Mikey Pender delivered in spectacular fashion last night, winning the prestigious five-star Grand Prix with HHS Calais, setting Ireland up nicely ahead of today’s Longines League of Nations final in Barcelona. The Kildare man – ranked fourth in the world for U25s – partnered the Kilkenny-bred Irish Sport Horse, owned by Bravo Hughes and bred by Ita Brennan, to claim victory in a tense competition. Pender’s performance is a significant boost for Michael Blake’s team, who now turn their focus to securing the overall title.

Pender is part of a five-strong Irish squad, with Daniel Coyle (Legacy), Denis Lynch (Vistogrand), Mark McAuley (GRS Lady Amaro), and Cian O’Connor (Fancy de Kergane), all vying for the top spot. The team’s in a strong position after topping the qualification series, and Pender’s current form adds to their confidence. Only last month, Pender and Calais helped Ireland to second at Spruce Meadows, showing their consistency at the top level.

The Grand Prix itself was a real thriller. Twelve combinations made it through to the jump-off in the 1.60m class, including Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, the current world number one, with his exceptional horse, King Edward. As the last to go, Pender had a clear target to aim for after Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Zuccero HV posted a time of 51.64 seconds. A tough challenge, no doubt – but if there was any pressure, it didn’t show. Fresh from his victory on HHS Mercedes in Lanaken’s World Breeding Championships, Pender knew he had the form and the firepower.

Calais responded to every question asked, and together they delivered a blistering round that brought the packed stands of the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona to their feet. Stopping the clock at 50.88 seconds, they were the only combination to break the 51-second barrier, sealing the top prize of €99,000.

“I’m delighted,” said Pender, speaking after the win. “Calais was unreal out there – he was jumping out of his skin. I’m so proud of him and everyone at HHS, both here and back home. I’d planned my approach for the jump-off, but that vertical before the double was catching people out, so I had to adjust. I decided to go for nine strides instead of ten, just to give myself more time to the vertical and make the double easier.”

Pender was quick to credit his teammates and support crew. “The lads helped me work out the plan beforehand, but once we were in there, it was just me and Calais. He was so with me, waiting for every cue. He’s been knocking on the door of a Grand Prix win all year, so to get it done now is a great feeling.”

Ireland’s success didn’t stop with Pender. Earlier in the day, Eoin McMahon produced a flawless ride at the Riesenbeck International show in Hörstel, partnering Beerbaum Stables’ Kokomo B to win the two-star 1.45m speed class. Out of the 45 combinations in the class, only a third went clear, but McMahon set the pace early with a time of 62.38 seconds, leaving the rest of the field playing catch-up. Pål Flam from Norway came closest, but his time of 62.72 on Mega Special Dc wasn’t enough to unseat McMahon from the top spot.

Across the Atlantic, Richie Moloney kept the winning streak going with a victory at Tryon International in the 1.45m speed class. Riding Daisycutter, Moloney improved on his runner-up finish from Thursday, where he took second in the 1.40m with Ermes Di Tai. This time around, time wasn’t the main factor – accuracy was. Moloney and Equinimity’s ten-year-old mare were the only pair to go clear, securing the top spot in style.

Jessica Burke continued to show why she’s one of the most consistent riders on the circuit, bagging another strong result with Express Trend (ISH) in Rabat, Morocco. Competing in the 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier, Burke and her reliable Nations Cup partner finished in second place, just a second behind Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) on Nikolaj de Music, who stopped the clock at 55.44 seconds. Express Trend, bred and owned by Liam Nicholas, has been a model of consistency, and Burke’s metronomic performances show no sign of slowing down.

Meanwhile, Simon McCarthy was quietly racking up more prize money on the Split Rock Jumping Tour in Lexington, USA. The Cork-born rider, now based in the States, delivered another solid result, finishing second in the three-star FEI Jumping speed class. Riding Narcotique v/h Dingenshof, McCarthy put in a double-clear round, with his tiebreak time of 36.31 seconds enough to secure a podium finish. Victory went to Alex Granato (USA) on Helios vd Nosahoeve, but McCarthy’s run of form continues to fly somewhat under the radar.

Irish riders have been hitting the mark across the board in recent weeks, and now all eyes turn to Barcelona, where Michael Blake’s squad will be hoping to finish what they’ve started.