Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

Allen finishes sixth in Global Champions' Tour Final at Qatar

WEXFORD-born Bertram Allen finished sixth tonight (Saturday) in the 2015 final of the Longines Global Champions' Tour at Doha in Qatar, missing out on the jump-off due to four faults carried forward from the first round.

Partnering his long-time mount, Ballywalter Farms's grey mare Molly Malone, the 20 year-old produced a scorching time in the first round, and though dislodging a single pole, was fast enough to qualify for a place in the second round later in the evening.

Up against the cream of world show jumping, Allen pulled out all the stops to deliver a copybook clear on his second attempt, a performance that saw him briefly hold the lead amongst the top 18 qualifiers.

However, with three league leaders battling it out for the 2015 Champions' Tour title, competition was intense and just four combinations made it to the final jump-off, with the Irish rider settling for sixth place overall.

Portugal's Luciana Diniz and the chestnut mare Fit For Fun took tonight's 150,000 euro winner's prize on three clear rounds and also claimed the Champions' Tour title and its 294,500 euro reward.

Allen's prize money tonight was 13,500 euro, but he also took tenth in the final league placings, which earned him a further 19,000 euro.

Ireland's other contender at Doha, Meath-based Cian O'Connor with the nine year-old stallion Good Luck, also had a fence down in the first round but a slower time meant he failed to make the cut for the second round by three places.

Irish show jumping manager Robert Splaine said afterwards from Doha: "It was great to see two Irish combinations, Bertram and Cian, representing us so well in this Global Champions' Tour Final. 
"Bertram Allen and Molly Malone again showed that they can jump with the best. A clear round in the second round for a sixth place finish up against the world's top show jumping talent in a global competition of this magnitude is a major achievement."