Allen leads home Irish one-two in A Coruna CSI5*

Pacino Amiro impresses, with Twomey second on Chat Botte ED

Bertram Allen pictured riding the Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro during the FEI World Championships Herning 2022. Credit: Helen Cruden

Irish eyes were smiling in A Coruna yesterday evening as Bertram Allen led home a five-star one-two for the boys in green on the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Allen and Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro, owned by Aiden McGrory, left a field of top-class combinations in their wake as they secured the 1.60m ranking class victory ahead of what promises to be a busy period for the pair.

Nations Cup combination Billy Twomey and Chat Botte ED, owned by the late, great, Sue Davies, filled the runner-up slot ahead of world number one Henrick von Eckermann and his star King Edward in what was a superb class for the Irish.

One of 2022’s highest earners, Pacino Amiro was imperious, stopping the clock at 64.20 seconds jumping clear, with Twomey over a second behind in 65.41. There was an even bigger gap to von Eckermann, who finished in 66.99 seconds.

The result will be welcome for Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Director Michael Blake, with two of his Nations Cup combinations hitting form ahead of the upcoming legs in Hickstead and Dublin.

It comes off the back of an impressive round from Max Wachman and Quintini, one of last year’s Aga Khan-winning combinations, jumping superbly to help Ireland’s Young Rider team dominate when winning gold at the FEI European Championships in Gorla Minore yesterday.