Show Jumping victories for Allen and Moloney, Ireland finishes seventh in Eventing Championship

EIGHTEEN year-old Wexford native Bertram Allen tonight (Sunday) triumphed in the five-star Príncipe de Asturias jump-off competition in Gijon, Spain, aboard Ballywalter Farms’s grey mare Molly Malone V.

A huge 18 horse jump-off from a starting field of 56 saw the Irish teenager challenged by some of the world’s top riders, but his time of 44.60 proved unbeatable in what was a qualifier for Monday’s Grand Prix.

Taking home 18,800 euro for his win, Allen will also add the trophy awarded to the best Young Rider in the class.

Ireland’s show jumping manager Robert Splaine said from the Spanish arena tonight: “This is another major achievement for this talented young man.”

In the US tonight, Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney was runner-up in the FEI World Cup Grand Prix aboard the Irish Sport Horse Slieveanorra, with Tipperary’s Kevin Babington claiming fourth place on another Irish Sport Horse, Mark Q. The trophy went to the USA’s Kent Farrington and Zafira.

On Saturday night Moloney took victory in the Longines Cup at the Hampton Classic horse show, with Co. Tyrone’s Ronan McGuigan finishing third on Capall Zidane.

Thirty-one year-old Moloney, riding Carrabis Z at New York’s four-star show jumping venue, picked up 10,000 dollars for his first place, and recorded the only double clear round of the three combinations who made the jump off.

Carrabis Z is a ten year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion Moloney has been riding since the middle of 2012. “We took a bit of time giving him experience to be competitive at this level. He was third in this class last year, so he’s improving,” said Moloney.

Ronan McGuigan was unlucky to have a fence down in the final round, but collected 6,000 dollars for his place.

The Irish rider, now based in Far Hills, New Jersey, went fast enough to win, but Capall Zidane barely caught one rail. “I wasn’t happy to have four faults, but when I get home to my daughter, Zara, it won’t matter,” said McGuigan, who’s a new father.

Meanwhile at the European Eventing Championships in Malmo Sweden, the Irish team, which had been dogged by withdrawals just before the competition, finished a creditable seventh of ten nations, with three riders in the top 35 individually from a starting field of 61.

Top finisher of the Irish contingent was Carlow’s Sam Watson, who placed 21st on Horseware Bushman, while Clare Abbott with Euro Prince and Jim Newsam on Magennis – both making their championship debuts – finished 29th and 32nd respectively.

The championships were won by Germany, with Sweden second and France third. Germany’s Michael Jung is the new individual European eventing champion. He is the first rider in history to hold Olympic, World and European titles simultaneously.

At the World Driving Championships in Slovakia, Ireland’s leading competitor Barry Capstick, who had been in second place after the dressage phase, was hospitalised after a tip-up at the water in Saturday’s marathon phase and unable to complete the competition. The remaining two team members, Annika Rohrssen and Folke Rohrssen, continued in the championships, but with only two counting scores Ireland finished 19th overall. Capstick was later discharged from hospital after treatment to his injured leg. Both his horses were unhurt in the accident.