on 16 faults, despite an excellent double clear from Carey and Ballymore Eustace, with Ukraine winning the ten nation contest on four faults.