HARRIET NUTTALL admitted a weight had been lifted from her shoulders when she won the British Speed Derby.

The 26-year-old from Somerset had four second places at Hickstead last year.

This time second was the only one that got away as she finished first and third in awful conditions.

Action in the international arena was suspended at one stage on Saturday due to torrential rain.

But it was a dazzling day for Nuttall as she pipped Guy Williams, the man who beat her in the same competition last year, by less than a second.

Nuttall took the lead with Highland Cruiser, then bettered her own time with Silver Lift before Williams took second spot on Casper De Muze.

The winning rider said: “This is my first win so it’s a burden removed to be honest.

“(Hickstead director) Lizzie Bunn keeps saying I’m always the bridesmaid, never the bride!”

Williams had been aiming for a third consecutive win - and a record fifth Speed Derby success in total.

He said: “Harriet deserved to win it and I’m happy for her.

“If anyone’s going to beat me I’m glad it’s her. Last year she should have won and she threw it away - and this year I did the same thing.”

Billy Twomey, first to go in the jump-off, won the Tom Hudson Derby Trophy on board nine-year-old gelding Thomas, beating Phillip Miller and Unbelievable Lady into second place.

Twomey said: “The ground was at its best when I went so maybe I had an advantage going first but I don’t think the conditions were too much of a factor."