NO less than 272 riders from 33 different countries competing last weekend and throughout the week at Oliva Nova for 2016 Spring MET III including some of the world’s top riders but an early victory was posted by Mayo’s Jonathan Gordon.

Young horses were the first to compete during this third MET tour and victory in last Friday’s seven-year-old class went to Gordon aboard Charles G 2 (Contendro I x Ibikus).

With a jump-off time of 32.30 seconds, Gordon beat Clones native Clem McMahon riding Pacifico (Pacino x Aldatus Z) who stopped the clock at 32.45 to take the runner-up slot. France’s Guillaume Foutrier finished third aboard Chief Tibri Z (Corland x Berlin).

The win was the all the sweeter for Gordon as the talented 21-year-old rider was not only competing for the first time at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour, it was also the first outdoor show of the season.

“I am really pleased with the 2016 Spring MET. The facilities are top class, and the organisation is really helpful. For both me and my horses this week is the first week competing outdoors.”

He added: “Actually, even at home we have only jumped indoors until now because of the weather so for us this is truly the beginning of the outdoor season,” said Gordon.

For the last four years Gordon has been based in Germany at the stables of Manfred Marschall. Charles G 2 first came to Gordon’s stables as a five-year-old.

“Last year, as a six-year-old, I competed him in San Giovanni. He won the finals for the six-year-olds twice and that has been pretty much all he has done last year. MET Oliva is his first show this year,” Gordon said of the seven-year-old.

“I am very pleased with his performance. Although he is quite inexperienced, he jumped clear all three days. He has a unique style of jumping and he is very careful and has lots of blood. I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Over the coming weeks, the Mayo rider will try to produce Charles G as well as possible.

“I know what he is capable of, so I will only ride him a bit faster on the last day. I don’t want to blow his head so early in his career; I have to produce him well.

“Out here, it is fantastic to produce young horses, because they can jump in three different arenas with great grounds and different courses. The horses can learn a lot.”

Co Monaghan’s Clem McMahon was not only successful in the seven-year-old class; he also won the six-year-old competition aboard Hilton Alibi. Just like his seven-year-old Pacifico, Hilton Alibi is sired by McMahon’s former Nations Cup mount Pacino, who died in 2013 as he reached the peak of his show jumping career.

With a jump-off time of 34.34, McMahon and Hilton Alibi beat Dutch rider Ivo Biessen and the Dutch-bred Firefly H (Douglas x Tenerife VDL) who stopped the clock at 35.21. Italy’s Danielle Cancogni and Eloisa del Castello, sired by Quite Easy, finished third.