Young Irish rider Bertram Allen sped to victory in the first round of the show jumping Longines FEI World Cup Final when he and the grey mare Molly Malone defeated riders from 18 other nations in Las Vegas with an unbeatable time of 65.45 seconds.
The one-round speed class saw the Wexford teenager drawn 32nd to jump of 41 of the world’s best riders and horses, but he effortlessly shaved a second off the time of joint leaders Jur Vrieling from the Netherlands and France’s Patrice Delaveau.
None of the following nine riders looked fast enough to catch Allen, until veteran US rider Rich Fellers on Irish Sport Horse Flexible came within half a second of overtaking the 19-year-old.
However, Allen’s time remained unequalled at the end of the competition, and he now goes forward into Saturday morning’s two-round second leg bearing the leader’s laurels.
Then only Sunday’s third competition can prevent the teenager becoming the youngest World Cup Final winner in 30 years, and the first Irish rider ever to take the trophy.
