Bertram Allen wins the Big Grand Prix, riding his wonderful grey, Dino W
Press release – With a triumph in today’s GP on Dino W, Bertram Allen, finishes off week two here at the Tour, with a solid win and will now continue his season in Doha. For him the Tour has been a great start to the season with four victories in the Big Classes and dozens of rosettes from the Young Horse Classes. Friday he was the winner of the Big Tour D once again, riding Dino. He won the Big Tour C, was second in the Small GP and last week he took first, all riding High Valley.
After the prize giving ceremony, he told us that he was extremely satisfied with his participation here at the Sunshine Tour and would be delighted to keep it in his event calendar. Unfortunately his season is very tightly planned and he has to fly off to Doha straight away to compete. Santiago Varela, was the designer of the GP course today, Betram commented that Varela had done wonderful job and he considers him to be one of the best showjumping course builders in the world.
Without doubt the GP course today was challenging and showcased some amazing jumping rounds. From a field of 50 horses, 8 got into the jump off which was very fast and exciting. Bertram stopped the clock in a very fast 43.46 sec with the Czech rider Emma Augier de Moussac riding Diva, flying round in 44,43 sec and into second place. In this truly international field, Alix Ragot from France, riding Thais de Pegase, claimed third place in just 44.55 sec. Norwegian rider Marie Longem with Algorhythem, was fourth and another Irish rider Alex Duffy with WCE Cruco took fifth.
In the Big Tour C, Longines Ranking class at 1,45 m; British riders took the top two places, Harriet Nuttall won, with Galway Bay Jed in 68.05 sec and one second slower, Jake Saywell with Havina Van de Roshoeve took second.There was an Irish third place with Billy Twomey on Kimba Flamenco, and the Belgian riders Gregory Wathelet with MJT Nevados, and Jos Verlooy with Gaston Van T Steentje, completed the podium.
In the Big Tour B, the Irish were once again top of the field, with Greg Broderick on Daify winning and Bertram Allen taking second on Christy JNR. The Belgian rider Ugo Barritella on Quasi Modo Z took third.
In the Big Tour A2, Portuguese rider Joao Pereira on Nelson du Biolay, Boy-Adrian Van Gelderen with Cadouch Z for Belgium and French rider Regis Bouguennec with Vitale De St Ladre, took the top placings.
In the Big Tour A1 the British rider Alison Barton with Billy Anna, Greg Broderick, this time riding Alberta Mist and Boy-Adrian Van Gelderen, this time riding Elmira were top of the field.
In the last of the Ranking classes today, the Medium Tour GP, there was a Portuguese top two after a competitive 12 horse jump off. Marina Frutuoso rode an amazingly fast and accurate round on Cantano, in 36.54 sec just beating Duarte Romao who finished in 36.62 sec riding Utopie D’Bonneville. Spanish rider Armando Trapote riding Miss Bubbles, took third place in just 36.66 sec, a mere breath behind Duarte. British rider Kayleigh Watts with Winde and Torben Köhlbrandt for Germany with Aretino 13 took the other two places.
Derek McCoppin riding Whiterock Lucky Lady was the Irish winner of Medium Tour B, in second was Swedish rider Jennifer Jonsson with Qlara and the Spanish rider Jose Antonio García with Ernesto was third.
In Medium Tour A another Swedish rider Sonia Hungerbuhler, was successful this time winning on Balumba Z. Inma Roquet from Spain was second riding Insignia del Maset and the French rider Alice Trehoust with Irco was third.
British rider Jodie Hall on Colette, Swedish rider Emma Romell on Count Down and Shiekh Samir Mirdad with Mirdads LPM were the winners of the Small Tour classes held today.
On Tuesday jumping will continue with the Young Horse Classes.
Source: press release
