Ciaran Nallon Turns on the Nitro in the Al Shira’aa Derby Tour Prize CSI 4*

By Jumper News on 2025-05-30

Hamburg, Germany – May 28, 2025 – The sensation in the first qualifier of the Al Shira’aa Derby Tour in Hamburg was almost perfect: For a long time, 70-year-old Karl-Heinz Markus (GER) looked like the sure winner, but then the fast riders from the island arrived: Ciaran Nallon and Guy Williams (GBR) took first and second place, with Markus coming third.

In 2022, Karl-Heinz Markus (GER) took the plunge for the first time and rode Chuck in Hamburg’s Derby Tour. In 2024, he competed with his home-bred, then nine-year-old Fiona and came second in the first Derby qualifier. In 2025, the ‘pensioner’ rode to third place in the first Derby test at the Al Shira’aa German Show Jumping & Dressage Derby 2025 – again with Fiona.

Winner Ciaran Nallon (IRL) is just 23 years young and had saddled the eight-year-old mare Be Wineham. The young pair completed the course seemingly effortlessly and sped to the finish in 71.07 seconds. Winner Nallon had never been to Hamburg before and had never ridden a derby: “But this first round was just as I expected,” he summed up calmly. “That was fun.” Britain’s Guy Williams (GBR) has already competed in Hamburg several times and has significantly more derby experience than the young winner. He has already competed in several Derby courses, won the British Jumping Derby in Hickstead in 2010 and came second today in the saddle of the ten-year-old BH Gringos Legacy.

“I’m proud that I can still compete with the youngsters and I’m very proud of my horse,” beamed Markus. “But my children will probably ask why I dawdled,” he added with a grin. “Everyone knows that if I have a good day, I can beat anyone. Fiona already knew the course and I thought to myself: ‘Maybe there’s something in it today! Maybe victory.” He went on the attack right from the start, but it is often the case that someone faster comes along at the end. Today there were two.

Final Results – €28,500 Al Shira’aa Derby Tour Prize CSI 4*

1) Ciaran Nallon (IRL) & Be Wineham – 0 – 71.07

2) Guy Williams (GBR) & BH Gringos Legacy – 0 – 72.22

3) Karl-Heinz Markus (GER) & Fiona 561 – 0 – 72.82

FULL RESULTS

COURSE MAP

Source: Press Release (edited) from German Jumping & Dressage Derby