Victory for Pender

KILDARE’s Mikey Pender got his campaign at the three-star show in Vilamoura, Portugal, off to the perfect start when winning a 1.45m class. Riding the 11-year-old gelding Casanova van Overis Z, Pender beat 12 other clear rounds when breaking the beam in 59.14 seconds to collect €6,250. The pair then placed sixth in the following day’s 1.50m jump-off. One of 11 double clears, their time of 33.96 earned them €1,375. Ciaran Nallon was also in action, and he finished third in Friday’s 1.40m aboard Zaronda II, followed by a fifth in Saturday’s 1.40m.