Podium finish for Kildare’s Mikey Pender in thrilling Global Tour Grand Prix of Hamburg

A fantastic performance from Kildare’s Mikey Pender and The Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais has seen them finish in a share of second place in today’s (Saturday) five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Hamburg in Germany.

Joint runners-up Andre Thieme (GER) and Mikey Pender (IRL) stand on the podium with Hamburg LGCT Grand Prix winner Christian Ahlmann (GER)

Pender was one of just eight riders to make it into the second round where he jumped clear in 51.33 seconds – the exact same time as Germany’s Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria. The winners prize of €100,000 went to Germany’s Christian Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z after they crossed the line clear in 50.51.

(l-r) Jenny Rankin, Richard Howley, Taylor Vard (Chef d’Equipe) Kevin Gallagher and Jessica Burke stand on the podium following victory in the Lisbon Nations Cup

The result adds to an already hugely successful weekend for Irish Show Jumping. On Friday night, Chef d’Equipe Taylor Vard led the Irish team of Richard Howley, Jessica Burke, Kevin Gallagher and Jenny Rankin, to victory the Longines EEF Nations Cup of Lisbon. Meanwhile at Rome in Italy, Darragh Kenny landed a double of five-star wins with Volnay du Boisdeville.

Across the Atlantic, Co Down’s Conor Swail guided Nadal Hero to victory in a five-star Speed Class at Thunderbird in Canada, while there was also an Irish win for Daniel Coyle at the same venue with Ivory TCS.

BREEDING
HHS Calais (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) out of MHS OBOS Cruise (ISH) by OBOS Quality (OLD). Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).