WHAT a week it was for Irish riders and horses on the world stage winning gold and silver medals while young Bertram Allen again smashed all the records when making history at Lanaken.

There was glory for Ireland’s Young Riders when they won team gold at the FEI Young Rider Eventing European Championships in Vale Sabroso, Portugal. Sally Corscadden’s team of Jodie O’Keefe, Harold Megahey, Elizabeth Hayden and Joshua Pim were unstoppable and proved their strength across-country to win despite a passing storm (See A55).

At Lanaken last Sunday, Bertram (19) made history by becoming the only rider to ever win back-to-back gold medals when he won the seven-year--old final on Barnike (NRPS). It’s the latest in a series of top drawer wins for the young man which have marked him out as one of the most talented riders in the world.

All eyes were on the Irish-bred Ard Ginger Pop in the final of the five-year-olds and she didn’t disappoint, winning silver in the tough competition, under Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson for new owners Enda Carroll and Carl Hanley. Joanne Fox and Finbar Mulligan’s home-bred Pembrook Milenia (by Diamantde Semilly), led the way from the start to finish a very brave fourth under Stacey Babes in the same class.

Ireland’s Michael Kearins won the five-year-old consolation class on Emymolga (KWPN) while Thomas O’Brien and HectorVan d’Abdijhoeve finished second in the seven-year-old consolation class. (See A54 for Lanaken report).