Ireland’s Bertram Allen and GK Casper claim runner-up finish in Bordeaux’s five-star Land Rover Grand Prix

  • 10 February 2019, 15:26

Wexford’s Bertram Allen has added to a superb weekend for Irish Show Jumping, by taking runner-up spot in today’s (Sunday) €120,000 Land Rover Grand Prix at the five-star French World Cup show in Bordeaux.

Bertram Allen and GK Casper

A perfect clear first round saw Allen and the 11-year-old gelding GK Casper make it through to a nine-horse jump-off. A brilliant effort against the clock saw them take the lead as third last to jump, crossing the line clear in 36.11 seconds. They were overtaken however by French rider Felicie Bertrand and Sultane des Ibis who produced a daring gallop to the last to stop the clock in 35.88 and receive a standing ovation from the home fans. Simon Delestre (FRA) was last to go with Chesall Zimequest and a clear in 36.61 saw them finish third. Bertrand collected just short of €40,000 for what was her first ever five-star Grand Prix victory, while Allen, who scored a win in the World Cup in Bordeaux in 2015 with Romanov, pocketed €24,000 for his runner-up finish.

The result comes on what has been an excellent weekend for Irish riders, with the highlight being a win for Derry’s Jordan Coyle and Eristov in the Mexican leg of the Longines FEI World Cup. Louth’s Mark McAuley recorded a win on Saturday in Bordeaux while Clare’s Eoin McMahon also scored a victory in The Netherlands on Friday. In the early hours of Sunday morning, Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney secured a podium finish in the five-star Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida with The Irish Sport Horse Rocksy Music.

 

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