IRISH horses and riders made their journey to Canada for the 2024 Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary (Wednesday, September 4th until Sunday, September 8th) worthwhile, when they claimed multiple podium places, ribbons and a substantial share of the large prize fund.

Saturday’s BMO Nations Cup saw seven teams do battle for the top prize. Michael Blake’s team of Daniel Coyle (Incredible), Mikey Pender (HHS Calais (ISH), Denis Lynch (Vistogrand) and Cian O’Connor (Fancy De Kergane) won the title in 2023 for the first time in 22 years, but just failed to retain it, finishing in a creditable second place this time.

Coyle and Incredible were first in for Ireland and incurred an unfortunate eight faults. Pender and HHS Calais (ISH) were next in and they jumped a flawless round to finish clear. Lynch and Vistogrand were next for Ireland and finished on four faults. O’Connor and Fancy De Kergane, in the anchor position, jumped a clear round, putting Ireland in second place at the halfway stage with four faults, just three behind Germany.

Commencing round two, Coyle knocked two different poles to again finish on eight faults. Pender and his mount kept cool under pressure, managing to jump clear again.

Lynch was on top form and delivered a clear round, putting Ireland into a narrow lead. A clear round from O’Connor would have meant victory for the Irish, but an unfortunate four faults at the water left the team on eight.

Last to go for Germany, Jana Wargers on Dorette, held her nerve to jump clear for a second time and claim victory on five faults, while Britain finished third with 10 faults.

Ireland’s highlight was undoubtedly the double clear round from Mikey Pender and the Ita Brennan-bred Irish Sport Horse, HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x MHS OBOS Cruise x OBOS Quality).

Afterwards, Horse Sport Ireland High Performance show jumping director Michael Blake said: “It was in our hands, but that’s show jumping – it was tough out there and it was really the finest of margins between winning and finishing second.

“The lads jumped great, Mikey with a double clear and some excellent performances from the others to keep us in contention. Ultimately, we’ve finished second when we wanted to win, but the level of consistency from all our riders this season truly is incredible and I’m very proud of them.”

Michael Pender and HHS Cornetta won the 1.50m ATCO Cup on day two of the Spruce Meadows Masters, Calgary / Spruce Meadows Media

Rolex Grand Slam

Sunday saw Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and the 17-year-old stallion VDL Cartello secure a runner-up finish in the €2 million CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex - part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

An impressive list of 38 world-class combinations started the class, each hoping to win this coveted title. Only three of these managed to keep all the fences intact in the first two rounds, to get through to the third-round jump-off.

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs was first to go against the clock with Leone Jei, setting a super time of 40.22 seconds, although incurring four faults. Kenny was in next and, while hoping for a steady clear, he collected four jumping faults and two for time (43.84). Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM were last of the three and crossed the line with eight faults, leaving Fuchs the winner, with Kenny second and Deusser third.

Ribbons

Kildare’s Pender and Hughes Horse Stud’s nine-year-old mare HHS Cornetta (Cornet Obolensky x HHS Acorado (ISH) x Acorado) got the ball rolling, when they won the 1.50m ATCO Cup last Thursday.

From 35 starters, 11 combinations went through to the jump-off, where Pender’s time of 38.11 seconds could not be bettered. Home favourite Amy Millar (CAN) and Christiano placed second (38.46), with Donald Whitaker (GBR) and Millfield Colette were third (38.69).

Friday saw Co Down’s Conor Swail ride the nine-year-old mare One Edition (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Kannan) to win the Paramount Resources Cup 1.45m class. From 28 starters, just six made it into the jump-off and only four of them jumped clear for a second time. Swail rode a fast and careful round to finish in 45.28, nearly two seconds ahead of runner-up Bretton Chad (CAN) on board Grandeur WP (47.13).

Later in the day, the 1.60m Tourmaline Oil Cup saw 33 on the start list, but only two managed to jump clear within the allocated time – France’s Kevin Staut on Beau De Laubry Z and Meath’s Cian O’Connor on the 10-year-old stallion Fermoy. Staut jumped a clear second round to win the class (44.51), while O’Connor incurred eight faults second time out (46.51) to place second.

It wasn’t just Irish riders who made their mark at Spruce Meadows, Irish horses were on form too. The ATCO Electric Six-Bar class saw a joint win going to Ireland’s David O’Brien on Ibera V/D Hagenhorst and EIC Cooley Jump The Q (ISH) (Pacino out of Jump The Q (ISH) by O.B.O.S. Quality 004), bred by Pam Walshe, ridden by Austria’s Max Kuhner.

Both pairs put on an amazing performance, jumping without penalty over four jump-off rounds and clearing a final fence, which stood a huge 1.95m (6’4”).