On This Day – April 8th 2017 – Bertram Allen and Hector help Valkenswaard United to Global Champions League win in Mexico

Three years ago today, Wexford’s Bertram Allen helped Valkenswaard United to a brilliant win in the opening Global Champions League contest of the 2017 season in Mexico City. Allen and his Italian team mate Alberto Zorzi finished the two round contest on an eight fault total, to take the trophy by a single penalty.

Bertram Allen and Hector van d’Abdijhoeve (Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

Allen and the Noel Delahunty-owned stallion Hector van d’Abdijhoeve jumped clear in the opening round of the Global Champions League two days earlier and lowered a single fence in the second round decider on the final night. Italian Zorzi and Cornetto K matched the score of Allen and Hector to leave Valkenswaard United on eight faults. The St Tropes Pirates team of Simon Delestre (FRA) & Jérome Guery (BEL) finished as runners-up on 9 faults, while the Chantilly Pegasus pairing of Martin Fuchs and Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) took third place on 12.

The top 25 combinations from the Mexican Global Champions League went forward to the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix later that evening. Bertram Allen and the 10-year-old Hector van d’Abdijhoeve produced a perfect clear first round to make it through to the jump-off. They were first of six combinations to go against the clock where they finished with four faults in 39.07 to take fifth place at the finish and just over €19,000.

The winners prize of €105,000 went to Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and Chaplin after they went clear in 37.07, pushing Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels and Gancia de Muze (37.58) into runner-up spot.
—