In another electrifying performance, Bertram Allen and Quiet Easy came close to a repeat of last year’s success when putting in a thrilling last-gasp effort to claim third in today’s Longines Speed Challenge in Hong Kong.

A year ago, on their first appearance at the Asian venue, the pairing had wowed spectators with a dashing last-to-go victory in the event, and today was scripted for a repeat which almost materialised as they went in chase of Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Happiness van T Paradijs.

An early fence down, equating to two time penalties, put the pairing under even more pressure, but the Irish rider had the pedal to to floor to try to compensate and managed to post the fastest time of the event but added a further two penalties in the process.

It was still good enough for third place, with Deusser first and Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer second on Leonard de la Ferme, the Swiss rider going one better than he did a year ago in the event.

Mike Dunne