KILDARE’S Mikey Pender won two Global Champions Tour Grands Prix in 2022 and was aiming to win another at the third leg of the 2023 series in Mexico last weekend. In the end, he had to settle for fifth place with Marion Hughes’ home-bred HHS Fast Forward.

In a thrilling class, Germany’s David Will brought home the glory with My Prins van Dorperheide.

No less than 11 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix winners lined out among the 37 combinations looking for their golden ticket to the GCT Super Grand Prix in Prague at the end of the year. From those, nine booked their place in the timed round.

Pender was second into the arena with the 11-year-old grey gelding HHS Fast Forward (Heritage Fortunus x Cavalier Royale) and the pair had an unfortunate fence on the ground which kept them out of the running for the podium finish, but their quick four fault round in 45.17 seconds saw them secure fifth place and €19,800 in prize money.

Will was fourth to go in the jump-off with My Prins van Dorperhide and was determined to do one better than the previous week’s competition in Miami Beach and leave all fences standing. Setting off at a blistering pace, the pair took the win when they came home clear in 43.16 seconds.

The runner-up spot was filled by Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson with her great mare H&M Indiana. The pair were last to go and left Will covering his eyes but in the end were just fractions slower in a time of 43.57.

Podium pro Laura Kraut (USA) aboard her impressive Baloutinue entered the arena determined to stake their claim on a spot on the podium. Throwing caution to the wind with whistles echoing around the packed stadium, the pair galloped through the finish line not quite able to catch Will, with 1.1 seconds the difference between their times, and she settled for third place.

Slotting into fourth place was Pieter Devos and Mom’s Toupie de la Roque, clear in 46.88.

An ecstatic and emotional David Will said: “My horse made it easy for me today, he jumped unbelievable today in front of this incredible crowd. They were cheering everyone on! The horse already deserved to win last week in Miami, but I made a mistake to the last fence in the jump-off so I am thrilled I made up for it today.”

Win for Lynch

Denis Lynch won the opening class at the venue on Thursday. The Tipperary native raced to victory in the 1.40m two-phase aboard the 11-year-old stallion Cornets Iberio, posting the winning time of 31.45 seconds.

He was over two seconds faster than Spanish runner-up Eduardo Alvarez Aznar with D’Orient Batilly (0/0 33.97), while Switzerland’s Jane Richard slotted into third with Fouego de la Closiere (0/0 34.61).

Shane Breen narrowly missed out on a win in Sunday’s 1.50m Table A at the venue. Riding the 11-year-old mare Haya, he delivered a clear in 67.48 seconds. The Tipperary man was pipped at the post by current world number one, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, who delivered the winning round in a time of 67.43 seconds. Denis Lynch also delivered a foot-perfect round with Cornets Iberio, in a time of 71.56 for seventh place.

GCL team

In what was a celebration of lifestyle, colour, and high-end equestrian competition, the third leg of the 2023 Global Champions League went the way of Riesenbeck International who secured top spot after faultless rounds from U25 rider Philipp Schulze Topphoff on Clemens de la Lande and Christian Kukuk with the fabulous grey stallion Mumbai.

The Paris Panthers duo of Jur Vrieling and Gregory Wathelet slotted into second place as the fastest team on eight faults just ahead of last week’s winners in Miami, Madrid In Motion’s power pair of Maikel van der Vleuten and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar.

Riesenbeck International now hold top spot in the Championship race on 70 points ahead of Madrid In Motion on 67 points and St Tropez Pirates in third on 63.