Bertram Allen riding Hector Van D’abdijhoeve during the first qualifying jumping competition of the Longines FEI European Championships Gothenburg. Photo Christophe Bricot
Bertram Allen has withdrawn from the Longines FEI European Championships ahead of Friday evening’s team final, leaving Ireland with a team of three as they move forward to defend their podium position.
Following a fall from his mount Hector van d’Abdijoeve,during Thursday’s team competition round 1, the pair were eliminated on course but allowed to return for the team competition round 2. On Friday, Allen wrote via his Facebook page: “In Hector’s best interest I have decided not to compete tonight, but I can promise you that we will be back soon. Luckily we still have three strong riders on the Irish team for the Europeans, so I believe we can still win a medal. Good luck to the team tonight! I will be helping from the sidelines!”
The Irish team of Cian O’Connor and Good Luck, Denis Lynch and All Star 5, and Shane Sweetnam with Chaqui Z currently sit in 3rd place behind leaders Sweden and Switzerland going into the team competition round 2, which will decide FEI European Championship team medals. The team final begins at 2:30pm EST and can be viewed via subscription at feitv.org.