Young Irish ace Bertram Allen wins Hong Kong hearts ahead of Longines Speed Challenge defence
The 21-year-old is hoping to win again at AsiaWorld-Expo despite experienced opposition
The Hong Kong public likes its horses to go fast and so it’s little wonder they’ve taken young Irish star Bertram Allen to heart.
At last year’s edition of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, the now-21-year-old Allen blitzed his way to victory in the Longines Speed Challenge and there’s sure to be a buzz about AsiaWorld-Expo when the 2017 edition of the event is staged on Saturday night.
“Delighted to be back – it’s exactly how I remember it,” said Allen. “Very good memories so hopefully we can do it again. It’s a bit of a special class – it’s so fast – and there’s a new course this year and I haven’t ridden it so it will be interesting. I’ve the same horse [Quiet Easy] and we’re feeling good. Normally I’m fast and my horse is too.”
To grab the spotlight from the likes of the number-one ranked show jumper in the world, Germany’s Daniel Deusser, members of France’s all-conquering team from the Rio Olympics, and the John Whitaker – adding to the legend at 61 – takes some doing.
But the Wexford-born Allen is one to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground, even as the acclaim builds around him.
Ranked 18th in the world, Allen arrived in Hong Kong fresh from being named Ireland’s leading show jumper for the third year running – and from a second placing at the Grand Prix event at Bordeaux.