KILDARE show jumper Mikey Pender kicked off his first international show of 2023 with a Grand Prix win at Vilamoura, Portugal last weekend.

The 23-year-old had an outstanding year in 2022, winning two five-star Grands Prix on the Global Champions Tour circuit with Marion Hughes’ HHS Calais, and last Sunday’s three-star 1.50m Grand Prix win once again came aboard the 12-year-old Cavalier Royale gelding who, out of MHS OBOS Cruise (OBOS Quality), was bred by the late Ita Brennan in Co Kilkenny.

The pair were also part of the Irish team at the Longines FEI Nations Cup final in Barcelona last year, where they were clear in the first round, which Pender said was the highlight of his incredible year.

On Sunday, they were among 13 clears from the 30 starters to make it through the jump-off against the clock. Seven combinations returned a second clear round; Pender’s time of 32.99 seconds was almost two seconds faster than British runner-up Oliver Fletcher to claim the top prize of €13,150.

It was a one-two for Irish-breds as Fletcher rode the 11-year-old Lissava Stud-bred Hello William (Waldo van Dungen x Stakkato) into second place in a time of 34.28. Aurelien Leroy finished third for France aboard Croqsel de Blaignac (0/0 34.77).

Pender’s other three-star win at the venue came in Saturday’s 1.40m Table A jump-off when he guided Hughes’ home-bred mare HHS Los Angeles (Le Roi 10 x Cavalier Royale) to the fastest of five clears against the clock in 38.49 seconds, beating French lady Marie Demonte into second place with Destin d’Euskadi.

With HHS Fast Forward, a 10-year-old gelding by Heritage Fortunas also bred by Hughes, he was runner-up in Friday’s 1.45m jump-off. The pair posted a clear in 30.37 seconds, just two second slower than British winner James Smith with Arkuga (0/0 28.54).

It was interesting to note that last year’s Dublin Horse Show four-year-old winner, HHS Echonix, owned by Hughes and breeder Brendan McSorely has his first international outing, finishing fifth in a 1.30m.

Also in winning form at the venue was Gerard Campbell, who guided his own 12-year-old gelding Coldplay I to victory in Friday’s 1.30m two-phase. They were clear in 30.28 ahead of fellow Irishman Derek Traynor with the Irish Sport Horse mare Valentanna (Valent x Holland), who was bred by Campbell.