IT was a clean sweep for Mikey Pender in the young horse classes at the National Balmoral Championships when, incredibly, he won the finals in all four divisions last Sunday.

He began the day with a win in the five-year-olds riding his own mare Sevilla Van De Berghoeve Z (Stakkato Gold x Diamant De Semilly) into the top-spot in the 40 rider-strong class which was sponsored by Abbey Upholstery.

The duo posted a jump-off time of 36.21, well ahead of runner-up Hannah Peterson aboard her own mare Derena Picture (Zirocco Blue VDL x Aldatus Z) in 37.73.

Young rider Sean Foley took third place with Gerry Marron’s Kinmar Right On Time (Aganix Du Seigneur - Kinmar Dancing Queen) in 40.19.

Carl Webb rode Bravo Hughes Ltd’s HHS Ice Flo (Iceman De Muze x Cyrano 145) into fourth in 40.58, while Paul Beecher and Seryna Van Kuelen’s Brogagh Darcy (Dakar VDL x Warrenstown WE 3) took fifth. Shane O’Reilly and Brian McConville’s BWE Hain Hero slotted into sixth place.

Six-year-olds

Next up was the six-year-olds and Pender once again dominated riding the Bravo Hughes-owned HHS Rose, a mare by Lamm De Fetan out of HHS Forty (Don Juan De La Bouverie). The duo were fastest of the 12 combinations that made it into the jump-off from a 26-strong start list.

Pender lodged his time to beat of 37.06 early on in the decider and Jonathan Smyth and Jacqueline Browne’s Keelnacally Cobra Clover (Cobra x Clover Fields) came closest to catching him when they broke the finish beam in 37.45.

The HHS stable showed just how strong their future horsepower is when they occupied third, fourth and sixth place. Carl Webb rode HHS Tokyo (Z Seven Ascot x Catoki) into third place in 37.71. He was followed by Alexandre Jose Pereira dos Ramos Faustino aboard HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky x Acorado).

Smyth once again featured in fifth place as the only rider in the top-six not riding a HHS mount. The prefix still featured though as his mount, Noletta Smyth’s Mulvin Springball is by Beach Ball, and out of a mare by HHS BR Charlton.

Molly Hughes Bravo completed the line-up taking sixth with HHS Savanna (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet x Don Juan De La Bouverie).

Seven-year-olds

The seven-year-old 1.30m competition attracted 34 entries. Of these, 15 made it into the second round against the clock.

Yet again it was Mikey Pender who led the way, steering Bravo Hughes Ltd’s gelding HHS Calgary (Luidam x Don Juan De La Bouverie) into first place in a fast time of 36.92.

Jason Foley and Castlefield Breeding Farm’s Far West De Hus (Windows VH Costersveld x Lefvre) took the runner-up spot in 37.31.

Malahide-based Jenny Rankin and Barry O’Connor’s Dutch-bred mare Kainville VDS (Numero Uno x Sainville) were third in 40.97.

Richard Bourns’ Tranquillity Bay (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Lux Z), ridden by Joanne Blair, were fourth in 41.22, while Joanne Sloan Allen’s Kandice Z (Kannan x Levisto Z) with Sam El Dahan in the saddle took fifth as the fastest four-faulter.

Jenny Rankin and her second mount, Conor Swail and Conall Murray’s mare Creevyquinn Poseur (Coronet Obolensky x Argentinus) rounded out the top six.

Four-year-olds

The four-year-old championship final was judged by Eamon Rice, Marcus Buser and Brian Clinghan.

They awarded the top mark of 117.33 to Mikey Pender with Miguel Bravo and Brendan McSorley’s stallion HHS Flonix. By Aganix Du Seigneur, he is out of Echo Peach who, by Clover Echo, is a full-sister to the five-star winning mare Echo Beach.

Olympic event rider Clare Abbott partnered her own mare Mt Luxaan (Cazaan x Lux Z) into the runner-up spot on a score of 106.33. Third place on a score of 101 went to Victoria Loane’s Amaretto T (Apardi x Quick Star), ridden by Kelly Taggart.

Suzanne Posnett rode her own mare Lonestar (Big Star x Lupicor) into fourth on a score of 100.33. Fifth went to Sheikh Samir Mirdad’s mare Mirdads Saifff Alrahmaaan (Golden Hawk x VDL Harley), ridden by Michael Cave to a score of 100. Lucy Gibson finished in sixth place on 97 with Lady Catoki (Catoki - Ars Vivendi).

As the show drew to a close, it came as no surprise that Mikey Pender was named leading male rider, which was the perfect send off for the talented rider as he heads to the Global Champions Tour Show in Valkenswaard, Holland this week.