Topping a brilliant Irish display at the opening leg of the Furusiyya Nations Cup league in Lummen, Belgium, Wexford’s 18-year-old show jumping star Bertram Allen won the Longines Grand Prix on Sunday last. With the Kannan 10-year-old mare Molly Molone, Allen had one of only two treble-clears out of a quality start list of 50 to scoop the €50,000 first prize ahead of Jur Vrieling of the Netherlands.

There were 15 first-round clears but only three of those managed to make it into the barrage. First in against the clock, Allen put up a stride-perfect clear in 43.56 seconds to pose a mighty challenge to the following two.

Jerome Guery of Belgium opted not to take up the gauntlet and returned with a time fault in 45.56 to place third. Last in, Vrieling gave it a good try on Flash Dance by Kashmire, but failed by almost half a second to catch the flying Irishman.

This superb victory put the cream on what had been a great outing for the Irish squad of Allen, Mark McAuley, Billy Twomey and Thomas Ryan. All scored individual wins and combined to place a good joint third in a hotly contested Nations Cup.

Thomas Ryan opened with a speed win on the Irish-bred Cruise On Clover. Mark McAuley then won the first Grand Prix qualifier on Par Trois. The second Grand Prix qualifier also went Ireland’s way as Billy Twomey brought out the good mare Tinka’s Serenade to score a convincing victory.

In Friday’s Nations Cup, Allen, McAuley and Twomey all delivered second-round clears to boost Ireland from sixth to overall joint third with Belgium on 12 faults. Thomas Ryan and Caribo had two fours.

The Irish were not seeking points here but will be at La Baule in France next week where Twomey will be joined by Denis Lynch, Cameron Hanley and Cian O’Connor, who had a second in the Grand Prix at Fontainebleau on Quidam’s Cherie last Sunday.