TWENTY-six year old Damien Griffin was best of the Irish at Hickstead's Derby Meeting in England this afternoon (Saturday) when finishing as runner-up in the Speed Derby with Margaret Griffin's Diamond Clover gelding ' Lissyegan Clover Diamond'.

Tipperary's Shane Breen was close behind in third with the chestnut mare 'Magic Fox', while Trevor Breen took seventh place on 'Bonjour Vieux Pont VDM' and Michael Whyte rounded out an Irish-flavoured top ten with 'Checker 5' in ninth. The class was won by Britain's Ellen Whitaker and 'Henri de Here'.

In the earlier Derby Trophy, an unusual tie for first place was shared by Britain's William Whitaker and Belgium's Guido Hornesch, but Tipperary-born Trevor Breen collected the third place ribbons unopposed on the bay Irish-bred stallion 'Camblin'.