Ireland’s Bertram Allen is tied for second place after the first round of the third leg of the Longines FEI World Cup jumping final in Las Vegas.
The 19-year-old and his grey mare Molly Malone V had just fence five – a 1.75m wide oxer – down.
Bertram now has five faults, as does France’s Penelope Leprovost on Vagabond De La Pomme. She jumped clear this afternoon, but carried five penalties from the previous two days of competition.
Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, the joint leader, is out in front on zero penalties after a clear with the chestnut mare Albfuehren’s Paille. He has twice finished second in the World Cup final but never won this prestigious competition.
The other joint leader, the USA’s Rich Fellers on the 19-year-old Flexible, had fences 11 and 13 down so he is now on eight faults. He is now in equal sixth with Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands on VDL Groep Verdi Tn NOP, who went clear this afternoon.
Two riders on six faults are tied for fourth: the USA’s Beezie Madden (Simon) and Belgium’s 19-year-old Jos Verlooy (Domino). Both jumped clear today.
Sweden’s Douglas Lindelöw and Casello recorded the first clear today. They now share eighth with Martin Fuchs and PSG Future on 10 faults.
Six riders recorded a clear over Anthony d’Ambrosio’s course this afternoon.
The top 20 riders now return to jump again and Anthony said earlier that the second course would be a similar level of difficulty to the first one. If riders are tied for first place after this, there will be a jump-off for the title.
Check back later for a last update from the World Cup final, full report in H&H next Thursday (23 April).
