Bertram Allen Continues Winning Ways during WEF Seven

Bertram Allen and Lafayette van Overis. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – February 21, 2020 – Ireland’s Bertram Allen continued a successful debut season at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL with a victory in the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5* riding Lafayette van Overis on Friday, February 21.

Friday’s one-round, featured event built by course designer Santiago Varela (ESP) saw 67 riders compete for the win, but none could best Allen and the foot speed of his nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Tauber van het Kapelhof), owned by Ballywalter Stables.

Stopping the clock at 63.61 seconds, Allen and Lafayette van Overis, a horse he got the ride on in August of 2019, handily won with almost two seconds to spare.

“He’s incredibly straight forward,” said Allen, who took over the ride on Lafayette van Overis from Great Britain’s Joe Clee. “I feel like he truly understands what we are trying to do out there. Ever since I got him, he has been impressing me. He wasn’t bought to be the best horse in the world or to jump 5* grand prix, but every question he’s asked he does it with ease and is very competitive.”

Schatt and Iwasaki Are Victorious in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

The $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby took place on Friday morning during week seven of the Winter Equestrian Festival. The derby was held on “Pony Island,” where Rings 11 and 12 were combined to create a larger field. The class had a junior/amateur section, as well as a professional division, and offered $10,000 in prize money to both. There were 38 junior/amateur riders and 34 professionals to complete the first round with 12 riders coming back for the handy round in each section.

Havens Schatt aboard Highlander captured the victory in the professional division, and Augusta Iwasaki rode Sambuca to the top spot in the junior/amateur section.

“Going into the handy, since he is a very big horse, I was curious to see if I could really do the inside turns,” Schatt explained. “Actually, going to the first jump, I was like ‘Am I going to turn inside or am I not?’ But when I decided to try it; he did that one so well and the others amazing.”

Taking top honors in the junior/amateur section was Augusta Iwasaki riding Sambuca.

“I thought it was a super fun course. I had a great time on both of my horses,” Iwasaki commented.

Iwasaki catch rode the 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Lambada Van Berkenbrobeck x Viola) for her friend Ava Peck. The pair got the highest handy round score in the junior/amateur section of the class.

For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

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