IRELAND’S Bertram Allen was just pipped for first place by Swiss rider Steve Guerdat in this afternoon’s lucrative Grand Prix at La Baule, France.

Riding Billy Twomey’s Romanov, the Wexford rider’s blistering jump-off clear in 44.91 seconds looked good enough for victory, being a minute sharper than his nearest challenger after nine of the ten qualifiers had jumped. However, World number three rider Guerdat on Nino Des Buissonnets snatched it at the death with a faultless round in 44.04.

Allen, whose clear round on Molly Malone on Friday helped Ireland to third place in the Nations’ Cup at the French venue, had already won three competitions over the weekend – one with Romanov and two classes with Wild Thing L.

The Grand Prix runner-up spot added another 40,000 euro to the 19-year-old’s haul from the meeting. Guerdat took the winner’s prize pot of 66,000 euro.