Michael Pender (IRL) and Casanova van Overis Z won the €25,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3* today during the 2019 Vilamoura Atlantic Tour at the Vilamoura Equestrian Centre in Quarteira, Faro, Portugal.

The Irishman and the 11-year-old black Zangersheide gelding (Caper van Erpekom – Eau de Parfum van Overis) topped forty-four other combinations in the 1.45m speed by posting the fastest clear performance, stopping the timers in 59.14 seconds.

Raphael Goehrs (FRA) and Victorio des Frotards (Barbarian x Prince Ig’Or) were very close to the eventual winners, finishing second only thirteen-hundredths of a second slower than the winners.

Phillip Spivey (GBR) and Smirnov (Romanov x Kannan) completed the podium with no penalties and a time of 59.96 seconds.

Michael Pender (IRL) and Casanova van Overis Z during the awards ceremony