TWENTY-year-old Harry Allen finished second in his first ever five-star 1.60m Grand Prix in Oslo, Norway.

Allen was riding Ballywalter Farm’s 10-year-old Nabab de Reve stallion Guinness, also making his first start at the level. The pair were among seven clears from the 30 than started in the first round.

Against the clock, the talented stallion produced another classy round, breaking the beam in 32.92 seconds to go into the lead. In the end, it was just slower than Brazilian winner Marlon Zanotelli with Obora’s Chloe in 31.73. Allen earned €18,400 for the runner-up spot. Another young rider, Britain’s Harry Charles finished third with Borsato (0/0 33.82).

Allen also recorded a runner-up finish in Sunday’s 1.55m jump-off class with Carlo 454, a 10-year-old Conthargos gelding he began riding in September. The combination were one of just three double clears in a time of 34.64 seconds, to take second and just over €8,000.

Victory went to Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Diathago in 33.37. The Irish Sport Horse Boleybawn Aasha was seventh with Norwegian young rider Mira Oliva Høidal. Bred by Ronan Rothwell, the nine-year-old mare is by Dignified van’t Zorgvliet, out of Arina (Crown Z), who has six progeny recorded on IHR Online.

World Cup opener

The opening leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Western European League lived up to expectations, with young Dutchman Kevin Jochems winning through in an edge-of-the-seat jump-off.

Riding the 12-year-old stallion Turbo Z, the 26-year-old snatched pole position and maximum points towards the series final in Leipzig, Germany next April with the coolest of cool rounds when last to go in the seven-horse second-round decider.

His time of 44.77 was a second and a half faster than Belgian runner-up Pieter Clemens with Hulde G (0/0 46.09), while Sweden’s Jens Fredricson slotted into third with Markan Cosmopolit (0/0 46.72).

Ireland were represented by Harry Allen (Guinness), David Simpson (Foudre F) and Alexander Butler (Chilli B). Butler was also riding Carmel Ryan’s Irish-bred stallion Compelling Z (Chellano Z x Carthago Z) having taken over from Shane Breen.