LEADING Irish show jumper Darragh Kenny and his British show jumping girlfriend Jessica Mendoza shared a fun couple interview at the Vilamoura Champions Tour in Portugal last weekend.

Aired on the Vilamoura Equestrian Centre Facebook page, the couple sat down for an ‘Out of the Box’ interview where they revealed that the eight-year age difference between them makes no difference.

“I think you could say I’m quite mature for my age and he’s quite immature,” 21-year-old Jess laughed.

The couple have been dating for almost two years after meeting on the international circuit. “I already knew her Dad and then she came to Miami and we got friendly. I got her dad on side first,” Darragh joked.

The well matched couple share equal goals in life – to become number one in the world and to win an Olympic medal. Jess, who was the travelling reserve for Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the youngest member in 40 years, and was winner of the FEI Rising Star award in 2015, said Darragh always pushes her to be better.

“My goals are the same as his. I want to be as good as I can be and of course I would love an Olympic medal so it’s nice to have someone with the same goals and we can work towards that.”

Jess added with a laugh: “I am a little bit jealous when he wins, but it’s nice that he is so successful and pushes me to want to do better… there is healthy competition.”

A talented painter in her spare time, Kenny added during the light-hearted interview that his girlfriend hasn’t yet asked him to model for her: “She doesn’t think I’m good enough to paint,” he said.

“We really enjoy each other’s company and I feel we both make each other happy so it doesn’t matter if we have a good or bad day. What happens at the stable stays at the stable, we don’t bring it into the house,” the Offaly man added.

Both Darragh and Jess are based in The Netherlands for the summer months, where he bought a new stable at the beginning of the year. Darragh then spends the winter in America and Jess joined him at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida last year.

It seems this show jumping power couple have it all sorted!