Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

Show Jumping - First-Timer Allen's Double Clear Helps Ireland to
Fifth Place at Linz Nations'Cup

SEVENTEEN year-old Bertram Allen from Wexford scored a remarkable double clear round on his senior Nations' Cup debut at Linz in Austria Friday, helping the Irish team to jump three places up the leaderboard to a fifth-place finish in the eleven nation contest.

A further zero score in the second round by 26 year-old Anthony Condon on the Irish Sport Horse Special Lux also improved Ireland's overall position, while Army rider Capt. Michael Kelly was unlucky to have just the last fence down on his second round, with another Irish Sport Horse, Annestown.

First-timer Allen said afterwards that he felt the pressure of his senior team competition debut influenced him "a bit", but added that "you just have to get on with it".

"Finishing with a double clear was an unbelievable feeling, hard to describe, " he said. "I've only been with Romanov between six to eight weeks, but we seemed to click very quickly. He won the Grand Prix at Magna Racino for me two weeks ago, and was very good here yesterday. I'm delighted with today's result."

Team Ireland's show jumping manager Robert Splaine added: "We finished two fences off the winners, Switzerland, at the end, and that was a huge improvement over our disappointing first round position of eighth place. I was delighted to have the younger riders get back into the ring for a second round, as it's invaluable experience for them at this level.

"Bertram's Allen's double clear was an exceptional achievement for such a young man, and Anthony Condon's second round clear was superb. Michael Kelly having the last fence down on his second round was most unfortunate but once again he showed a remarkable recovery from his first round score.

"Billy Twomey was on the team as senior rider and I sent him out as pathfinder so that he could give the less experienced riders guidance, a role in which he proved excellent."

Ireland completed the Nations' Cup on a total of 25 faults against winners Switzerland, who collected 17 faults. The Nations' Cup at Linz was part of the Europe Division 2 level of the Furusiyya 2013 Nations' Cup series

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