William Funnell (pictured right at another competition) notched up an impressive victory in the prestigious Derby class in La Baule on 15 May.
William, with Katinka Traaseth’s mare Kannelle De La Baie, jumped one of only four clear rounds in the first round and followed this with a swift turn of foot in the jump-off, which, as a single-phase competition, followed straight after.
The pair headed runner-up, French rider Julien Epaillard, by nearly eight seconds.
William said: “We brought Kanelle De La Baie here with this class in mind and she hasn’t failed us.
“She won the Flasterbo Derby last year and also came third at Hickstead, so she’s proving herself to be a superb Derby horse.
“I was fortunate to be drawn late to go in the class, which meant I’d managed to see Julien’s round. I knew exactly where I had to be and when if I was going to beat him.
“Some days things go perfectly to plan and today was one of them.”
World Class Showjumping Performance Manager, Rob Hoekstra added: “This was a brilliant class. Derby’s are always popular and this competition was no exception; the grandstands were packed and the atmospherewas electric.
“It was a great day for British showjumping.”
