WEXFORD’s Bertram Allen (21) added to his impressive record last Sunday when he delivered a world-class performance with Molly Malone to take third place in the €400,000 five-star Saut Hermès Grand Prix at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Bertram kept a level head and was one of only three riders that delivered faultless rounds.

Without a doubt, course designer Frank Rothenberger set a challenging track, which saw 13 combinations retire in the first round, and accounted for one elimination. From a start list of 47, Allen was 11th to go and delivered the first clear with Molly Malone.

France’s Penelope Leprevost delivered the long awaited second clear with the stallion Vagabond de la Pomme, guaranteeing what turned out to be a nail-biting jump-off. The final clear was delivered by the last combination to jump, Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and the bay mare California.

First to go in the jump-off, Allen proved to be the fastest when he clocked 39.20 seconds, but four faults at the penultimate fence cost him dearly.

Next in, Leprevost delivered the first double clear in 41.44 to take the lead. Excitement mounted as Edwina and California then shaved .08 of a second off the target while keeping the poles standing, to claim victory and over €132,000 for her efforts. Leprevost took home €80,000 for second place while Bertram Allen collected €60,000 for finishing third on the podium.

Allen also took third place in the Accumulator riding Izzy By Picobello.

He finished on a maximum of 65 points with the nine-year-old gelding in a time of 43.96.

Victory stayed on home soil as French rider Julien Epaillard riding Quatrin de la Roque LM lodged the winning time of (42.82), while another Frenchman, Kevin Staut, took the runner-up spot aboard Elky van het Indihof HDC (43.28).

CSI U25

Last Friday, Eoin McMahon and Baloukira finished in sixth place in the CSI U25-A when they maintained a clean sheet in 39.12 seconds. The combination were one of only six clears in the 1.40m two-phase. Winner of the class was Jessie Drea and Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars.

On Saturday, McMahon moved up the placings when piloting Baloukira to a double clear in 40.88 for fourth in the CSIU25-A, ahead of Drea and Mullaghdrin Touch the Stars.

In the Under 25’s Team competition at the Grand Palais, Conor Drain (Audi’s Faults Free) and Eoin McMahon (Baloukira) finished in fourth place.