Wellington, Florida, USA – Friday, February 7, 2020 – Irish rider Bertram Allen (IRL) showcased the foot speed of his mount Lafayette van Overis on their way to a win in the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI 5* on Friday, February 7, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida, USA.

Twenty-one horses jumped clear over Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and Andy Christiansen Jr.’s (USA) speed track from a starting field of 53. Allen and the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Tauber van het Kapelhof) posted a time of 59.91 seconds that bested Mexico’s Santiago Lambre (MEX) aboard his own Doloris by less than a second for the top spot. Lambre settled for the runner-up spot in 60.71 seconds.

Bertram Allen (IRL) aboard his third place rider Quiet Easy 4,  representing his other winning ride, Lafayette van Overis, being greeted Richard Schechter, Chairman and CEO of Bainbridge Companies, and ringmaster Steve Rector.

Allen will next point Lafayette van Overis at the CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m CSI 5* on Sunday during the rider’s first time competing at WEF. “We have had a very good start, and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Allen pulled off a bookend podium performance by also finishing third riding Quiet Easy 4 for the Gjelsten Family with a time of 60.78 seconds. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) took fourth on Mattie Hatcher’s Sebastian with a time of 60.80 seconds, while Richard Fellers (USA) capped the top five on Steelbi in 61.46 seconds for owner Kathleen Waldorf.

WEF continues through March 29, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The fifth week of competition runs February 5 through February 9, is sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, and recognized as a CSI 5* and CSI 2* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release from Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. for ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions

Photos: © Sportfot