Mikey Pender and HHS Calais win the grand prix of Barcelona

Irish showjumper Mikey Pender conjured up a sensational jump-off efficiency to win the 1.60m grand prix of Barcelona on Friday evening (4 October).

Drawn final in a nail-biting 12-way jump-off, the 25-year-old rider and his nice accomplice HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x Obos High quality 004) accelerated residence almost a second faster than chief Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Zuccero HV) to carry this historic silverware and gather the €99,000 prime prize.

“Some days, when issues aren’t going your means, it doesn’t fall as simply as that, however when it’s your day, it’s your day – it labored out completely,” Mikey Pender advised H&H. “I don’t suppose it is going to absolutely sink in till tomorrow nevertheless it’s an awesome feeling.”

Mikey had earned his advantageous draw because the quickest of the 11 clears from spherical one and the huge-striding HHS Calais devoured the observe with ease, taking out strides the place his rivals couldn’t. Having made up time early on, the pair had earned some respiration house to sort out the difficult mid-way line of a vertical to double on a dog-leg earlier than powering residence, saluting the group in delight as he crossed the end line.

“I had my plan earlier than the jump-off however the vertical earlier than the double ended up being a bit the bogey – the joker fence within the class virtually – so I made a decision I’d do 9 strides to the final fence as a substitute of 10 and take a bit extra time to the vertical, which might additionally make the double a bit simpler,” mentioned Mikey. “It labored out right down to a T.”

Displaying nice camaraderie, Mikey was assisted within the ultimate decider by his Irish team-mates in addition to chef d’equipe Michael Blake and it resulted in an enormous win for this proficient 25-year-old, who provides his title to an illustrious listing of previous winners.

“The boys helped me make that plan and Calais was simply leaping unbelievable,” mentioned Mikey, the youngest winner of the Hickstead Derby in 2019. “Within the jump-off, he was so with me – all the pieces I requested, he was ready for me to inform him what to do subsequent.

“Calais jumped nice in Spruce Meadows final month – he jumped double clear within the Nations Cup there and Eire completed second, however he’s been knocking on the door of a grand prix all yr. He’s been having simply little issues and perhaps I wasn’t using properly sufficient this yr, however over the previous few weeks he’s come into kind and perhaps I’ve given him a bit extra justice throughout these previous few reveals. He’s been good, I couldn’t ask for any extra.”

Mikey Pender receiving his prize for the grand prix of Barcelona using HHS Calais.

Mikey Pender: a outstanding few weeks

Mikey Pender is on an absolute roll in the mean time, having landed the seven-year-old ultimate on the WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Younger Horses using HHS Mercedes a fortnight in the past, earlier than taking the eight-year-old title on the WBFSH Studbooks Leaping International Champions Trophy with HHS Cyprus final weekend. His successful journey continued in Barcelona with one other Bravo-Hughes-owned horse, HHS Calais, who was bred in Eire by Ita Brennan.

“I’ve had an awesome few weeks and it’s all because of everyone working laborious at residence and people who have given me this chance,” he mentioned. “With out them, days like these wouldn’t be doable – it’s simply not doable to be on the reveals each week and nonetheless have the horses in such good kind and that’s because of them, I can’t thank them sufficient.

“It positively surprises you when it finally ends up as profitable because it’s been these previous three weeks. We intention for the larger reveals within the yr – it’s the place we wish to do properly, that’s the place we wish the horses to be in kind.”

Only one second separated the highest 4 within the grand prix of Barcelona with Spanish rider Armando Trapote giving the house crowd loads to cheer about in third on Twister VS, with Henrik von Eckermann fourth with King Edward.

Better of the 2 British showjumpers in rivalry on the five-star CSIO Barcelona was Tim Gredley leaping a brilliant double clear with Medoc De Toxandria for sixth.

“I’m so pleased with what he did – he’s not a naturally quick horse and I’m not a naturally fast rider, however we’re getting there!” mentioned Tim to H&H. “However he simply retains leaping clear rounds. I can’t keep in mind the final time he had a fence down in a grand prix. Each time they put an enormous observe up, he steps up. So I’m simply delighted with him, so proud.”

Competitors on the CSIO Barcelona continues on Saturday (5 October) with the Queen’s Cup because the function class, earlier than all eyes flip to the inaugural Longines League of Nations Ultimate on Sunday (6 October).

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her function as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her all over the world reporting from reveals and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to steady administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian trade as a using teacher and yard supervisor.