Mikey Pender and HHS Catwalk record impressive win in Poland

Ireland's Mikey Pender kicked off FEI Longines Nations Cup weekend with a win in the CSIO5* 1.50m ranking class on board HHS Catwalk in Sopot in Poland.

Pender and the 11-year-old mare got a crucial week for Ireland’s show jumpers off to the perfect start, jumping clear in a lightning-fast time of 65.05 seconds to triumph by over two seconds.

Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano and Crack Balou finished in the runner-up position, with hometown rider Adam Grzegorzewski and Stakata rounding off the podium places.

Pender will represent Ireland in Sunday’s five-star Nations Cup on HHS Calais, joining Jessica Burke and Express Trend, Jack Ryan and BBS McGregor and Michael G Duffy on Clitschko 17 in Michael Blake’s team.

Ireland have enjoyed an excellent Nations Cup campaign in 2023, finishing on podiums in the Middle East and the United States before winning in Rome for the first time in 97 years.

Blake’s team then backed that up with a dominant success in Vancouver just a week later and now face into Europe Division 1 action for the first time this year.

There will be points on offer on Sunday and Ireland will be hopeful of another fine placing as they bid to qualify for the Nations Cup final in Barcelona later in the year.