Bertram Allen yesterday said he believes the fact he won Ireland’s single show jumping slot in the Olympics must have a significant bearing when it comes to selecting who will actually line out in the Games. “It’s great to have won the spot. The past 15 months, that’s what I was working hard towards. Myself and Denis [Lynch] were the only two pushing hard. It’s going to help my chances of getting to the Olympics... definitely,” said the 20-year-old, who competes in the five-star show this weekend at ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. Allen’s main rivals for the Olympics at this stage are Lynch (All Star 5) — who only missed taking a second Olympic spot for Ireland when a determined drive ran out of steam in Qatar last weekend — Greg Broderick (MHS Going Global), and Cian O’Connor (Good Luck). Allen, however, rejected the suggestion he was only one third of the way in his quest for Olympic glory, having won the spot — the other two-thirds being winning selection and winning a medal — saying that was an erroneous message being promulgated by others. “I think that’s what some people are pushing and putting out there, but with any other federation it’s whoever wins the spot goes. Molly is 12 now and in her prime and she has been the best Irish horse at the last two championships, the World Equestrian Games [7th, two places ahead of Lynch] and last year’s European Championships [16th, one ahead of Lynch],” said the Wexford native, adding defiantly that he could convince Splaine that he and Molly have what it takes to win the place ahead of Lynch, Broderick, and O’Connor. He also gave a definite “no” when asked if Molly had gone off the boil a little in recent times.
