KILDARE’s Mikey Pender made history last Sunday when he became the youngest rider to ever win the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby.

Riding the Paul Van Den Bosch-owned 12-year-old gelding Hearton Du Bois Halleux, in his what was his first ever Hickstead Derby, he produced the only double clear of the competition.

Speaking to The Irish Field from Lausanne, where he was attending the Young Rider Academy this week, Pender said: “It was a dream come through to win the Hickstead Derby. I would like to thank the owner of the horse, Paul Van Den Bosch, and my mother Annemarie who has always supported me.

“I also owe a huge gratitude to Marion Hughes, Miguel Bravo and to all the team at HHS. Nano Healy also contributed to this win as he also rode the horse. I would also like to thank the sponsor of the class Al Shira’aa, for supporting our sport.”

Pender didn’t have any expectations going into the class. “To be honest, I didn’t wake up thinking I was going to take the win as the horse hasn’t a lot of experience at this level. I had a plan and I stuck to it, regardless of how Shane went. I feel that if Shane had kept everything in place, I wouldn’t have beaten him on time. If I had of upped the pace, the horse would have gotten a bit too strong,” he added.

Just 19 years old, he has joined an illustrious list of Irish riders who have claimed the coveted title. Those riders include Seamus Hayes, Paul Darragh, John Ledingham, Eddie Macken, Peter Charles (under the Irish flag before switching nationality) and more recently Paul Beecher and Trevor Breen.

“I feel that Irish riders really do well in this Derby class because of the education we get in Ireland. Most of us would have hunted and had a very rounded education on horses and it stands to us. That’s all you have to do is look at the line-up and see how many Irish were in it,” Pender said.

Based with Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo in Co Kilkenny, Hughes explained how the horse came to her yard. “Brendan Doyle who runs our yard really deserves the credit for finding the horse. It was due to the connections that he made while I was riding for Team Z7. Brendan met Gerald Lenaerts, who is a friend of Paul Van der Bosch.

“I am delighted for Mikey, he really deserves it. It is a real milestone in his career and to win the Hickstead Derby at such a young age shows just how talented he is. As well as being a very nice person, he has a good brain and a great eye for a horse and works hard.

“He put a lot of time into the horse to get it ready. Mikey has a great future ahead of him and we are now looking forward to the Europeans. I hope that that more funding will be made available to help develop facilities to keep riders like Mikey in Ireland,” Hughes added.

Jump-off

The young rider, who was named on the European Young Rider team last week, was one of just three who went clear in the first round. No stranger to the Derby track, Shane Breen was first to go with Golden Hawk, followed by Pender on Hearton du Bois Halleux and then Harriet Nuttall on her Irish Sport Horse gelding A Touch Imperious.

Breen recorded the fastest time (80.45) but paid the price when he lowered the Derby rails and the first element of the double of gates.

Next up, Pender put the pressure on when he delivered a clear with Hearton Du Bois Halleux in a time of 101.77. All eyes were on last to go Harriet Nuttall, who has finished in the top three every year since 2014. Nuttall’s hopes of a win were dashed when A Touch Imperious touched the tape at the water for four faults and, once again, she had to settle for the runner-up spot.

Michael picked up the £34,650 first prize as well as taking home the Al Shira’aa Trophy and having his name added to the Boomerang Trophy.

“I feel sorry for Harriet; she’s been fantastic for so many years, but I’m delighted for Mikey,” Shane Breen said afterwards.

Nuttall said: “A Touch Imperious has felt on really good form here, and he jumped a fantastic clear – probably his best round here. If all is well, we’ll be back next year – with the way he’s jumping, why would you not?”

Sharing fourth place on four faults were last year’s winner William Funnell aboard Billy Buckingham and Graham Gillespie and Andretti H. Seven riders shared sixth place on eight faults; they were Elizabeth Power (Doonaveeragh O One), Richard Howley (Chinook), Ger O’Neill (Uncas S), Shane Breen with his second ride Can Ya Makan and Howley on his second horse Notis Me.