The Magic Michaels secure Gold and Bronze in an Irish dominated 7-Year-Old final in Lanaken this afternoon

There was much to celebrate in the 7-Year-Old final of the 2024 FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium this afternoon where there was Gold and Bronze Medal success for the Team Ireland Equestrian Young Horse Jumping Squad supported by Redmond Property Maintenance with Michael Pender and HHS Mercedes (ISH) and Michael Duffy with BP Royalty (ISH) claiming the medals for Ireland.

In a seven-horse jump off to decide the 7-Year-Old World Champion, Irish riders made up four of the combinations gunning for the title.

First into the ring in the jump off was Ireland’s David Simpson and the stallion Mambo NR 5 B (KWPN) who jumped clear in a time of 40.54 to lay the challenge down to the riders coming behind him.

First to go in the jump off: Mambo NR 5 B (KWPN) and David Simpson; Sportfot

There he remained until Co. Galway’s Michael Duffy trotted into the ring with his new mount, BP Royalty.
This gelding, sired by Comme Il Faut, was bred by the Broderick family’s Ballypatrick Stables in Thurles, Co. Tipperary and is out of the mare Goodwins Loyalty (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD), and was herself a winner at CSI5* level for Kevin Babington, having also been competed by Shane Breen and David Simpson internationally.
Duffy, a member of the Irish team who claimed Team Silver at the 2023 FEI European Showjumping Championships in Milan, crossed the line double clear in a time of  40.30 to temporarily move into the lead.

BP Royalty (ISH) and Michael Duffy on their way to a bronze medal finish in this afternoon’s 7-Year-Old final in Lanaken; Sportfot

Fresh from her history making morning in the 5-Year-Old final, Ireland’s Niamh McEvoy and Sevilla Van De Berghoeve Z (ZANG) laid down an impressive challenge to finish in a time of 38.27, a time that was good enough for the win but unfortunately the front pole of the final fence, an imposing Zangersheide oxer hit the ground to leave her in eventual 7th place.

Sevilla van de Berghoeve Z (ZANG) and Niamh McEvoy in action in Lanaken this afternoon; Sportfot

It was the last man in to the ring then, Michael Pender with HHS Mercedes, who was the only person that could prevent then leader Mathieu Bourdeaud’Hui for Belgium with Remco van den Uilenbos (BWP) from sealing the win for the home nation.
Never one to hang round in a jump off, Pender set off with purpose and the grey mare responded in-kind with a flawless performance in a time of 38.30 to seal the win for Pender, and HHS Mercedes owners and breeders, Co. Kilkenny’s Hughes Horse Stud of Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo.

HHS Mercedes (ISH) and Michael Pender on their to claiming Gold in this afternoon’s 7-Year-Old final at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses; Sportfot

Speaking after the class, the Team Ireland Equestrian Young Jumping Horse Squad’s Chef d’Equipe Taylor Vard said:

“After a week of ups and downs across the age categories, that was an incredible way to finish. It’s a real tribute to the breeders, the owners and to the riders that we have such quality horses to come out to Lanaken year after year and have a successful show. The standard of production in Ireland is second to none, and I look forward to seeing these horses progress on in their career and hopefully appearing on some senior Irish Nations Cups teams in the years to come. I want to offer my congratulations to not only the Michaels, Pender and Duffy, to David Simpson and Niamh McEvoy who had such an incredible day herself, but to all the riders who represented Ireland so admirably this week. I also want to congratulate the owners who put their horses forward to compete in Lanaken, to the breeders, the trainers, vets and everyone involved in getting the horses to this level.”

The 2024 FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses 7-Year-Old Champions, HHS Mercedes (ISH) and Michael Pender; Sportfot

Breeding:

HHS MERCEDES (ISH)
2017 Mare, by Can Ya Makan (HOLST) out of Chester Lass (ISH) by Couletto (OLD).
Bred and owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd., Co. Kilkenny.
Ridden by Michael Pender (IRL).

BP Royalty (ISH)
2017 Gelding by Comme Il Faut (WESTF) out of Goodwin’s Loyalty (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD)
Bred and owned by GBBS INternational Ltd., Co. Tipperary.
Ridden by Michael Duffy (IRL).

Breeders of HHS Mercedes (ISH) and BP Royalty (ISH), Marion Hughes and Greg Broderick at the Breeder’s Presentation of the 7-Year-Old final at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses; Sportfot

The Team Ireland Equestrian Young Horse Jumping Squad is supported by Redmond Property Maintenance

Participation at the 2024 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine under National Breeding Services.