THE IRISH whitewash at the Hickstead Derby meeting in England continued today with the top four places in the Speed Derby, victory going to National Hunt Jockey Robert Power, son of famous show jumper Captain Con Power, aboard the Irish Sport Horse Doonaveeragh O One, which is owned by Bewley's Hotels.

Grand National winner Power, who is riding at Gowran Park tomorrow, displayed his show jumping heritage by scorching home clear in 93.42 seconds.

Power was followed into second place by David Simpson on his own gelding Arantos, with third place taken by Ger Clarke and his Irish Sport Horse Kellswater Crimson, and fourth going to Trevor Allen's Irish Sport Horse gelding No More Talk, piloted by Alexander Butler.

Irish riders also accounted for two more top ten places in the Speed Derby today, Kenneth Graham and Geraldine Graham's Irish Sport Horse Lenamore Donnatella taking sixth place while Shane Breen and his own bay mare Ominerale Courcelle finished in eighth.

Irish riders also claimed four top ten places in the Leisure Derby Trophy jump-off class earlier today, including a runner-up spot from Tipperary-born Shane Breen and the bay mare Zarnita.

This class, which was won by Norway's Ger Gulliksen and the gelding Vennoot, also saw Ireland's Sven Hadley in sixth with the Irish Sport Horse Realt na Carraig, a seventh place from Capt. Michael Kelly on another Irish Sport Horse, Ringwood Glen, and an eighth place from Richard Howley and Camiro de Haar Z.

Last night (Friday) Jordan Coyle and the Irish Sport Horse Cool A Tee placed third in the Master's Challenge at the West Sussex venue, while earlier in the day Shane Breen took victory in the Derby Trial with the Irish Sport Horse Cos I Can, with his younger brother Trevor Breen steering Adventure de Kannan into second.

On Thursday Ireland's Ger Clarke won the speed class with Kellswater Crimson, with fellow Irish rider Richard Howley in second aboard Zantiago RV. Shane Breen and Cos I Can were also third on the same day in the big jump-off class.