Puissance first-timer shares spoils

IT’S been a landmark year for Irish rider Mikey Pender and Brit William Whitaker, and they kept themselves firmly in the spotlight when they divided the spoils in a thrilling Cayenne puissance.

Mikey, riding Paul van den Bosch’s Hearton Du Bois Halleux, blasted into the frame with a victory in this year’s Hickstead Derby, while William has had a great year jumping the Global Champions Tour circuit with new US employer Rushy Marsh Farms.

Both made a return to British soil to jump at Olympia, and these two combinations exuded precision and class as they aced the full five rounds, finishing up with a flawless trip over the 7ft 2in (2.18m) wall.

Incredibly, it was William’s ride RMF Charly’s first puissance and he was foot-perfect in every heat. Brought to the show as a fourth horse just for this class, his stylishness and scope indicated a deep pool of talent in the Yorkshireman’s string.

“You don’t jump