The London International Horse Show ended in controversial fashion after Irish sensation Bertram Allen was disqualified from the Olympia Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old from Gorey had posted a stunning jump-off time of 30.45 seconds on Quiet Easy to destroy a world-class field.
But drama then reigned behind the scenes amid reports that Allen had been disqualified after blood had apparently been spotted on one of the horse’s flanks, raising a horse welfare issue.
Under international rules, a rider is automatically disqualified if blood is found.
The prize presentation ceremony did not take place until 30 minutes after the class ended, with a capacity 9,000 crowd remaining in their seats, awaiting developments.
Heated discussion raged around the collecting ring, but Britain's Michael Whitaker, riding Viking, was promoted from second place to take the €25,000 top prize, with Germans Ludger Beerbaum and Marcus Ehning second and third, respectively.
Olympia officials were believed to be drafting a statement explaining the sequence of events as Allen, who is one of showjumping’s hottest young properties, began reflecting on matters.
All horses are checked by the steward after they have jumped, and any issues are then reported to the ground jury, who would make a final decision.
Allen, though, was left stunned, as were connections of the horse, an 11-year-old chestnut gelding.
“I am utterly devastated, just speechless,” Allen told www.horseandhound.co.uk.
“I have a fantastic relationship with all of my horses, and their welfare is paramount.
“My foot must have slipped against Quiet Easy’s side as I was riding against the clock. He’s a sensitive horse and it was just a tiny nick.”
Whitaker, meanwhile, gave Allen his winner’s rosette, and said: “Bertram was probably very hard done-by.
“I would have preferred to have won it in the ring, but I suppose rules are rules and everyone has got to abide by them, but I couldn’t see much wrong.”
Allen’s fellow Irish star Cian O’Connor, who also rode in the grand prix, criticised the decision to disqualify Allen.
Writing on his Facebook page, London 2012 individual bronze medallist O’Connor said: “I feel for my team-mate Bertram tonight, who annihilated the opposition to win the grand prix.
“A general consensus among the top riders here is that the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) rule needs to be reviewed regarding mandatory disqualification, and in my view, over-zealous stewarding by one particular steward, compounded by the apathetic actions of the foreign judge and president of the ground jury, led to bringing the sport and this great show into the spotlight for the wrong reasons.”
Earlier on the final night of the show, O’Connor was edged out of top spot by Switzerland’s former world number one Pius Schwizer in a thrilling Holly Speed Stakes.
Just 60 hundredths of a second separated the top four finishers in the one round speed class.
And it was Schwizer who came up trumps, clocking a time of 52.34 seconds on Leonard de la Ferme to edge out Irish 2012 Olympic bronze medallist O’Connor, riding Coco II.
O’Connor went marginally quicker than Dutch challenger Maikel van der Vleuten and Kisby, and it looked as though he might have done enough for victory, but Schwizer had other ideas.
Excitement, though, was maintained to the last of 22 starters when London 2012 British team gold medallist Ben Maher entered the arena aboard Quabble.
Maher, runner-up in Sunday’s Longines FEI World Cup qualifier behind Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano, seriously tested Schizer’s time, but he ultimately had to settle for fourth place in 52.94 seconds.
