IRISH riders stood top of the podium on two occasions at the five-star Basel Horse Show in Switzerland last weekend, where Wexford’s Bertram Allen ended the show as leading rider.

Allen got off the mark in Friday’s 1.45m Table A when storming to victory with the 11-year-old GK Casper in a time of 55.89 seconds to collect €6,628, ahead of Italy’s speed merchant Emanuele Gaudiano and Quinn van de Heffinck.

He secured the runner-up place in the 1.50m Accumulator on the same day, this time riding the 11-year-old gelding Izzy by Picobello. Allen was one of 12 riders to secure the top score of 75 points, but was pipped into second place by Frenchman Kevin Staut.

Next up was the turn of his brilliant grey mare Molly Malone in the 1.55m Grand Prix on Friday night and the combination were one of 14 clears in the first round, and were joined by both Billy Twomey (Kimba Flamenco) and Denis Lynch (The Sinner) in the jump-off.

Eight of those managed to keep a clean sheet second time out and Allen broke the beam with nothing to add in a time of 37.86 second to earn €12,355. Belgium’s in form Niels Bruynseels galloped to victory in a time of 36.81 seconds with Delux van T&L, ahead of Dutchman Marc Houtzager with Sterrehof’s Calimero.

twomey win

Billy Twomey rose to the occasion in Saturday’s Golden Drum of Basel 1.50m jump-off class at the venue with the Sue Davies-owned Lady Lou, a 10-year-old mare.

Three of the seven combinations who made it into the jump-off were Irish, and the Corkman’s clear against the clock in 44.08 seconds saw him take the winner’s prize of €16,600. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch came closest to catching Twomey when taking second place with Dito in 45.43.

Allen added more points to the leading rider scoreboard when taking fifth with GK Casper.

FEI WORLD CUP

Spectators were treated to a superb moment when home-grown hero, Martin Fuchs, stormed to victory in the 10th leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup 2018/2019 Western European League.

This was the 10th anniversary of the fixture staged in the medieval Swiss town, but the first time for the venue at St Jakobshalle to host a leg of the series. And the young man who scooped individual silver at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games made it all the more memorable when steering his faithful grey gelding Clooney to a last-to-go win in a nail-biting three-horse jump-off against the clock.

“It’s amazing! So many people came here today, lots of my friends and my family, so to win at home in front of them is always so special – this was a great day for me and my amazing horse Clooney!” 26-year-old Fuchs said afterwards.

The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager had to settle for runner-up spot for the second time with Sterrehof’s Calimero, while Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Apart slotted into third on a day when a first-round clear proved very difficult to achieve.