BERTRAM Allen and Molly Malone produced one of their career best rounds of jumping under huge pressure to secure victory for Valkenswaard United in the final leg of the 2017 Global Champions League at the magnificent Al Shaqab arena in Doha, Qatar.

Although coming up just short of defending their overall league title, Allen and his teammate Alberto Zorzi (Italy) both produced double clear rounds and were delighted with their performances, which meant Valkenswaard United took the overall runner-up position on the final podium.

At the press conference afterwards, Allen said: “We took each show one by one. We knew we had to start strong and achieved that. But we didn’t keep going as strong as we should have during the summer – we were a little too far behind coming here.

“We knew our only chance to get back up was to win, and we didn’t even know if that was going to enough! We did that, but in the end the Diamonds took it. It’s been a brilliant friendly rivalry and it’s enjoyable for us to be part of it. We’ve had plenty of ups and downs but at least we finished on a really great note.”

Allen rode Molly Malone in both rounds of the competition and the fantastic Kannan-sired 13-year-old mare jumped her heart out for the Wexford man.

A total of 18 teams lined out for the league this year, which visited 15 cities around the world, and in the end it came down to a battle between the Hamburg Diamonds and Valkenswaard United in Doha.

The Hamburg Diamonds team of Eric Lamaze (Canada) and Harrie Smolders (The Netherlands) just needed to finish eighth or better to claim this year’s title, but a nine-fault total in Thursday’s first round had left them with an uphill challenge from 11th position, if they were to beat United, who held all the cards ahead of Saturday’s final.

After finishing with nine faults on Thursday, Lamaze had a point to prove in the final round and he produced the round of his life with Fine Lady 5, with an absolute flier to the last, to post a vital clear, which moved the squad up to seventh after the first riders had completed.

Valkenswaard United’s Alberto Zorzi and the brilliant mare Fair Light Van’t Heike kept his side on a zero score and in a fighting position as their clear moved them into the lead while leading contenders the Paris Panthers and Mexico Amigos each added four faults.

Both second riders from Hamburg Diamonds and Valkenswaard United required clears – the latter to remain top of the podium, the former to keep clawing up the leader board and just a time-fault could have dropped them out of title contention.

Harrie Smolders and Don VHP Z, a leading combination of 2017 with a 70% clear round strike rate in this were Hamburg Diamond’s trump card. There were tense moments when he tapped a pole but eventually soared across the finish with just a fraction of a second to spare to seal the championship.

Allen also had to jump a clear round with Molly Malone and with her ears pricked, she bounced around the amazing arena and produced a brilliant clear to secure the fourth win of the season for Valkenswaard United and the overall runner-up position.

The other riders on their team also contributing to the overall placing were Marcus Ehning, Janika Sprunger and Sanne Thijssen.

Hamburg Diamonds topped the podium with a total of 312 points and amassed a whopping €2.2 million prize money over the 15 legs. Allen’s team were just behind with 308 points and €1.6 million. The Mexico Amigos team finished in third place overall.

The prize money is shared between team members depending on how many rounds they jumped.

2018 PLAY-OFFS

Speaking about his lucrative competition, which is only in its second year, co-found of the GCL, Jan Tops, said: “As a series, you wish and dream to have a scenario like this - the change between the leaders, and the battles. It was so close between the Diamonds and United - at the end of the day this is what every series in every sport wants. That is what I am really proud of.

“I think and I feel that every year will be stronger and stronger. Next year strategy and tactics will come into play more and a great final in Doha, before the playoffs which will bring extra excitement as well.”

The play-offs have been announced for the 2018 season with an unprecedented €10 million in prize money. Taking place in Prague, Czech Republic, from December 13-16th, it will be the first ever indoor event in the Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League calendar.

The introduction of the play-offs in 2018 will see teams battle through the quarter final, semi-final and final stages with the winning team taking home €3 million.