Updated 07.55
IRELAND’S TEENAGE SHOWJUMPING star Bertram Allen has finished third in an exciting finale at the FEI Longines World Cup Final in Las Vegas.
Allen had four faults in his final round on Sunday, allowing Penelope Leprevost of France to beat him to second place by a fraction of a second.
Olympic champion Steve Guerdat of Switzerland was the winner.
“This was a remarkable achievement in a world championship for a 19 year-old,” team manager Robert Splaine said.
Taking this third place was an incredible performance and is great for our sport. Bertram himself is a wonderful ambassador for Ireland.
Allen was bidding to become the first Irish rider to win the World Cup final, eclipsing Trevor Coyle and Jessica Kuerten who finished as runners-up in 1999 and 2006.
The 19-year-old from Wexford got his challenge off to the best possible start on Thursday when he won the opening round on board Molly Malone.
He then had one rail down in his second round on Friday, but couldn’t find the clear round he needed on Sunday to leapfrog Guerdat.
Afterwards, a grounded Allen told Horse And Hound’s Pippa Kyle that his run had gone according to plan.
See the final standings here >
Originally published Sunday 23.00