Allen has won the thrilling and dramatic speed class in the d’Ornano Stadium, the first WEG Jumping competition that contributes to the subsequent individual and team rankings.
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Betram smiling around his victory lap[/caption]
Despite setting the target of 77.01sec early on during this morning’s first session, the 19 year old Irish talent was no match for the former Olympic, European Champions and other greatest show jumpers on the globe that were set on beating the time he put on the board with Molly Malone.
French Patrice Delaveau (photo) and his stallion Orient Express HDC came close while being cheerd on by home crowd finishing in 77.18, but this wasn’t quite good enough for pole position and the home rider had to settle for second.
“The first day is really important and hard. After thinking about this championships for months it's a relief that we finally got started.", said Delaveau.
Belgian supporters went wild when Gregory Wathelet took the third place in the speedclass by passing the finishline in 77.33 seconds aboard the nine-year-old bay stallion Conrad De Hus.
The just recovered Beezie Madden shows why she is one of America's best. With Cortes C she fell short of Allen’s time by only 0.33 of a second taking fourth place. Rolf Goran Bengtsson took fifth place on Casall Ask, with France’s leading lady Penelope Leprevost taking sixth riding Flora De Mariposa.
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Schwizer taking the alternative route at fence number 5[/caption]
Best clear round of the day award clearly goes to Pius Schwizer. Coming towards the Normany wall his horse Toulago did not seem to keen on jumping it and the pair took an alternative route over the scenery to circle back and ride home clear afterall.
Top 5 results First Jumping Competition
Bertram Allen (IRL)/ Molly Malone V – 77.01
Patrice Delaveau (FRA)/ Orient Express HDC – 77.18
Gregory Wathelet (BEL)/ Conrad De Hus – 77.33
Beezie Madden (USA)/ Cortes C – 77.34
Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE)/ Casall Ask – 77.70
