ANOTHER week, another win for 20-year-old show jumper Mikey Pender at the three-star show in Vilamoura, where a host of Irish riders were in top form.

Pender won Friday’s 1.45m ranking class, just beating compatriot Harry Marshall into second place. Pender rode Bravo Hughes’ eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HHS Javas Gucci (Luidam x Cruising), bred by Judy Murphy, to a clear round in a time of 36.04 seconds in the 11-horse jump-off.

Marshall was less than half a second slower aboard the British-bred Kingdom Come in 36.69 seconds.

Tipperary’s Liam O’Meara scored two three-star wins in one day at the Portuguese venue. The first came aboard the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight (HBC Jacomar x Cordoba), who was bred by Baden Powell. In a huge class of 77, the pair were the best of 22 clear rounds in a time of 58.38 seconds to earn €1,000, ahead of British runner-up Laura Renwick and Anvil’s Every Little Helps (0/ 59.85).

O’Meara then won the 1.30m aboard his faithful partner Mr Coolcaum (Coolcaum Hill x Indian Ruler xx). His time of 52.89 saw off 26 other clear rounds to take victory. That combination then finished fourth in Saturday’s 1.35m Accumulator with another clear round in 52.36 seconds.

For the second week in-a-row, Harry Marshall was best of the Irish in Sunday’s 1.50m Grand Prix with Chirokko M. He was one of eight to make it through to the jump-off, where eight faults saw him finish in sixth place. Victory eventually went to Frenchman Mathieu Billot and Quel Filou 13 (0/0 33.49).