Young Irish showjumper Bertram Allen took the limelight during Stockholm’s CSI4* show this weekend (27-29 November) as well as driving home with not just one — but three — brand new cars.
Bertram claimed a double victory at Sweden’s three-day international show aboard Quainton Stud’s chestnut gelding Quiet Easy. His biggest win came in Sunday’s grand prix, where the pair were one of six combinations to qualify for the jump-off.
In the final round, just three riders managed to complete on a double clear. Bertram fended off runners-up Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Aspara by 2.5 seconds.
“The grand prix was big, a true four-star track, and was up-to-height. I was really pleased with how Quiet Easy went, he’s got a lot of blood and is very careful,” Bertram told H&H.
“It was a competitive class with the likes of Meredith up against me. It was certainly a successful weekend. I won two Volkswagen cars for taking both the grand prix and Saturday’s speed class, and then a third for being the show’s leading rider. I was also competing my young seven-year-old, Cheese WZ, and he was well placed over the weekend too.”
Ben Maher and Diva II had to settle for second behind Bertram and Quiet Easy in Saturday’s speed class, the Volkswagen Cup trophy. Along with his winning car, the 20-year-old Irishman pocketed €22,400 (£15,700).
Meanwhile in the Netherlands, the Allen family flag continued to be flown — this time by Bertram’s 14-year-old brother Harry. Clearly following in his older brother’s successful steps, the youngster notched up two consecutive wins in the Children on Horses classes at Lichtenvoorde. He partnered Bertram’s former ride, the Ballywalter Farms-owned mare, Wild Thing L, to both victories.
Fellow Irish rider, Conor Swail, continued a flourishing weekend for his home nation by triumphing in the four-star grand prix in Florida riding the 10-year-old mare Viva Colombia.
