Industry leaders William and Pippa Funnell of The Billy Stud, and Shane and Chloe Breen of Breen Equestrian Ltd. conceived the Brilliance Horse Auction during a discussion about scheduling their auctions in an increasingly busy show calendar. From this collaboration emerged a vision: to create a premium platform for showcasing the finest young talents from Britain and Ireland, and the Brilliance Horse Auction Co was created. Since then, a world-class team has come together to challenge the belief that the UK market would falter post-Brexit. In fact, we've demonstrated that British breeding and production not only thrives but sets new standards of excellence with two highly successful auctions.
Our selection process is led by Roger McCrea, who brings extensive experience and a visionary approach. Now in his seventh year managing The Billy Stud, Roger previously established Oakingham Stud, where he helped produce future champions like Faltic HB, Ben Maher's top international ride. He works closely with respected horsemen Shane Breen and William Funnell, together forming a team with unmatched expertise in breeding, training, and developing young horses for the global stage.
Our call for nominations for the auction received an overwhelmingly positive response. We would like to thank everyone who presented their horses; it was a remarkable sight as this year's cohort entered the International Arena on a beautifully sunny day in May.
This year, we present twelve future stars, all beautifully produced and ready to complement the stables of their lucky buyers. It is an absolute honor to host the third edition of The Brilliance Horse Auction on the prestigious grounds of Hickstead. We are proud to contribute to a family business that has long been dedicated to elevating British showjumping on the world stage—an achievement reflected in the gold medals earned by Di Lampard's team in Paris 2024. As the equestrian world turns its attention to Sussex for the Agria Royal International Horse Show, we invite you to explore our stellar line-up of horses, each possessing Brilliance in their DNA.
The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, the home of British Showjumping, is a legendary venue where legacies continue to be created. What does Hickstead mean to you? Is it your first rosette, a personal best, or where you discovered your dream horse?
For us, Hickstead holds special memories. For William, it represents five Derby wins and countless other successes. For Pippa, it's the site of multiple wins in the Eventers' Grand Prix and a runner-up position in the Queen's Cup. For Shane, it's the backdrop for every major class won except the King's Cup, while also serving as the home base of Breen Equestrian Ltd. For Chloe, it's a cherished memory as a Speed Derby winner in the past, now serving as Co-Director, Co-Owner, and custodian of her father's legacy for future generations.
With the auction officially launched, we invite you to view the twelve stars of the future that we are presenting to the world stage. Join us on Saturday, July 26th for an exciting evening, where you may meet your next superstar.
Date: Saturday, July 26th
Location: The Agria Royal International Show, Hickstead
Bid: Live or Online through our website
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