FOR the second week in-a-row, Kildare show jumper Mikey Pender won the Grand Prix at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, this time it was the four-star Andalucía Invitational Grand Prix to close out the competition for 2023.

Once again riding Marion Hughes’ 12-year-old gelding HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x OBOS Quality), bred by Ita Brennan, he saw off four other clears in the speedy 12-horse jump-off.

“It’s amazing to win the Grand Prix here at Sunshine Tour, he said afterwards. “Calais jumped outstanding today, there was 12 in the jump off so it was a bit more difficult than last week (when he won the Suzuki Grand Prix as the only clear in the first round). Last week 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 really suit me perfectly but we were lucky enough today to come out with the right result. I think a lot of people knocked the vertical that was put in for the jump off, number 15.

“It’s absolutely incredible to win two Grands Prix here in a row on Sunshine Tour and I think it helps to build up our season and I think we are ready to go to the big shows now. Thanks to the Sunshine Tour here for giving us the chance to hopefully build up for another brilliant season.”

Louis Konickx built a big 1.60m track which was acting as an Olympic qualifier. Some 12 of the starting 50 managed to keep a clean sheet in the first round; among them were two Irish riders – Pender and youngster Niamh McEvoy who was riding her first 1.60m with GBBS International’s nine-year-old mare Olivia de Muze N.

McEvoy showed what a star of the sport she is when guiding the mare to a second clear in the jump-off, slotting into fifth place and earning €7,000 with the inexperienced mare. Portugal’s Duarte Seabra held the lead with Carol Gee’s 10-year-old Dourados 2 (37.08) as Pender entered the ring as last to go.

As he has done so many times in his short career, Pender measured the course to perfection, punching the air as he broke the beam in 36.84 seconds to take the top prize of €25,000. In third place on the podium was Canada’s Kara Chad with Igor GPH (0/0 37.67).

Earlier in the day, Wexford’s Patrick Hickey won the 1.45m Invitational Small Tour with Catriona Redmond’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Emelee (Emerald x Lux Z), bred by John James Hassett. In a 14-horse jump-off, the pair broke the beam in 27.85 seconds to win €6,550.

Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon slotted into fourth place with Dave Quigley’s nine-year-old gelding Fifty Shades of Grey.

Hickey was thrilled to finish with a win, commenting: “She’s a nine-year-old by Emerald, owned by Caitriona Redmond, so it was very nice of her to let me ride her and bring her down here and it was a great result. The jump-off course, there wasn’t much you could do, there was one turn you had to be tight to and she did that well. She is an amazing horse and it is great to finish the Tour off with a win.”

Howley on a roll

Richard Howley kept up his unbelievable run of form to score three four-star wins on the final week. The first came in Thursday’s 1.50m aboard the 13-year-old gelding Fame where, from 100 starters, they were the fastest clear in 57.92 seconds. Niamh McEvoy finished fifth with Aconzina PS (0/61.18), ahead of Susan Fitzpatrick in sixth with Miss Paris (0/ 61.51).

There were four Irish in the top six in Friday’s 1.50m Table A where Howley came out on top with HK Horses’ Mansini Ltd. He saw off Mikey Pender and Marion Hughes’ home-bred HHS Fast Forward (Heritage Fortunas x Cavalier Royale) by fractions of a second in 65.19 to scoop the top prize of €6,550. Pender was just slower in 65.56. McEvoy again finished fifth with the nine-year-old Aconzina PS (0/ 66.69), ahead of Billy Twomey and Chat Botte E.D (0/ 67.00).

Howley’s final win came in Saturday’s 1.40m when he guided Sarah Borthwick’s 13-year-old grey mare Farianne to the fastest clear by almost three seconds.

Young horse winners

Mikey Pender won the seven-year-old final at the venue with Marion Hughes’ home-bred glelding HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky x Acorado II). Just three made it through to the jump-off, where Pender posted the winning time of 42.73 seconds ahead of Germany’s Sophie Hinners with Duchesse Z (0/0 43.98).

Molly Hughes Bravo, daughter of Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo, finished fourth with another home-bred, HHS Tokyo (Z7 Ascot x Catoki) after picking up two time faults in the first round. She also slotted into 10th with HHS Orchidee (Le Roi 10 x Luidam).

“I wasn’t really expecting to win, my horse is quite green but he jumped fantastic today and I’m absolutely delighted,” Pender said afterwards. “The course was quite difficult, there was only three clears, but it was a nice course and I don’t think any horse got a really bad experience.”

Niamh McEvoy guided Sarah Tredennick’s BP Tiny Dancer (Plot Blue x Concorde), bred by GBBS Int LTD, to victory in the six-year-old final. Thirty one of the starting 68 progressed to the hugely competitive jump-off, where there were 21 clear rounds. The winners broke the beam in 36.10 seconds, ahead of Poland’s Maksymilian Wechta in second with Next One (0/0 37.58).

McEvoy’s teammate at Ballypatrick, Kevin Gallagher, slotted into third place with the Kevin Babington-bred BP Goodfellas, winner of the gold medal at Lanaken last year. Jason Foley finished fourth with Mister Rossi.

McEvoy, who was recently accepted into the Young Riders Academy, said: “She is one of my all-time favourite horses. She jumped so good today, through the seven weeks here she was just amazing. She was sold in December in the Ballypatrick Auction.

“She is owned by Sarah Tredennick from America. It is great she has left her with us this year to do the six-year-old classes and get a bit of mileage. I am just so delighted to have her, she is so careful, so brave and just a super horse.”