Hickstead, England – June 25, 2022 – Somerset rider Harriet Biddick (GBR) and Silver Lift had another win in the £24,000 British Speed Derby CSI 4* at Hickstead today, becoming the first lady rider to win this class three times.
Harriet Biddick (GBR) and Silver Lift (Easy Lift x Silver Cloud) have an extraordinary record in the Speed Derby, winning in in 2016 and 2019 and finishing runner-up a further three times.
Drawn last to go, Harriet produced a beautifully-judged round in a time of 96.61 seconds to go half a second ahead of Brazil’s Carlos Eduardo Mota Ribas (BRA) and Trix.
Both third and fourth places were claimed by Charlene Bastone (GBR), respectively with Fyberlinus H and Halina HL.
The winning pair had won the latest renewal of the class at the 2019 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, but it has not been held since due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Harriet had a short break from the sport with the birth of her son Archie, who is now 16 months old, while her winning ride had been leased to teenage rider Joss Phillipps.
“Dad had the great idea to ask if we could have him back for June this year, and thank god they said yes. I’ve just had him for two months, and he goes back to them in a week’s time,” explained Harriet.
Her strategy had been to go fairly quickly and step up the pace if she had a fence down, but she had to have a rethink. “When I went in, I actually went too slow, so I started to panic a bit at the end, because I felt like I was cutting it really fine. I was lucky at the planks – I think I gave them all a little touch on the way through,” she said.
Having won Friday’s Derby Trial and today’s Speed Derby, Harriet now has a chance of sweeping the board with a win in the Al Shira’aa Derby. “This weekend has been very surreal, winning the Derby Trial yesterday and then having Silver Lift come in and win today. I’m just amazed he’s done it again. Both my horses are older now, and neither of them owes me a thing. Anything they do from now on is a bonus.”
Final Results – £24,000 British Speed Derby CSI 4*
2) Harriet Biddick (GBR) & Silver Lift – 0 – 96.61
2) Carlos Eduardo Mota Ribas (BRA) & Trix – 0 – 97.23
3) Charlene Bastone (GBR) & Fyberlinus H – 8 – 108.57
Source: Press Release (edited) from Hickstead – The All England Jumping Course (AEJC)
Photos: © Hickstead – AEJC / Elli Birch / Boots and Hooves Photography
Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News Great Britain
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