WEXFORD’s Bertram Allen got off to a strong start when taking the win in the speed class at the five-star FEI World Cup show in Helsinki, Finland, last Friday night. Riding the nine year-old grey stallion Dino W, Allen crossed the line clear in 54.29 seconds and took home the winner’s prize of €8,750.

Allen, who was 20th to go from a start-list of 46, saw off the challenge from Eric van der Vleuten and the 13-year-old bay gelding Zigali P S, a horse which began his career in Ireland first under the command of Julieanne Gaffney of JAG Equestrian before being sold to Ger O’Neill. The combination were just fractions off Allen’s time when stopping the clock in 54.97.