Equestrianism: Funnell beats the pain barrier

William Funnell overcame a painful groin injury to win yesterday's Alberta Canada Salver on Douglas Bunn's homebred Buddy Bunn on the opening day of the British Jumping Derby meeting at Hickstead. The problem did not, however, prompt him to play for safety in this contest which was judged on time in the opening round.

William Funnell overcame a painful groin injury to win yesterday's Alberta Canada Salver on Douglas Bunn's homebred Buddy Bunn on the opening day of the British Jumping Derby meeting at Hickstead. The problem did not, however, prompt him to play for safety in this contest which was judged on time in the opening round.

Last to go, Funnell let the scopey 10-year-old cover the ground at a smart pace to overtake Geoff Luckett and GG Barock by 1.3sec. Peter Charles filled third place on Pershing, one of the two horses he will ride in his attempt for a fourth consecutive win in Sunday's DFS Derby.

Funnell was injured when jumping a young horse in a speed competition at the Surrey County Show on Monday. He hopes to ride Buddy Bunn in the Derby and will probably have a cortisone injection provided it does not breach regulations.

Buddy Bunn was born at Hickstead and his dam is a Welsh Cob mare that Douglas Bunn, who owns the showground, acquired from David Broome's father, Fred. Last year the horse was ridden by Bunn's daughter, Chloe, who is currently taking exams at the end of her first year in law school.