Vilamoura, Portugal – October 16, 2021 – Michael Pender (IRL) did not go home empty handed last week while competing during the second week of the 2021 Vilamoura Champions Tour in at the Vilamoura Equestrian Centre. The Irishman teamed up with HHS Catwalk for victory in the €36,100 Jump-Off Challenge CSI 4* last Saturday.
Aboard the 2012 chestnut Irish Sport Horse mare (Cit Cat x Clover Echo), the duo not only powered their way to the jump-off of the 1.45m/1.50m class but also registered the fastest jump-off effort among all the six finalists, claiming top honors in 33.21 seconds.
Victor Bettendorf (LUX) and Atomic de La Roque (Kannan x Adelfos) put on a solid effort, finishing second only due to their jump-off time of 33.60 seconds.
The most traditional name in the sport was represented on the podium too. Donald Whitaker (GBR) secured the third spot on podium, guiding Veneno (Chacco-Blue x Balou du Rouet) towards two penalty-free efforts, the decisive one just seven-hundredths of a second slower than the latter two.
Final Results – €36,100 Jump-Off Challenge CSI 4*
1) Michael Pender (IRL) & HHS Catwalk – 0 / 0 – 33.21
2) Victor Bettendorf (LUX) & Atomic de La Roque – 0 / 0 – 33.6
3) Donald Whitaker (GBR) & Veneno – 0 / 0 – 33.67
Source: Jumper News, no reproduction without permission
Photos: © Vilamoura Equestrian Centre
Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News Ireland
