WEXFORD’s Bertram Allen fronted an unbelievable weekend for Irish riders at the five-star show in Falsterbo, Sweden, winning twice on an all-Irish podium.

Allen’s first win came in last Thursday afternoon’s 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier aboard Izzy By Picobello (Cicero Z x Capriano). The nine-year-old gelding was the fastest of 17 clear rounds, stopping the clock in 72.84 seconds to collect €8,000.

Tipperary’s Thomas Ryan was almost two seconds slower to take the runner-up position with Quite Zero (Quite Capitol x Landgraf I), just ahead of Corkman Shane Sweetnam and Main Road (Heartbeat x Irco Marco).

Allen and Sweetnam had earlier featured in the opening 1.45m speed competition. Allen partnered the eight-year-old gelding Christy Jnr to finish one tenth of a second behind Dutch winner Jur Vrieling with Acascia. Sweetnam took sixth place with the nine-year-old mare Indra van de Oude Heihoef (Casantos x Action-Breaker).

The winning Irish run continued into Friday when Cian O’Connor won the 1.45m Agria Trophy derby qualifier with the Philippe Membrez-owned stallion Copain du Perchet CH (Conteur x Ragazzo). O’Connor guided the 12-year-old to the winning clear in 67.95 seconds, ahead of America’s Alison Robitaille with Serise du Bidou (69.15) and Sweetnam in third with Indra van de Oude Heihoef.

Tippeary’s Denis Lynch had earlier scored a runner-up finish in Friday’s opening 1.45m speed class. Lynch partnered RMF Zecilie to a clear round in 64.41 seconds. Dutch rider Jur Vrieling and Acascia scored their second win in 24 hours when crossing the line in 62.67.

Lynch also scored a third place finish in Saturday’s morning 1.50m Runsten Equestrian Trophy. He partnered RMF Zecilie to a clear round in 68.04 seconds. Ryan finished fifth with Quite Zero (68.69). Dutch rider Jur Vrieling notched up his third with at Falsterbo with Acascia, crossing the line clear in 67.27.

FALSTERBO DERBY

On Saturday, for the second time in 48 hours, Irish riders filled all three podium places at the Swedish Nations Cup show, this time in the Falsterbo Derby, which was once again won by Bertram Allen.

Just four of the 14 starters managed to jump clear in the opening round with three of those wearing green jackets. In the timed round, Allen produced the fastest clear in 49.31 with the eight-year-old gelding Christy Jnr (Indoctro x Clinton I) to take home the winner’s prize of €28,000.

He was followed by Cork’s Shane Sweetnam in second place with Indra van de Oude Heihoef, who also jumped clear but in a time of 50.02. O’Connor slotted into third place for Ireland with another clear aboard Copain du Perchet CH (51.20).

The only non-Irish rider to make it into the second round was Sweden’s Peder Fredricson with H&M Carat Desire. However, the home favourite had to settle for fourth place when knocking a single fence in the jump-off.

Allen, who was left of Rodrigo Pessoa’s Irish team for Friday’s Nations Cup, where they finish third after a three-way jump-off, was best placed of the Irish in the five-star €200,000 Longines Grand Prix. With Izzy By Picobello, he was one of 11 clears in the first round but a single fence down against the clock meant he had to settle for eighth place and €5,000.

Victory went to Swiss rider Steve Guerdat with Hannah after they produced the fastest of six double clear rounds. The Irish Sport Horse stallion Codarco, with America’s Chloe Reid, finished in third place.

The Darco-sired 10-year-old was bred in Co Galway by Thomas O’Brien.