Going one better than their runner-up spot in last year’s Longines League of Nations (LLN) season opener, Ireland delivered a dominant and flawless performance to win in this year’s curtain-opener in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Across seven rounds of jumping, not a single pole fell for the Irish quartet. Considering the team included a combination jumping at their first show together and a rider who was told nine months ago that he may never walk again, this was a remarkable result.

“I’m so proud of these boys,” said Ireland’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake. “This means everything, we came here last year and we held the lead at half time, but as they say it was a game of two halves and our second half wasn’t as good. We were very resilient today and to win on a zero score – we jumped seven horses today and not one had a pole down – it’s astounding. I’m so proud of my boys.

“We’re punching above our weight and we’re very proud to do so.”

Three teams on zero score at half-time in the Longines League of Nations

Santiago Varela built a delicate course, which included similar elements to last year’s challenge including a water jump to an airy double of verticals and a meaty combination with an oxer out to the lightest vertical with a plank on top to finish. Three nations came through to round two on a zero score – Ireland, France and host nations UAE – with Great Britain securing their ticket to round two as one of four teams tied on eight faults.

The Netherlands, USA and the three-rider squad of Sweden missed out on qualifying from the top eight teams from the 11 starters.

Despite the pressure that the three-riders-to-a-team second round puts on their shoulders, with all scores counting, Ireland’s team representatives continued to deliver double clear after double clear with Denis Lynch (Vistogrand) and Trevor Breen (Highland President) paving the way. With France and UAE dropping off the top of the leader board in round two, victory hinged on Ireland’s anchor rider Mikey Pender to deliver with HHS Los Angeles. Shrugging off the weight of responsibility, the ice cool 25-year-old produced the hat-trick of double clears and a tremendous victory was secured.

“It’s been a long road back but with the help of my wife Caroline, kids and family and all my staff, owners, I’ve managed to get back here,” said Trevor Breen, who fractured his lower neck and back in a fall in Hamburg last year riding his home-bred Highland President. “I set my goal quite a few months ago for this Nations Cup, but I had to convince Michael I was ready!

“I didn’t even speak to him for a long time because I needed to get results first. So I’m unbelievably chuffed that Michael would put his trust in me and I’m over moon to be back at this level and to deliver.”

New partnership deliver on show debut

Jason Foley came home with just two time-penalties in round one and although he wasn’t one of the three riders Michael Blake chose for round two, this was a superb performance from a rider competing on a horse he only started riding a few weeks ago and who he only jumped in the ring for the first time on Thursday – Chedington Hazy Toulana, formerly ridden by Chris Burton.

“To win here topped it all off,” said the 23-year-old.

Winning team competitions without a single jumping fault is not unprecedented but it’s a rare occurrence “because it’s so hard to do”, explained Michael Blake, who credited team veteran Denis Lynch for taking the riders “under his wing”. Mikey Pender agreed, paying tribute to a great team atmosphere for Ireland’s Longines League of Nations victory.

“Everyone was rooting for each other,” said Mikey, who was part of the runner-up team last year. “It feels sweet today.”

The host side UAE, led by chef d’equipe William Funnell assisted by Duncan Inglis, held on for the runner-up spot on eight faults, helped by a double clear from Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi with Chacolu, with France finishing third on 12 penalties, with two double clears on the score card.

Great Britain finished in sixth position with a team total of 20. Donald Whitaker’s exceptional double clear with Millfield Colette played a pivotal role. Rising star Robert Murphy jumped round for four and eight faults riding Jos Lansink’s Kannem JA Z, while Tim Gredley and Imperial HBF picked up four faults in each round. Joe Stockdale and Ebanking just succumbed to the middle part of the triple combination round one and sat out round two.

The Longines League of Nations journey continues next to Ocala, Florida, with the Final in Barcelona in October. You can read the full report from Abu Dhabi’s opening leg of this team series in this week’s Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 20 February.

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In an exhilarating display of world-class sport, Germany came home as the jubilant victors of the inaugural Longines League of Nations (LLN) Final yesterday (6 October).

The new-look series for 2024, a radical departure from the traditional Nations Cup format, reached its climax at the Real Club De Polo in Barcelona, Spain, where fortunes oscillated wildly for the nine finalists. However it was Otto Becker’s side’s superb horsemanship and composure under pressure that earned them the right to be the first to etch their names on the new silverware.

“Today was a great day, a weekend we will never forget,” said world number 10 Richard Vogel, who jumped double clear for the winning team with the phenomenal stallion United Touch S.

The competition was neck and neck from the off and, with the luxury of a drop score in round one, Germany and the Netherlands topped the leaderboard on a zero score.

France, Sweden and Brazil formed a chasing pack carrying four faults, a fence ahead of Ireland, with USA and Spain on 12 faults. The first big surprise of the afternoon was that Switzerland were already trailing on 24 faults.

Switching to the three-rider per team format for round two, chefs d’equipe had to make tactical choices as to which riders to bring forward. Also, although the meaty championship course remained unchanged, Olympic designer Santiago Varela raised fence 7a and b – a double of airy verticals with a Liverpool under the second element – which would prove pivotal to the competition. The double became something of a bogey fence, while the Polo Club plank two fences later, on either a long five or short six strides from the previous oxer, was the downfall of many.

Just under half the competitors jumped clear in round one while in round two the strike rate dropped to just 22%; Santi noted that the majority of faults throughout the day came at the verticals and front poles of oxers.

Longines League of Nations Final: a shock elimination

Switzerland’s fortunes didn’t improve into the second round and they were only replaced at the bottom of the rankings by France, who were eliminated after Kevin Staut’s Beau De Laubry Z stopped at the double, depositing his rider. Both walked away unscathed.

Jana Wargers and her mare Dorette OLD’s four faults in round one were Germany’s drop score next to her team-mates’ three clears and Otto Becker made the decision to leave her out of round two. German pathfinder Andre Thieme (DSP Chakaria) earned a round of applause as the first contender to clear the tricky double second time around. However after a huge leap over the following oxer, the six strides to the gold plank then came up short and it toppled, passing pole position temporarily to the Dutch.

But when the newly crowned Olympic champion Christian Kukuk, at his first show back with Checker 47 who had jumped immaculately in round one, picked up eight faults against the Netherlands’ second rider Kim Emmen (Imagine), who collected 12 faults, the two nations were back on equal terms for the final rotation.

Ireland’s anchor rider Daniel Coyle and Legacy conjured up a foot-perfect double clear to take the squad within striking distance of the podium on a team score of 20. Peder Fredricson, another Olympian making an international return with his Paris 2024 partner, the 18-year-old Catch Me Not S, added four faults, placing Sweden on the same score as Ireland but in a faster time.

The Longines League of Nations Final reached its crescendo with the remaining two riders and, as Santiago summed up, “With this format you have to wait until the very end because everything can change in just a second.”

Germany had two fences in hand over Sweden, but with the Dutch breathing down their necks, final rider Richard Vogel and his stunning stallion had no room for error. But they powered home as smoothly as ever to seal the perfect double clear.

Had they done enough to win?

The baton was passed to final rider Harrie Smolders on Uricas VD Kattevennen and a clear would force a jump-off with Germany, but one fence down was game over and so it panned out – the plank played its part one last time and the heartache reverberated round the stands as the Dutch side dropped into second. Harrie’s team-mates clutched their heads in disbelief.

But the celebrations rang out for Germany, with Richard Vogel crediting another epic performance from the incredible son of Untouched, owned and bred by Julius-Peter Sinnack.

“I have a very special horse and he showed us one more time just how special he is,” he said.“Especially in the second round, I don’t think there are many horses that can come back as strong as him and I’m happy that I gave him a good enough ride.

“He felt very good the first round, then the pressure was on for the second round – a lot of things were happening and it was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions watching it.”

The 2021 European champion Andre Thieme described DSP Chakaria’s first round clear as “incredible”.

“I was disappointed with my one rail down, but the second round showed us that there were so many rails coming down so actually four faults ended up being a pretty good result,” he said.

“I’m thrilled to be part of that team and it feels very special.”

Christian Kukuk attributed his second-round faults to “inaccuracy” in his riding.

“I had a very good first round, I jumped in Friday’s grand prix because it was his first show since the Paris Olympics but I think his condition is not yet at this level, so he was a bit behind me in the second round today and I was just a bit too shy and didn’t ride accurately enough,” he said with typical self-criticism.

“I was a bit far off the double of verticals – only about 20cm, but that’s enough on a course like this – then I had an unlucky fault at the plank, so I was a bit disappointed by my round,” he said. “My riding wasn’t as accurate as in Paris and that’s what you need – always. Fortunately we had Richie and he was flying – he brought us the win today and it was incredible to see.”

Where did Ireland finish in the Longines League of Nations Final?

Ireland’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake was pleased with Ireland’s fourth-place finish but “disappointed that we let it slip”.

Pathfinder Denis Lynch with Vistogrand and Daniel Coyle (Legacy) both jumped clear in round one, while Cian O’Connor came home with eight faults on Fancy De Kergane, the only nine-year-old in the contest. Another of the shock results came with a miscommunication between Friday’s grand prix victor Mikey Pender and HHS Calais between the treble combination and the following narrow vertical. The run-out resulted in four faults, adding to the 12 time penalties he accrued, in part for crossing the start line a fraction too late.

Denis, Mikey and Daniel were picked as Ireland’s representatives for round two, returning a team score of 12. This put them equal with Sweden but they finished off the podium in fourth as the deciding factor was accumulated time.

“We came here with not too bad a team, some of us made a few mistakes and you can’t be doing that in a final like this,” said Michael Blake. “The trophy was within our grasp and we’ll learn from it. But congratulations to the three teams that were on the podium, they were great.”

Where was the British team?

The top eight teams from the 10 nations competing in the 2024 series qualified for the LLN Final, with Spain joining as hosts. The four global qualifiers, starting in Abu Dhabi in February, were reduced to three when the third leg in St Gallen was cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions and Great Britain’s best result came with a third-place finish in Rotterdam on the back of 10th in Ocala and seventh in Abu Dhabi. That meant the Olympic gold medallists, alongside Belgium, failed to make the cut for Barcelona.

Four riders shared the €200,000 (£168,000) double clear bonus – Daniel Coyle and Richard Vogel were joined by Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten with his Olympic bronze medal-winning partner Beauville Z, and flying Spaniard Armando Trapote on Tornado VS. Maikel, Daniel and Henrik von Eckermann were also awarded as the best athletes of the season, having each jumped five clear rounds.

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

Drawn last in a nail-biting 12-way jump-off, the 25-year-old rider and his great partner HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x Obos Quality 004) accelerated home nearly a second quicker than leader Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Zuccero HV) to lift this historic silverware and collect the €99,000 top prize.

“Some days, when things aren’t going your way, it doesn’t fall as easily as that, but when it’s your day, it’s your day – it worked out perfectly,” Mikey Pender told H&H. “I don’t think it will fully sink in until tomorrow but it’s a great feeling.”

Mikey had earned his advantageous draw as the fastest of the 11 clears from round one and the huge-striding HHS Calais devoured the track with ease, taking out strides where his rivals couldn’t. Having made up time early on, the pair had earned some breathing space to tackle the tricky mid-way line of a vertical to double on a dog-leg before powering home, saluting the crowd in delight as he crossed the finish line.

“I had my plan before the jump-off but the vertical before the double ended up being a bit the bogey – the joker fence in the class almost – so I decided I would do nine strides to the last fence instead of 10 and take a bit more time to the vertical, which would also make the double a bit easier,” said Mikey. “It worked out down to a T.”

Showing great camaraderie, Mikey was assisted in the final decider by his Irish team-mates as well as chef d’equipe Michael Blake and it resulted in a huge win for this talented 25-year-old, who adds his name to an illustrious list of past winners.

“The boys helped me make that plan and Calais was just jumping incredible,” said Mikey, the youngest winner of the Hickstead Derby in 2019. “In the jump-off, he was so with me – everything I asked, he was waiting for me to tell him what to do next.

“Calais jumped great in Spruce Meadows last month – he jumped double clear in the Nations Cup there and Ireland finished second, but he’s been knocking on the door of a grand prix all year. He’s been having just little things and maybe I wasn’t riding well enough this year, but over the past few weeks he’s come into form and maybe I’ve given him a bit more justice during these past few shows. He’s been brilliant, I couldn’t ask for any more.”

Mikey Pender: a remarkable few weeks

Mikey Pender is on an absolute roll at the moment, having landed the seven-year-old final at the WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Horses riding HHS Mercedes a fortnight ago, before taking the eight-year-old title at the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy with HHS Cyprus last weekend. His winning journey continued in Barcelona with another Bravo-Hughes-owned horse, HHS Calais, who was bred in Ireland by Ita Brennan.

“I’ve had a great few weeks and it’s all thanks to everybody working hard at home and those that have given me this opportunity,” he said. “Without them, days like these wouldn’t be possible – it’s just not possible to be at the shows every week and still have the horses in such good form and that’s thanks to them, I can’t thank them enough.

“It definitely surprises you when it ends up as successful as it’s been these past three weeks. We aim for the bigger shows in the year – it’s where we want to do well, that’s where we want the horses to be in form.”

Just one second separated the top four in the grand prix of Barcelona with Spanish rider Armando Trapote giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about in third on Tornado VS, with Henrik von Eckermann fourth with King Edward.

Best of the two British showjumpers in contention at the five-star CSIO Barcelona was Tim Gredley jumping a super double clear with Medoc De Toxandria for sixth.

“I’m so happy with what he did – he’s not a naturally fast horse and I’m not a naturally quick rider, but we’re getting there!” said Tim to H&H. “But he just keeps jumping clear rounds. I can’t remember the last time he had a fence down in a grand prix. Every time they put a huge track up, he steps up. So I’m just delighted with him, so proud.”

Competition at the CSIO Barcelona continues on Saturday (5 October) with the Queen’s Cup as the feature class, before all eyes turn to the inaugural Longines League of Nations Final on Sunday (6 October).

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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The 2019 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby winner has been retired sound, happy and still at the top of his game, after a joint win in the Dublin Horse Show Defender puissance.

Mikey Pender and Hearton Du Bois Halleux shared the win with Joe Trunkfield and Cruze on 17 August, and Mikey announced that the Nonstop stallion would bow out of competition aged 17.

Mikey told H&H the idea of retiring “Harold” had been “half in the back of my mind”.

“And there was no better way to do it,” he said. “I wanted to do it when he was still healthy and in good form, and that felt like the perfect time.”

Mikey took on Paul van den Bosch’s stallion in 2018, just over a year before their famous Hickstead win, when Mikey at 19 became the youngest ever winner of the class. They also won eight puissances together, including three at Dublin.

“It’s so special [winning on home soil] and he’s done it three times; it’s amazing what he’s done,” Mikey said, adding that he had no idea when he first took the reins how much Harold would achieve.

“I had to try to work out the controls and it took a bit of time to get to know him, and for him to get to know me. But when it clicked, we got on very good and it all went from there.

“There were a good few highlights but I think in one year we won Hickstead, Dublin, Olympia and Bolesworth and that’s unreal.”

Mikey said Harold was “like a bit of a lion” in the ring.

“But he was the sweetest horse in the stable,” he said. “Anyone could ride him at home, he’s so kind-natured. I wanted him to have a good retirement, I didn’t want to push it so it felt very right to do it.

“He’ll stay with me, at home in his field, close to my house, so I can still see him as much as possible.”

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Hitting the international showjumping news headlines this week is multi-winning mare Killer Queen VDM, who has made a welcome return to top-flight sport with regular rider Daniel Deusser after several months on the sidelines.

Meanwhile in the USA, one Irishman declares his winning mount as having the potential to be “one of the best in the world” – strong words, indeed. There’s also a remarkable case of déjà vu in the Chepstow’s CSI2* grand prix and even the 2012 Olympic champion admits to feeling the nerves ahead of a five-star class. Read on for our weekly round-up of international showjumping news headlines and results.

A welcome comeback for “fresh and feisty” top mare Killer Queen VDM

While the King, King Edward, has been making showjumping news headlines in recent weeks, this week it was the turn of the Queen, Killer Queen VDM, to take the spotlight.

Daniel Deusser and his multi-winning mare made a winning return to five-star competition at the Printemps Des Sports Equestres in Fontainebleau. The 14-year-old mare returned to competition on the Spanish Sunshine Tour this year but they stepped up to five-star for the first time since last summer, looking better than ever when landing a 1.55m class.

“I’m delighted she did so well,” said the German rider, crediting the mare’s “warrior spirit”. “She might even be a bit too fresh and feisty for a competition like this!”

Great Britain’s Joe Stockdale was also in winning form at the show with Equine Rescue Services Kandleford in a 1.45m speed class.

• CSI5* Fontainebleau results

Showjumping news: “I think he’ll end up one of the best in the world”

Ireland’s Conor Swail won the $225,000 Kentucky Invitational four-star grand prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute with 11-year-old Casturano after a six-way jump-off in the Rolex Stadium. Egypt’s Nayel Nassar finished second with Igor Van De Wittemoere while US rider Charlotte Jacobs, who also managed to enjoy watching some of the three-day event at the venue, piloted Irish Sport Horse Rincoola Milsean (by Aldatus Z out of Rincoola Abu by Cruising) into third position.

“This horse jumps clear round after clear round and the confidence you get from jumping a horse with so much ability is how much he’s grown over the past year – I’m very excited about him,” said Conor, who scorched home quickest from penultimate draw. “If he keeps doing what he’s doing, I think he’ll end up one of the best horses in the world.”

Second-placed Nayel said: “I can’t even guess the number of times I’ve lost to Conor. But that’s the beauty of the sport, it’s not over till it’s over. Conor is a favourite of mine to watch.”

• Kentucky invitational results

A remarkable case of déjà vu

There was a remarkable case of déjà vu in the grand prix at the Chepstow Spring International CSI2* at the David Broome Event Centre, Monmouthshire, when the top two places went to the same combinations as the previous week at the CSI2* Chard – Mikey Pender on HHS Cornetta and William Whitaker on Chacco’s Lando.

“It was quite cool that Will and I were first and second again!” said Mikey, who also won Sunday’s CSI2* small tour 1.30m with Cornetta’s full brother HHS Cyprus.

Poles had fallen very easily round Colm Quinn’s jump-off course, with the first third of the 12-strong field all faulting. It was Mikey who broke the jinx, delivering not only the first clear but also taking some economical early lines to clock the quickest time of the class on the big-engined grey by Cornet Obolensky. Four other riders left the fences standing, with William and the striking 11-year-old getting the spectators behind them as they looked to be the only combination in touch – but they were lagging a second behind when they landed before the turn to the final line and couldn’t gain the ground.

“I was definitely quicker from two to three,”said Mikey, who angled the second fence and turned on a scything seven-stride arc round to the third. “I don’t think anyone else had seven there. I turned her so tight but she is really switched on, she is always with you waiting for you to give her the next instruction.”

Read the full report from the show in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday, 2 May.

• CSI2* Chepstow results

A “perfect” mare takes notable victory

With preparations starting to take shape for many potential Olympians, all eyes were on the CSI5* in Fontainebleau, where Swiss showjumper Steve Guerdat and his brilliant “horse of a lifetime” Dynamix De Belheme triumphed in the grand prix with an eye-catching performance over tracks set by France’s Gregory Bodo and Spain’s Santiago Varela, who will be in charge of the fences in Versailles for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Dynamix has shown consistency since she started competing,” said the reigning European champion, who triumphed after a three-way jump-off. “She’s always been perfect, always jumped clear rounds in every age category and class.

“It’s fair to say that she surprised me this weekend. I wasn’t expecting her to be so dynamic; I thought she was still one or two competitions away from reaching top form. It gives us confidence for the rest of the season.”

Even the 2012 Olympic champion admitted to feeling particularly nervous at the start of the show’s feature class.

“More than I had been for a long time,” he confessed. “Not because of the course – at ’s-Hertogenbosch, Dynamix and I jumped really well on the Friday, but then I didn’t get things right on the Sunday; she hasn’t taken part in any competitions since, so I was left with that memory, which is why I was nervous. But she has some great qualities and made things easy for me as a rider on this really enjoyable course.”

• CSI5* Fontainebleau results

Showjumping news: “A great couple of weeks” helped by “the most wonderful stallion”

British teenager Rosie Smith sealed “a great couple of weeks” as a vital member of the Nations Cup team when, after helping the children-on-horses team to a third-place finish in the youth competition in Czechia, she and the great stallion Fruselli landed the grand prix.

“I’m incredibly grateful to my owners for giving me the chance to gain this experience,” said Rosie, daughter of Olympian Holly Smith, who added: “Although Rosie is short on mileage at this level of competition, she rode to orders beautifully to win, helped by the most wonderful stallion!”

Ted Bastian-Mason also flew the British flag on the podium, finishing third with a double clear on Forest Ranger OL.

In the team competitions, the young riders took second, represented by Francesca Young (Carrickview Libretto), Glain Watkin Jones (La Vie Est D’Or), Tallulah Mackenzie Smith (Nistria VD Winning Z) and Connie Adams with Jagger. The junior squad also took the runner-up spot, this time after a jump-off, with a great performance from Henry Squibb (Diatencona PS), Alena Hughes (Hercules), Izzy Doyle (Claxon Van De Bosweg) and Ruby Barrs (Manzana De Rigo), who also finished runner-up in the under-25 grand prix on Guinot Di Nocciola.

“It was my first 1.45m so it was quite daunting,” she said.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In this week’s international showjumping news round-up, Irish showjumper Mikey Pender enjoyed an outstanding run of success, while Amanda Derbyshire posted a winning streak of her own, including on a very exciting new stallion.

This was a week where a strong Irish contingent was absolutely flying, but so was Guy Williams in Spain. Read on for our weekly round-up of showjumping news from around the globe, plus results.

Showjumping news: Pender’s week to remember

Irish showjumper Mikey Pender saluted the crowd in delight after his flying finish on his great partner HHS Calais secured victory in the Longines CSI5*-W grand prix at the HH Sharjah Ruler Cup in the UAE. This victory with the Bravo Hughes-owned son of Cavalier Royale, bred in Ireland by Ita Brennan, sealed a marvellous run of success for the 24-year-old Hickstead Derby-winning rider.

Mikey started the week by filling the top two placings in the grand prix qualifier, topping the leaderboard on HHS Calais and slotting into second on Al Shira’aa Stables’ 10-year-old stallion Chacco Bay. Mikey went on to win Sunday’s winning round on Chacco Blue, before triumphing on his Rome Nations Cup and Riyadh grand prix winner HHS Calais after a formidable 14-way jump-off.

“I went over there for six weeks, building up the horses, and that was the perfect way to end,” said Mikey, who was part of Ireland’s second-placed team in the new Longines League of Nations the week before on Calais. “You’re going there to win those big five-star grands prix, so to pull it off on a horse who is in great shape, jumping well, is what it’s all about.

“He jumped very well the week before in the League of Nations so I was quite hopeful.

“Chacco Bay jumped his first five-star grand prix last week – he had two down but I was very happy with how he jumped – then he was second on the first day here and won his 1.55m on Sunday. So he improved and he felt like he jumped even better – he’s very exciting.”

Continuing the Irish domination, Hickstead-based Shane Breen and home-bred Scarteen (Cardento x Chellano Z) finished third to Mikey with a super double clear in the horse’s first five-star grand prix and Shane won Saturday’s speed class with 16-year-old Z7 Ipswich.

• HH Sharjah Ruler Cup results

Amanda Derbyshire’s horse-buying trip pays off

US-based British showjumper Amanda Derbyshire claimed a string of national and international wins on her first visit to TerranNova Equestrian Center, Florida, combining a horse-buying trip with a bucketful of success in the ring. As well as national success, Amanda claimed a 1.45m victory on Otto BH before heading the grand prix with the 12-year-old and finishing third with a new ride, the eight-year-old stallion Destine To Be.

“It was fast today,” said Amanda after the grand prix. “There were 13 in the jump-off so I knew speed was going to matter. I did one stride less to the double, he’s got a big stride and he’s careful, and it all worked out in my favour.

“It was Destine’s first FEI week so I’m probably more excited about him, that was a fast double clear stepping up.”

• CSI2* Myakka City results

Showjumping news: first grand prix victory is “everything and more”

Making the showjumping news headlines at the World Equestrian Center, Ocala, Florida, was Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro, posting a first ever grand prix victory riding H5 Sporthorses’ H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z. Rain couldn’t dampen the competitive spirit in the CSI3* $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida grand prix over tracks set by Colm Quinn.

“My trainer Eduardo Menezes told me there were only five in the jump-off so I might as well go for it,” said Carlos. “We wanted to test the horse a little bit. He’s still green, and this was his first real big jump-off. My horse is very fast naturally, you just let him go and he is just eager to canter forward.

“He’s an amazing horse,” he added. “I got him as a seven-year-old who was quite green. He was produced by a very young rider from Belgium, who took him to the children’s European Championships then to the Belgium national championships at 1.45m. We saw him there and purchased him shortly after.

“From then on, he’s just done everything and more that we’ve asked of him. We stepped up to this level last year and he’s had a few good placings, but never in the podium and never a win, so I couldn’t be happier with him. He did everything and more out there tonight.”

In second was Daniel Coyle on new ride Incredible, with third place going to another Irish representative in Tom Wachman on Coolmore Showjumping’s Berlux Z. Tom had won Thursday’s grand prix qualifier on Cathalina S and had simultaneously been competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival, where he won an under-25 class on nine-year-old mare Obora’s Laura.

A career best win for a little mare with a big heart at WEF

There was no stopping the Irish in this week’s showjumping news and it was Philip McGuane on board the Evergate Stables’ Orphea HQ who recorded a career best in the Winter Equestrian Festival Challenge Cup, held on the grass Derby field.

“Philip has developed a really strong partnership with Orphea,” said owner Nayel Nassar of the mare who has been with Evergate Stables since a seven-year-old. “It’s been really cool to see him come into his element, get more competitive, and dig in for these kinds of classes because we always knew he was capable.”

Philip joined Evergate Stables to produce their young horses after riding for Switzerland’s Beat Mandli and US rider Katie Dinan.

“Orphea is not very big herself, but she has a big heart,” he said of the Emerald mare. “She knows where the jumps are, and as long as I don’t make a mistake she’s always there. I just need to get her anywhere near the jumps to be honest.”

• WEF results

Spanish success: Ernie flies to victory

On week two of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain, one of the show’s big winners was Guy Williams, who landed Sunday’s CSI4* medium tour grand prix on the 12-year-old Emerald son, Ernie Of Greenhill Z. On the Moura Tour in Valencia, Sandy McLean scored in a 1.45m with his great partner Gino F.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

After a superb seven weeks, the Andalucía Sunshine Tour 2023, sponsored by l’a Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte’ and co-financed by the European Union, came to a close with a second CCI4* win on the trot for Irishman Mikey Pender and HHS Calais.

Mikey and Bravo Hughes’ 12-year-old gelding followed up last weekend’s win in the Suzuki grand prix with victory from last draw in the Andalucía Invitational Grand Prix, an Olympic qualifier, on 26 March.

“It’s amazing to win the grand prix here,” Mikey said. “Calais jumped outstanding today, there were 12 in the jump-off so it was a bit more difficult than last week. Then, I was lucky enough I didn’t have to jump off.

“It was quite fast, the class, and I think it was a brilliant course. The jump-off maybe didn’t suit me perfectly but we were lucky enough to come out with the right result.

“It’s absolutely incredible to win two grands prix here in a row and I think it builds up our season amazingly. I think we are ready to go to the big shows and thanks to the Sunshine Tour here for giving us the chance to hopefully build up for another brilliant season.”

There was another big win for Ireland yesterday, as Darragh Kenny ended the penultimate week of competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International with a win in the $226,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI4* grand prix on Oakland Vantures’ Vancouver Dreams.

He had qualified for the grand prix during the Adequan WEF Challenge Cup on Friday, but elected not to jump off with the 13-year-old mare, a strategy that paid off on Sunday.

“You don’t have to worry about the jumps in the jump-off, you just have to get the right spot,” he said. “She’s an incredible horse.”

“She’s like 15 out of 10 careful, so the most important thing is to get her to relax, come down a little bit and not stay up in the air,” said Kenny, who started riding the mare early this year, taking on the ride after Austria’s Max Kühner.

“She tried her guts out today and was brilliant. You can’t help but love her.”

Second and third place went to Lillie Keenan with Fasther and Nicola Philippaerts on H&M Luna van’t Ruytershof Z respectively; in fourth was Britain’s Sam Hutton on Casablanca-H.

What better way could there be of celebrating your 21st than by winning a four-star grand prix in style?

Britain’s Nicole Lockhead Anderson did just that on 27 March as she and her own eight-year-old Emerald Irish Cruise took top honours in the CSI4* Equipe Ladies Invitational. The victory topped off a super record at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain – Sunday’s was their ninth win of the seven-week tour.

“I have no words to describe how much I love this horse, she is my hero,” said Nicole, who won a brand new Equipe saddle.

AP McCoy’s daughter Eve took the win in the Heusdens Schäffer CSI1* grand prix at the Sentower Park youth meeting in Opglabbeek, Belgium, with her father’s Cocktail d’Azur.

Four riders jumped clear in the first round of the 1.30m class but the 15-year-old rider and 11-year-old gelding were the fastest by three seconds.

Sophie Evans, 16, came third in the 1.40m Aloga Auction Under 25 Grand Prix on ESM Equestrian’s Hatzidee PR, and Madison Seedhouse, also 16, came third in the Emmers Equestrian Pony Grand Prix, on ESM Equestrian’s Vaughann De Vuzit.

Shane Breen’s 13-year-old daughter Darcy, at her first international show, came third in the 1.25m Ashford Farm Children on Horses grand prix with Lea Popely’s Kunis.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The 2022 Longines Global Champions Tour reached its thrilling conclusion in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night (22 October) when Ben Maher smashed into the record books with a historic hat-trick, while 23-year-old Mikey Pender also stole the spotlight with a breathtaking grand prix performance. The Longines FEI World Cup jumping series rolled on to Helsinki, Finland, where Swedish rider Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli said her tactics for securing a big class double was just to “keep calm”. Meanwhile, in Portugal, one of our favourite stallions on the circuit, the eye-catching Ernie Of Greenhill Z, earned his first moment of grand prix glory under an expert ride from Guy Williams.

Here is H&H’s weekly round up of international action from the world of showjumping over the past week, plus showjumping results.

‘Ernie was due a win’

On the CSI3* Villamoura Champions Tour in Portugal, Guy Williams and the 10-year-old Emerald stallion Ernie Of Greenhill Z (main image above) landed Sunday’s grand prix after a thrilling six-way jump-off. Guy only took the reins on Ernie earlier this year and targeted this feature class on week two of this Tour, winning in impressive style from his countryman Adrian Speight riding Millfield Baloney.

“I was second to go and I just went as quick as I could and clear,” said Guy. “Adrian was just behind me then Piergiorgio Bucci [who finished third] was right behind him. The course-builder told me when I was walking the course that he was hoping for five or six clears, so he was spot on – it was a nice course and the time was all right. Luckily I was at the right end of the final six.”

Guy and Ernie, who is registered as bay but has very unusual white markings, jumped their first grand prix in June and this is the first time they’ve found the winning formula.

“He hadn’t done an awful lot when we found him, he’s come on a lot and he’s jumped clear in a few grands prix now, but he’s just been a bit unlucky really,” said Guy. “He was making a few silly mistakes but we’ve rectified that and he was due a win. I didn’t jump the first week as I thought I might be able to win on this second week and it all went to plan! Every other week here there’s a four-star prize fund for a three-star show, it’s really good.”

Guy also debuted the new nine-year-old mare Namika, jumping some lovely clears in the process.

“I’ve only had her a week so I don’t know too much about her yet, the owners have sent her to me and we’ll see how she goes,” said Guy, whose daughter Maisy is also in action at the show.

Villamoura Champions Tour showjumping results

Mikey Pender’s 300k jackpot

Mikey Pender, 23, landed his second grand prix of the Longines Global Champions Tour when beating his three jump-off rivals in Saudi Arabia, to win Saturday’s €900,000 (£782,000) Riyadh grand prix. Drawn third, Mikey and Marion Hughes’s huge striding Irish-bred HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x Obos Quality 004) smashed the previous times set by Jur Vrieling (Long John Silver 3) and Harrie Smolders with Monaco NOP.

The 11-year-old gelding HHS Calais, expertly ridden by the young Irishman, flexed every muscle to clear the fences and they were just 0.01sec up on the clock at the split. They then pirouetted round the bends and executed a breathtaking twist over the vast final oxer to soar into top spot in a time of 35.78sec. The penultimate rider, Malin Baryard-Johnsson with H&M Indiana, rocketed round but faulted at a late oxer, leaving Mikey to collect the €300,000 top prize, following up on his previous victory in Valkenswaard.

“I can’t believe it, my horse jumped unbelievable,” said Mikey. “It’s emotional and I’d like to thank the team at home. Without them, days like this wouldn’t be possible.”

The top-placed British rider in Saturday night’s grand prix was Harry Charles (Borsato) in ninth after succumbing, like several combinations, to the middle part of the treble combination in round one. Even the world champions Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward showed a rare moment of vulnerability, coming home with 12 faults, while Shane Breen and Vistogrand suffered the agony of tipping the front rail of the final oxer in an otherwise foot-perfect performance to finish on four faults, just out of the money.

LGCT grand prix of Riyadh results

Ben Maher’s historic hat-trick: “He’s a real champion”

Great Britain’s Ben Maher announced he “couldn’t be prouder right now,” after becoming the first rider in Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) history to claim three championship titles.

The Hertfordshire rider collected four faults in round one of the feature class riding Oakingham Stud’s 12-year-old stallion Faltic HB (Baltic VDL x Concorde), the slightest error coming at the triple bar, three fences from home. But when his two key rivals, Pieter Devos with the barefoot mare Mom’s Toupie De La Roque and Christian Ahlmann on the mighty stallion Dominator 2000 Z, came home with eight faults apiece on Uliano Vezzani’s testing track, the 2022 LGCT title went to the seemingly invincible British rider.

“It’s been an incredible year,” said Ben, who was crowned LGCT champion of champions in 2018 and 2019 and until this weekend had stood alongside Scott Brash and Edwina Tops-Alexander as the only riders to have earned dual LGCT championships. “Faltic’s been an amazing horse – it’s the first year he’s come to this level and unfortunately we didn’t win a grand prix this year, but he’s been unbelievably consistent, with many top placings.”

Ben’s groom in Riyadh was Derrin Lake, and third-placed Christian paid tribute to the winning team: “Big congratulations to Ben, he’s a real champion, he has nothing to prove anymore and he claimed the most points over the season so he’s the deserved winner and the one to beat next season!”

LGCT of Riyadh results

“Dream” double for Swedish contender and “feisty” mare

Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli of Sweden scooped victory in the second leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Helsinki, Finland, riding the “feisty” 12-year-old mare Kalinka Van De Nachtegaele (pictured, above). This superb win came after the pair’s victory in the previous day’s CSI5* Defender Grand Trophy.

“I know my horse is super quick but I had to stay calm or she would get too excited,” said Angelica, who was drawn last in a 10-strong jump-off and received advice from her husband Marlon, who was also in action in the class. “I had my plan and went as fast as I could while keeping her under control and it worked.

“She’s very special, she’s very delicate and sensitive but when she enters the arena she wants to win. She’s been extra amazing over the last six months and I think her best years are still to come – she’s getting better all the time!”

Marlon added: “I’m so happy for Angelica, it’s a dream for us to be in the top sport together!”

Three members of the Whitaker family were in action in the qualifier – Robert, Donald and Jack, who finished ninth with four faults in the jump-off riding Equine America Valmy De La Lande. Donald also claimed a superb five-star win the previous day riding the 11-year-old mare Little Khira H.

Sixth-placed World Cup rider Victoria Gulliksen of Norway and Equine America Papa Roach now head the overall standings in Europe ahead of the third leg in Lyon, France, this Sunday.

Helsinki International Horse Show results

Express success for Burke

Irish rider Jessica Burke, who will be the guest on this week’s Horse & Hound Podcast, won the Masters at the CSI4* St. Lo, France, riding Express Trend. Liam Nicholas’s 12-year-old gelding remained faultless over the five rounds to claim the E3,000 top prize.

CSI4* St Lo showjumping results

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

There was a five-star showjumping bonanza close to home this week, with both Dublin Horse Show and the Longines Global Champions Tour of London vying for our attention. We witnessed a barefoot grand prix winner, heart-warming scenes of Irish ecstasy and heard about one mare’s miraculous comeback from serious injury.

Here is your weekly round-up of just some of the international sporting action from the world of showjumping, as well as this weekend’s showjumping results.

‘This has been a lifetime goal’

Nothing means more to Irish showjumpers than to lift the Aga Khan Cup for the Longines FEI Nations Cup of Ireland at Dublin Horse Show and on Friday (19 August) the quartet of 18-year-old Max Wachman (Berlux Z), Conor Swail (Count Me In), Cian O’Connor (Kilkenny) and Shane Sweetnam (James Kaan Cruz) bridged a seven-year gap to lift the coveted trophy amidst great scenes of jubilation. This was the nation’s 24th victory since its inception in 1926 and came after an epic duel with France to decide top honours.

“It’s been a lifetime goal and an incredible achievement to be Irish and win the FEI Nations Cup of Ireland,” said Conor, Ireland’s chosen jump-off representative, who couldn’t quite believe he’d nailed victory. “I looked up and the screen said two – I thought I wasn’t fast enough, it usually says one when you’re the quickest.” The cheering crowds soon put him right.

Anchorman Cian O’Connor, on his 16th Dublin team appearance and landing his fourth Dublin win, said after his double clear: “Kilkenny felt like he owned the ring, it was on me not to make a mistake.”

• Longines FEI Nations Cup of Ireland results

A miraculous comeback from injury for former world-beater

Nicole Lockhead Anderson and Tom Williams’ superstar mare Chilli put in a breathtaking performance to win the CSI2* Fiji Water grand prix at the London LGCT.

“She’s just an absolute legend,” said Nicole of the 10-year-old Colestus x Colorit German-bred mare, who was a big winner in young horse classes, taking the World Young Horse Breeding Championships in Lanaken as a five-year-old when ridden by Pippa Goddard and finishing runner-up there as a six-year-old with Donald Whitaker in the saddle, before going on to win the newcomers final with him in 2018.

But disaster struck two years ago in Spain when Chilli got loose in the arena and tried to jump out, resulting in injuries that have required two years of healing and recuperation, making this an emotional return for the team.

“She basically lost all the muscles in her armpit and needed two years off,” said Nicole. “It’s amazing that she’s healed and has come back to jump at this level. We brought her back very slowly. She started jumping again a couple of months ago and Tom said a long time ago that he wanted to win the grand prix in London with her and we did it! She absolutely loved it – to win here is amazing.”

Read more about Nicole’s winning round

• LGCT two-star grand prix results

Clearing 2.20m at ‘the best show in the world’

Ireland’s Mikey Pender claimed a stunning hat-trick and the leading rider award at Dublin Horse Show. Marion Hughes’ consistent home-bred Catoki x Douglas 11-year-old HHS Fortune doubled up, taking the opening day’s speed stakes with 1.38 sec to spare and the speed Derby by a clear two seconds. Mikey’s 2019 Hickstead Derby champion Hearton Du Bois Halleux stepped up in the puissance, the Nonstop 15-year-old the only one to clear 2.20m in the five-way decider.

“This is the best show in the world. My horses have been on fantastic form and the crowd was behind us all week,” said Mikey.

• Land Rover Puissance results

Barefoot one-two in London thriller

THE Brits may have been pushed off the podium for the first time since the Longines Global Champions Tour of London grand prix’s inception, but MOM’s Toupie De La Roque, the characterful chestnut mare (pictured below) who took the €100,000 (£84,830) jackpot for Belgium’s Pieter Devos, still won the admiration of the crowd. Pieter’s distinctive, white-stockinged 15-year-old, who competes barefoot and without front boots, used every ounce of athleticism and care to clear the second fence, after losing momentum on a risky, tight turnback. Her enthusiasm shone out round the rest of the track, where the split-screen analysis showed she found even more of an advantage on a brave run to the vertical at the last.

“The horse was doing absolutely everything she could to jump the fences clear,” Pieter said.

Second-placed rider Olivier Philippaerts was also riding a barefoot horse, the 10-year-old H&M Miro. Best of the Brits was fourth-placed Ellen Whitaker riding Andrew and Tilly Shaw’s 10-year-old grey Equine America Spacecake, who has “bunny-hopped” up the levels this year.

“She’s really quite inexperienced and I am so happy with her,” said Ellen, who started out jumping the mare at 1.10m and 1.20m in summer 2021 and began her five-star career in Rome this year.

Read more about the LGCT grand prix of London

• London LGCT grand prix results

Showjumping results: new mare impresses for Matt Sampson

British rider Matt Sampson has been enjoying plenty of success across the pond so far this summer, including top wins at Spruce Meadows, and he continued that streak this weekend. Matt and Elisa BJX took the 1.50m CSI3* ATCO Cup Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park, near Vancouver, nearly three seconds ahead of the USA’s Karrie Rufer on Stern dei Foletti.

“I thought, ‘It’s not very often you get to be in a grand prix at a show like this in the jump-off’,” Matt said. “She’s 10 years old, so she’s old enough to give it a go, and she just rose to it. That’s what good horses do.”

The mare had only jumped her first 1.50m course two days beforehand, in the “tbird” CSI3* Uryadi’s Village Cup.

“She [jumped] 1.50m on Friday, and we had two mistakes, but she just learns. She’s clever,” Matt said. “In the first round, she felt really good but a little inexperienced in places. In the jump-off, she felt amazing.”

Elisa only joined Matt’s string in June at Spruce Meadows.

“It’s difficult to get to know the horses at the show when you’re trying to compete with them, because you don’t really get that time for them to get to know you and vice versa—to create that bond where she trusts me,” he said. “I think we’ve really got that now.”

• Thunderbird results

Swiss rider ‘steals’ his first five-star success from the Irish

Sunday’s Longines grand prix at Dublin Horse Show was won by Edouard Schmitz on Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof for Switzerland. Only seven of the 40 starters mastered course-designer Alan Wade’s 14-fence 1.60m track with Edouard registering his first win at this level by 0.47 sec.

“I got a good turn from fence one to two and I was cheeky on the rollback turn to the [penultimate] oxer,” said Edouard, who also executed a risky gallop to the double on the Chacco Chacco x Toulon 10-year-old. “He’s a big-striding horse with a good canter.”

Asked if he knew what it meant to win Ireland’s biggest grand prix, he replied: “I do. I’ve stolen it from two Irish riders but it couldn’t be a better place to win my first five-star grand prix.”

Conor and Count Me In came so close. “One less stride to the last would have got it but he’s jumped five clears over three days, I couldn’t ask for more,” he said, after edging ahead of third-placed teammate Shane Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz.

• Longines international grand prix of Ireland results

A speedy win on a ‘slow’ horse

Adam Botham took Saturday’s Martin Collins London Cup at the LGCT with a super round on Barbara Hester’s 10-year-old gelding Harvey. The 1.30m speed class was claimed with an innovative ride from Adam on Harvey, who he says is not naturally the quickest horse. So what was the secret to their success?

“I did one less stride everywhere basically!” said Adam, who won in 58.50sec, nearly a second faster than his closest rivals.

“Harvey’s not a fast horse, so he has to really try. When you walk the course, you have to work out how to do something different to everybody else with him in order to be fast enough, because when he jumps he doesn’t scoot through the air. He jumps high, and he’s a bit slow, but that’s why he can jump a big class. But in these speed classes, you just have to make sure you do something different.”

Read more about Adam’s win

• LGCT of London showjumping results

Wins galore for Breen and Howley

Great Britain-based Irishman Richard Howley claimed a hat-trick of wins at Dublin Horse Show while Trevor Breen soared to the top of the 1.50m Dublin Stakes riding Germaine W, jointly owned with Mandy Hall and Paul McAteer. Richard’s first win came in the Minerva 1.45m speed class on the Harley 12-year-old Fame with 2.26 sec in hand over William Whitaker’s Jalellah OL. They followed it up with a win in the pairs relay with Cliodhna McEvoy, 10, on 128cm Tynnan Tuttle Pip. Richard also took a 0.27 sec win in the Kilkea Castle 1.45m speed on Sarah Borthwick’s Chinook, a Tygo x Wellington 15-year-old at his second show since returning from injury 14 months ago. They arrived on form after a double victory at Bolesworth two-star the previous week.

“He’s been amazing these past six years. He’s won at every level, even when asking him beyond his capabilities, he never backs down from a challenge. He’s a fighter,” said Richard.

• Dublin Horse Show showjumping results

Pohl’s winning double

German rider Nicola Pohl, whose boyfriend Donald Whitaker was jumping in the five-star classes at the London LGCT, landed a winning double at the show with Jack Whitaker’s junior European Championships silver medallist, Arlo De Blondel. The pair rocketed to top spot in Friday’s Hastens 1.40m two-phase, following up in the 1.30m Martin Collins London Cup jump-off class on Sunday.

“Arlo gave me everything – he loves the speed,” said 26-year-old Nicola, who took the reins at the start of the year.

Read more from Nicola Pohl

‘It’s suddenly hit me now. I owe her so much’

The opening Hyde Park Stables 1.15m two-phase at the London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour resulted in an emotional win for Ireland’s Aisling Byrne, who was told four years ago that she would never walk again after a riding accident in which a horse fell on top of her.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see that vision looking through the ears again, so even to have that, then to get in the ring, then for her to win… it’s incredible, a dream come true,” said Aisling, who was riding her super grey mare Wellview Lucy. “She was the first horse I got back on and jumped my first 60cm again after my accident, so she’s brought me all the way. It’s suddenly hit me now. I owe her so much.”

Read what else Aisling had to say

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Britain’s William Whitaker guided puissance first-timer RMF Charly to an impeccable joint victory at The London International Horse Show, Olympia, sharing the spoils with Ireland’s Michael Pender and his Hickstead Derby victor Hearton Du Bois Halleux.

Three combinations went the full five rounds, with last year’s joint-winners Mr Blue Sky UK and Guy Williams also making the final cut, where the big wall reached 7’2” (2m 18cm).

All three combinations had jumped fantastically throughout, with Caroline Phillip’s 10-year-old grey gelding and Guy repeatedly drawing gasps from the crowd as they gave the triple bar feet to spare in each round.

But in the final showdown, the exuberant son of Chacco Blue just trailed his toes behind to bring down a brick and leave the remaining two riders to vie for the £12,150 first prize.

William and the 10-year-old RMF Charly had been foot-perfect throughout, giving a masterclass in popping the wall from an easy rhythm. Paul Van Den Bosch’s Hearton Du Bois Halleux had also displayed the incredible scope that landed him victory at Hickstead this summer.

In the final heat both looked even more settled, clearing the famous red bricks without a tap to secure their joint victory.

“I am delighted with him as it was his first one,” said William, who has partnered the Holsteiner since he was bought by Rushy Marsh Farms in Florida at the beginning of this year.

“You can bring an extra horse for the puissance [when you are jumping the international classes] and we thought it would be a good experience for him to get in the ring in that atmosphere.

“He felt like he really settled into it. He’s a horse who has been a really good addition to the team as you can do a speed class or a grand prix — and now we know a puissance as well — and it’s well within his capabilities.”

In a year that has landed him firmly in the public consciousness, 21-year-old Michael praised the incredible talents of his 12-year-old ride, who he said “does everything you ask and always wants to please you”.

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Watch how Michael Pender won the Hickstead Derby — including THAT jaw-dropping leap over the water

Take a look at the jump-off round that secured this young Irishman’s Hickstead Derby victory

H&H’s 135th birthday: William Whitaker — ‘I still think about that moment every day’

As we celebrate H&H’s 135th birthday with a bumper issue out now (dated 20 June), we asked some of equestrian

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“In the first round he was a little bit tense but after that he got better and better,” said the Olympia first-timer, who has travelled from his home in South Kildare for the Cayenne puissance and six-bar this week. “The last two rounds were actually the best two, he felt fantastic and like he jumped it easily.

“Every time you get on him you know there is no jump too big and no course too difficult and I’d like to thank his owner for giving me the opportunity to ride him.”

Equal fourth place went to Alfie Bradstock and Darragh Magner’s H D’Or, previous puissance victors at Horse of the Year Show, and Ireland’s Nano Healy with his own 12-year-old KMS Clinton. Both made the fourth round but tipped a brick over the 7ft (2m15) wall.

Are you a fan of puissance competitions? Let us know your views by emailing hhletters@ti-media.com with your name and nearest town for the chance to be featured in the letters page a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine…

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

On Sunday (23 June), showjumper Michael Pender became the youngest ever winner of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby, jumping the sole double clear to lift the Boomerang Trophy.

Here are a few things to help you get to know him a little better as he is surely a name we are going to hear a lot more of in the future…

1. Michael is 19-years-old (born on 30 September 1999) and is originally from Co. Kildare, Ireland.

2. He is known as Mikey to his friends

3. He was named the Irish Field Junior Showjumper of the Year in 2016

4. Michael won silver and bronze in the World Breeding Jumping Championships at Lanaken in Belgium in 2016 from a total of 229 starters. These two horses were Z Seven Canya Dance and Z Seven Caretina, who are both now ridden by H&H blogger, Georgia Tame. He also won bronze in the same class in 2018, this time with HHS Vancouver.

5. His Derby win means he follows in the footsteps of Michael Whitaker, who was the last rider to win the Derby on his first attempt 40 years ago.

6. He rides for Marion Hughes of Hughes Horse Stud (HHS) in Ireland — Marion rode for Ireland at the Athens Olympics in showjumping.

7. He was recently selected to ride HHS Burnchurch on the squad for the Irish young rider European Championship, which will be held in the Netherlands 9 to 14 July.

8. Michael is currently 209th in the world in the Longines rankings and 22nd in the FEI jumping under-25 rankings.

9. From the 895 international classes he has started in, Michael has recorded 95 wins.

10. Michael has ridden for Ireland in three pony European championships — he was fifth individually in 2015 aboard Imagine If One — plus one junior and one young rider European championships so far.

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11. The Hickstead Derby was the first ever Derby both Michael and his mount Hearton Du Bois Halleux, owned by Paul Van Den Bosch, had ever jumped in.

12. Michael and Hearton Du Bois Halleux incurred 20 jumping faults in the Hickstead Derby trial class just 48 hours before taking their big win.

13. Hearton Du Bois Halleux’s previous three international starts all come in puissance classes — he was a winner in all three; Dublin Horse Show and Liverpool International Horse Show, both last year, plus Bolesworth International the week before Hickstead.

Don’t miss the full report from Michael’s historic win in the Hickstead Derby in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday 27 June.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Ireland’s Michael Pender has become the youngest ever winner of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby, jumping the sole double clear to lift the Boomerang Trophy today (23 June).

Fifty-two years after Marion Coakes made history with Stroller as the youngest winner of the class in 1967, 19-year-old Michael — three months away from his 20th birthday — smashed the record on his Hickstead debut riding Hearton Du Bois Halleux.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet, but it’s what every rider dreams of,” said Michael.

After three riders produced clean sheets in round one, Michael had to jump off against Hickstead regulars Shane Breen (Golden Hawk) and Harriet Nuttall (A Touch Imperious). Brushing off the fact he was facing the famous Derby fences for the first time, he held his own as the only rider to remain faultless against the clock to claim the title and the £34,650 first prize.

“It means so much with all the history behind this class. I’m just delighted,” said Michael.

His fellow Irishman Shane Breen had jumped first but despite recording a lightning-quick time, picked up eight faults with the 14-year-old stallion Golden Hawk. Michael set off at a steadier pace but, crucially left all the poles up to post a double clear before last drawn Harriet, who had already finished runner-up in the class three times, came home with just a toe in the water to finish second once again, with Shane in third.

“You can feel fast and still be really slow on him [A Touch Imperious] but I think I was just overthinking the water,” said Harriet, winner of yesterday’s Speed Derby on Silver Lift. “I’ll 100% be back next year.”

William Funnell, who was bidding for a record-breaking fifth win in the Hickstead Derby, came home with four faults on his 2018 winner Billy Buckingham to share fourth place with Graham Gillespie riding Andretti.

“He felt fresh and he probably touched less than last year,” said William. “The good thing is I’ve still won it four times!”

Don’t miss the full report from the Hickstead Derby meeting in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 27 June.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now