Irish eyes were smiling in Sopot on Thursday evening as Mikey Pender kicked off FEI Longines Nations Cup weekend with a win in the CSIO5* 1.50m ranking class on board HHS Catwalk (ISH). Kildare’s Pender, on board the Bravo Hughes Ltd.-owned 11-year-old mare, got a crucial week for Ireland’s senior show jumpers off to the perfect start with a thrilling win in the Polish venue. Pender topped the podium, jumping clear in a lightning-fast time of 65.05 seconds, putting the field to the sword by over two seconds. Italian speedster Emanuele Gaudiano finished in the runner-up position on board Crack Balou, clocking a time of 67.31 seconds for his clear round, with hometown rider Adam Grzegorzewski completing the podium on Stakata in a time of 68.09 seconds. Pender will represent his country in Sunday’s five-star Nations Cup on board another Hughes Bravo Ltd. Horse, HHS Calais (ISH), joining Jessica Burke […]
