WILLIAM WHITAKER emulated his famous Derby-winning uncles – then celebrated with the next horse-riding generation from the famous Yorkshire stable.

The 26-year-old from Huddersfield won yesterday’s Hickstead Derby, going clear on Glenavadra Brilliant but picking up one time fault.

Whitaker’s triumph was his first in a class won four times apiece by his illustrious equestrian uncles, Michael and John.

He met the media with his 18-month old son, Oliver, on his knee and four-year-old daughter Bella watching from a distance.

It does not take long for the subject of family to crop up to when talking to a Whitaker at the All England Jumping Course and William was thrilled to share his special moment with those closest to him.

“That’s about how big I was when I started riding horses,” he told The Argus with a nod to his son.

“He has been on already and my daughter Bella rides every day.

“There are a few more of us to come yet!

“It’s great because I’m involved with the family name which has a lot of history behind it.

“I find it an advantage. It’s nice to ride with that and they help me out a lot.”

Both Whitaker and his horse had come second before and that lone time fault left the door ajar for the 11 combinations who followed.

But, though the Yorkshireman found it impossible to watch the closing stages, there was never any serious threat to his leadership.

He said: “I knew I was slow quite early on but, for a big horse, he is quite hot – especially at Hickstead in the Derby meeting.

“At the beginning of the course he was just pulling me a bit so I was having to take time on the corners to slow him down.

“At the end, when he settled into course I was able to save a bit – but just half-a-second not enough.

“Luckily enough, for me it was enough today.

“It's one of the classes that I have always really wanted to win and I'm pleased for my horse as well.

“He was second last year and he has been in second in numerous derbies around Europe.“

Billy Twomey went closest to snatching the win off him in those closing rounds, negotiating the notorious Derby Bank on Diaghilev but taking down the first part of Devil’s Dyke and finishing as one of three riders tied for second place on four faults.

Richard Howley, first to go on Chinook, was one of those on four faults and looked set for at least a jump-off for a long time.

Harriet Nuttall, a winner on Saturday in the British Speed Derby, clearly thought she had conquered the famous course.

She punched the air as she finished – but the trailing leg of A Touch Imperious had dislodged the top pole on the last.

“What an annoying fence to have down,” she admitted.

“I just felt like he was running out of gas at the end. But he was amazing.”

This Derby Meeting will be remembered for a Whitaker breakthrough – but also for rain.

Although it stayed dry yesterday, spectators faced lengthy delays getting into car parks as some entrances were closed off to due thick mud.

New drainage was installed as recently as 2010 at a cost of £500,000 and that proved a wise investment with riders reporting excellent conditions, in the International Arena.

But mud made life less enjoyable – and profitable – around the trade and food stalls which are also a big part of the event as a whole and that could be an area organisers look at.