COOLMORE Showjumping showed further support to the sector when coming on board to sponsor the 1.50m Premier Series this year, alongside Showjumping Ireland. With a minimum prize fund of €15,000 at each of the five legs, it was the most sought after league for the higher level, while the overall win was crowed Irish national champion.

The honours eventually fell to two-time five-star Grand Prix winner Mikey Pender who finished on 23 points, the same as Niamh McEvoy, however his higher placing in the final meant he took the honours.

Thrilling finale

The title was all still to play for going in to the final, with McEvoy and Templepatrick Limmerick on top of the leaderboard after their win in Tattersalls on 23 points. Pender had gone into the final round with HHS Los Angeles in joint second place on 18 points with Tim MacDonagh and Hollypark Galloway.

However, with McEvoy failing to make the jump-off and MacDonagh and Hollypark Galloway retiring, Pender’s hope of the titles became wide open as he booked his place against the clock. However, to take the title, Pender had to ensure that he finished within the top five to catch McEvoy.

In the end, he did just enough to finish fifth with Marion Hughes’ eight-year-old mare and win the biggest title in Irish show jumping for the first time in his career.

League

The 2021 champion, Kevin Gallagher and BP Hybernia won the first round in Portmore at the beginning of May. Cian O’Connor and C Vier 2, a horse that went on to help Ireland qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, finished as runners-up, while Tim MacDonagh was third.

Mikey Pender then got his campaign off to a good start when he partnered HHS Los Angeles to the win of the second round in Barnadown. Tipperary-based American rider Charlotte Jacobs rode Edocenta into second place, and McEvoy took third with Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick.

Tim MacDonagh, who eventually finished in third place in the series, won the third round in Balmoral aboard Hollypark Galloway. The pair had already collected eight points at this stage from placings in the first two rounds. Pender took second place, while Lt James Whyte and Hawthorn Hill got their first points on the board in third.

McEvoy too had earned some 13 points in the first two rounds and managed to add another 10 when she won the fourth round at a very wet Tattersalls in July. Young riders Lee Carey (Luxity) and Jason Foley (Cnoc Rua Chinook) finished in second and third places.

Dermott Lennon and L’Esprit Hero Z dominated at the final round in Mullingar, but having only earned one point earlier in the season finished on a total score of 11. Clem McMahon and TJM Amour Fou took the runner-up spot, while Cian O’Connor and Taj Mahal were third.

While Pender already earned his international spot in Dublin through his international results, McEvoy and MacDonagh both qualified to ride at the five-star event through the series.