WEXFORD’s Bertram Allen recorded a fourth place finish in the five-star Longines FEI World Cup qualifier in Verona, Italy, last Sunday, when victory went to Germany’s Daniel Deusser.

Riding the brilliant 14-year-old mare Molly Malone, Allen (23), the winner of this class in 2014, was one of 14 combinations who made it through to the jump-off and galloped into the lead when sixth to go, in a time of 38.60.

Allen was immediately demoted by Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs who shaved 0.2 of a second off the time, and then Belgium’s Niels Brynseels and his incredibly quick mare Gancia de Muze reset the target once more when blazing through the timers in 37.03 seconds.

With just three to go it seemed that just couldn’t be bettered, but then Deusser and Calisto Blue went better again, breaking the beam in a time of 36.83 when last to jump. Deusser took home a winner’s prize of €47,500 while Allen collected €14,000 for his fourth-place finish. The result gives Allen his first points on the World Cup league table and he now sits in 13th, while Denis Lynch is in 20th.

Allen’s other good result came in Sunday’s Accumulator when he took the runner-up place with GK Casper, to earn €5,000. Victory went to Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and Chiara 222.

DUFFY VICTORY

Mayo’s Michael G Duffy (21) claimed the top prize in Friday’s 1.50m speed competition. He was drawn to jump near the end of the competition with the Carl Hanley-owned nine-year-old gelding Chappo Chey, and made full advantage when posting what proved the winning clear in 62.27 seconds.

Co Louth’s Mark McAuley was second in Friday’s 1.55m jump-off class. Riding the nine-year-old Vivaldi du Theil, McAuley earned €10,000 when jumping a clear round in a time of 36.83 seconds. Victory went to Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and H&M Christian K (0/0 35.95).