The island wants to know!

Great Britain and Ireland are travelling with 20 Derby horses to the Al Shira'aa German Show Jumping & Dressage Derby 2025. That is huge. The islanders definitely want to extend their Derby success story to date at the 94th German Jumping Derby presented by Melitta.

The British and Irish are known for their enthusiasm for cross-country. British Derby specialist William Funnell, who has won all the Derbies so far except the German Jumping Derby in Hamburg, speaks for the island's equestrian history when he says: "I grew up jumping over anything in the way." Hunting is part of the 'basis' of all equestrian sport on the island, as are cross-country riding and cross-country obstacles. The islanders practically grow up with the enthusiasm and euphoria for derby courses. They have also written their own stories in the 105-year history of the German Show Jumping Derby in Hamburg.
 
British Derby winners - so far
In 2018, the last Briton to date, Matthew Sampson, won the 89th German Show Jumping Derby at the age of 27 with the 156th clear round in the history of the Derby. The British had been waiting 29 years for this victory. John Whitaker won with Gammon in 1989 and was the last rider before Sampson to bring the Blue Riband for the Hamburg Derby victory to Great Britain. Three years earlier, David Broome dominated on Royals in Klein Flottbek in 1986.

In 1970, the British rider Marion Mould and her hunter pony Stroller topped the Derby leaderboard. She was the third woman ever to celebrate this victory. At 1.55 metres, Stroller is still the smallest horse ever to have won the Derby. Five years later, in 1975, the British rider Caroline Bradley galloped across the Derby finish line as the winner. It would take 47 years (!) for the next Amazon in the saddle to achieve this coup - in 2022 it was Cassandra Orschel, competing for Poland. The first ever British winner of the German Jumping Derby was Andrew Fielder in the saddle on Vibart in 1967.

This means that Hamburg has celebrated six British Derby winners in 105 years, two of whom were ladies.
 
Irish derby winners - so far
2016 was the last time (so far) that an Irish rider dominated Hamburg's Derby course: Billy Twomey on Diaghilev. This was the first victory for a rider from abroad since 1997. Irish legend Eddie Macken had led the Derby riders' lap of honour in Klein Flottbek three times: in 1976 with Boomerang, 1978 with Boy and 1981 with Carroll's Spotlight.
The number of Irish winners in the German Jumping Derby is therefore still quite manageable with four victories by two people, even if the riders with the 'green skirts' have placed in the top places several times.
 
With 20 Derby horses, the islanders are really piling on the pressure for the 94th German Jumping Derby in 2025. Will they extend their list of winners?
(KiK/pe&pa)
 
The Al Shira'aa German Show Jumping & Dressage Derby 2025 on television
NDR television will broadcast live from the Derby Park:
- Thursday 29 May 14-16:10
- Friday 30 May 14:00-16:00
- Saturday 31 May 15:30-17:00
- Sunday 1 June 14:00-15:30, then ARD will take over until the end of the Derby.