Sport

Bertram Allen must settle for runner-up position at Chantilly

Irish team of Michael G. Duffy, Jack Dodd, Captain Geoff Curran and Marion Hughes finished seventh in the FEI Nations’ in Portugal

Bertram Allen was in action at Chantilly in France. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Margie McLoone
Sat May 28 2016 - 16:40

Irish show jumping riders are again competing in the USA and throughout Europe this weekend where the main focus of attention is on the five-star action in Rome and Chantilly.

Ireland wasn't represented in the Furusiyya FEI Nations' Cup at the Italian venue where Britain, recording back-to-back victories, won for the 11th time in the history of the competition in Rome which dates back to 1926. The British squad comprised John Whitaker (Ornellaia), Ben Maher (Tic Tac), Jessica Mendoza (Spirit T) and Michael Whitaker (Cassionato).

In the earlier 1.45m speed class, Ireland’s Billy Twomey, riding Joe Flynn’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion Ardcolum Duke (by Gypsy Duke), finished second (56.96secs) behind Carlos Lopez of Colombia who was on board the eight-year-old mare Ultramarine (54.28).

In a similar class at Chantilly, the opening competition of the five-star programme, Bertram Allen with Quainton Stud's 12-year-old gelding Quiet Easy (69.04) also had to settle for the runner-up position behind another Colombian, Daniel Bluman riding the Dutch Warmblood mare Believe (67.76).

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The Irish team of Michael G. Duffy (Felix XXVIII), Jack Dodd (Wrangler II), Captain Geoff Curran (Ringwood Glen) and Marion Hughes (Can Ya Makan) finished seventh in the FEI Nations’ in Portugal which was won by Spain on four faults ahead of the host country and Britain who shared second place on 13 faults.

At the underage competitions in Opglabbeek, Belgium, the Irish team of Jack Ryan (Sixmile Waterblaze), Sean Monaghan (Ballyowen Maybell Molly), Kate Derwin (Vales Blue Melody) and Ciaran Nallon (Dibidoe) placed third behind France and Great Britain in the pony Nations’ Cup.

Great Britain won the Junior Nations’ Cup where the Irish team of Patrick Hickey (Quandurina), Christopher Connell (BVS Echo Island), Cormac Foley (Ballylynch Wizard) and Michael Pender (Sheikh It) finished fourth.

Next week, the Irish Olympic eventing squad will be in action at the Tattersalls international horse trials in Co Meath. This weekend, in Co Kildare, potential eventing, and pentathlon, stars of the future are competing in the Irish Pony Club national minimus championships.

The competition, which is confined to riders under 12 on January 1st, comprises three phases. The ride phase begins this morning at 9.30 at Punchestown racecourse. Tomorrow morning, competitors will undertake the swim phase at The Curragh pool before returning to Punchestown for the afternoon’s run phase. A total of 397 combinations have been entered for the event which covers individual and team competitions.