THE Allen family from Co Wexford have enjoyed an incredible week on the sporting and business front, with Bertram winning three cars and rising to sixth in the world, younger brother Harry winning two classes in Holland, while father Bert has agreed a multi-million euro deal to sell his share in Slaney Foods

Twenty-year-old show jumper Bertram Allen began the week with an overcrowded parking lot at his yard in Germany, having won no less than three brand new Volkswagen cars at the four-star show in Stockholm. This comes in addition to two cars that he won already this year as shows in The Netherlands and Germany.

Then on Thursday, Allen got the news that he has once again climbed the Longines world rankings, rising to number six and is now just over 60 points behind world number three Penelope Leprevost. Britain’s Scott Brash retains a commanding lead at the top of the standings, holding a 370 point advantage over second placed American rider Kent Farrington.

Co Down’s Conor Swail also made a big move this month. He has jumped six places to number 31, one place behind Tipperary’s Denis Lynch who dropped six places. Darragh Kenny drops five places to 59, while Cian O’Connor has moved up three places to 66. Ireland’s remaining riders in the top 100 are Billy Twomey at number 91 and Shane Sweetnam at 93. Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney is just outside the top 100 in 102nd place, with Mayo’s Cameron Hanley currently in 105th place.

Another member of the Allen family was also celebrating this week, as Bertram’s younger brother Harry Allen scored a double of wins at an international show for pony and young riders in Holland. The 14-year-old first piloted his big brother’s former ride Wild Thing L to victory in the jump-off class at Lichtenvoords, beating off 17 international rivals in the process.

Harry’s second win followed less than 24 hours later, once riding Wild Thing L to victory in a blisteringly fast two-phase contest.

SLANEY SALE

Meanwhile it was also revealed this week, that the two show jumping brothers’ father - veteran businessman Bert Allen, is set to sell his 50% stake in Slaney Foods to Larry Goodman’s ABP.

This week’s Irish Farmers Journal reported that ABP is set to take a 50% stake in Slaney Foods, the parent company of both Slaney Meats and Irish Country Meats (ICM), in what would be a major move within the Irish meat processing industry.

Slaney Foods is a joint venture formed in 2000 between Linden Foods, a northern Irish meat processor, and the Allen family, the original founders of the Slaney company. ABP will acquire the Allen family’s 50% stake in Slaney, creating a new partnership with Linden.

No fee has been disclosed, while the deal is subject to clearance by the competition authority.

Bert Allen and his brothers set up the Slaney business in Bunclody in the late 1960s and were the first to export Irish lamb to France. Slaney’s processing facility in Bunclody is considered one of the best in the industry with some €20 million invested into the site since 2001.

In 2007, Bert Allen sold the Bewleys Hotel Group to Red Cow Inn boss Tom Moran in a deal reported to be worth almost €570 million.