Allen racks up the ribbons

HARRY Allen is one of two Irishmen in the top six FEI Jumping world rankings of U25 riders, along with Mikey Pender, and the Wexford native could improve on his current third place after securing solid results in Lummen last weekend.

On Sunday, Allen and Kazelli VDL (Arezzo VDL x Indoctro) were part of a hefty 11-combination jump-off in the CSI2* 1.45m Table A class at the Belgian event, and they sped to a quick clear round in 40.32 seconds, less than a second shy of local hero Alexander Housen, who took overall honours on the experienced Cayadix Hero Z.

Aleksandra Kierznowska (POL) was second on the 18-year-old mare Badorette, with Allen and his nine-year-old partner finishing third.

Then, on Monday, Allen won the CSIYH seven-year-olds 1.30/1.35m final with Daredevil Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Pronto), when they headed a 17-combination jump-off with a blistering clear in 33.96, more than 1.5 seconds faster than second placed Millie Allen (GBR) riding Roxette.

He was also second with Kazelli VDL in Monday’s CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix after finishing clear in the jump-off less than half a second behind Pieter Devos and Karamba Z de Poteau Z.

Fellow countryman Matt Garrigan placed third in the CSI2* 1.30m class at the event on Friday with Lincoln LB and Aisling Byrne and the Irish Sport Horse gelding Cnoc Rua Chinook (Pacino x Ramiro B) were seventh in the CSI2* 1.30m special two-phase.

Danish win for Shane Carey

LIMERICK-born Shane Carey and the nine-year-old stallion Joker ASK (Zinedine x Ugano Sitte) had an impressive win in Saturday’s 1.50m CSIO3* Big Tour jump-off class at the three-star Danish Nations Cup show in Martofte. An eight-horse jump-off saw Carey produce the fastest of four double clear rounds to take the win.

The only Irishman in the field of 53, Carey and the Stutteri Ask-owned stallion were second last into the arena and recorded the last of eight clear rounds.

That gave them the advantage of being last to go in the jump-off, meaning that Carey knew exactly what was required when the buzzer went. And that was to go clear and faster than the 37.72 seconds posted by the pride of Denmark, Emil Hallundbaek on Chalisco. So that is what he and his nine-year-old partner did, cutting every corner, kicking on wherever possible and galloping home clear in a time of 37.66.

Wellington win for Shane Breen

AS his brother Trevor Breen begins the first steps towards a full recovery from his injuries after a terrible fall, international show jumper Shane Breen recorded a victory on Friday at Wellington Riding in Heckfield, UK.

Riding the appropriately named Be Golden, the Tipperary man eked every millisecond out of every turn in the 1.45m speed class, stopping the clock on 66.47 seconds to edge out Gaspard Maksud (FRA) by just over a fifth of a second.

The nine-year-old by Golden Hawk certainly showed bundles of potential in the Grand Prix qualifier and looks like he could be another fine talent from the Breen conveyor belt.

At the same event, the John McKibbin-bred mare Leestone Mylord Trumps (ISH, Mylord Carthago x Cavalier Royale) and UAE rider Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi won a 1.40m two-phase class.

Dalton delivers at Bonheiden

KILKENNY’S Ivan Dalton was in super form last weekend, taking victory in the CSI2* Grand Prix Table A at Bonheiden in Belgium.

Riding the nine-year-old gelding Plaisire d’Api (For Pleasure x Apple Juice), Dalton finished just over a second ahead of British runner-up Graham Gillespie with Veneno.

The other top 10 Irish result came from Christopher Megahey and Cola Tic Vd Wijngaardhoeve Z (Corico Z x Lord Chin) when they finished 10th in Sunday’s CSI2* Table A 1.40m class.