Irish young guns Michael Pender and Jack Ryan dominated the action at the four-star show in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Kildare’s Mikey Pender (20) and Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan (18) both claimed victories aboard Irish Sport Horses.

2019 was an incredible year for Pender, one which saw him claim the Hickstead Derby, two medals at the young horse world championships, not to mention a string of top international wins – it will be a tough year for him to top.

He has started 2020 all guns blazing winning the Al Shira’aa Derby last Friday on board the Irish Sport Horse HHS Fortune who is owned and bred by Marion Hughes.

Pender produced the fastest of four clear rounds and in the process won the first new car of his show jumping career.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Pender topped this win off with a podium finish the following day (Saturday, 25 January) in the Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix which was part of the Arab League.

Pender was one of 12 riders who made it through to the jump-off after a foot-perfect first round with Miguel Bravo and Marion Hughes’s nine-year-old gelding HHS Calais (ISH) who was bred by Kilkenny’s Ita Brennan.

He took the lead early in the jump-off going clear against the clock in 39.88 seconds which would prove good enough for third place at the finish. Germany’s Christian Ahlmann took the winner’s prize with Solid Gold Z (39.16) while Abdel Said (EGY) finished as runner-up with Arpege du Ru (39.49).

Jack Ryan continued his superb start to the season by claiming a fantastic victory in the SERC u25 class with the Kennedy Bros Sport Horses-owned Irish Sport Horse KBS Major Player who was bred by Peter Rice. Mohamed Omran Ahmed Ali Al Owais (UAE) went clear when first to go in the jump-off with Caravelli, however Ryan finished almost a second faster to take the winner’s prize of €6,350.