Bertram Allen’s Valkenswaard United cut into Hamburg Diamonds’ lead in the Global Champions League by taking the latest round in Berlin today..

Last year’s reigning champions showed they are not ready to surrender their title, and they have now reduced the gap between the top two teams to just eight points with four venues left.

Allen, riding Izzy By Picobello, and team mate Alberto Zorzi on Cornetto K, finished level with Hamburg on four faults over the two days but with a faster time to give them the victory.

“We were clear yesterday, so the pressure was on to keep it up,” said Allen. “I had four faults, but thankfully it was quite fast, so it was just enough to hold onto today.”

Runners-up Hamburg were represented by Eric Lamaze (Chacco Kid) and Jos Verlooy (Igor).

London Knights finished third with clears today from Kent Farrington (Creedance) and Ben Maher (Don Vito).

Mexico Amigos, who finished sixth today, lie in third place overall, 33 points behind the leaders and 25 off second place.

Apart from Bertram Allen, Denis Lynch was the only other Irish rider involved in this GCL round, and having jumped clear for Miami Glory in yesterday’s first stage, had four faults today on RMF Bella Baloubet, leaving his team in ninth place with colleague Scott Brash and Hello Forever also posting four.

Miami Glory lie in eighth place overall with just four rounds left to be contested.

The 12th of 15 rounds takes place next week in London.

Mike Dunne

Global Champions League Standings after round 11 Berlin

(Irish squad members in brackets)

1. Hamburg Diamonds 221
2. Valkenswaard United (Bertram Allen) 213
3. Mexico Amigos 188
4. St. Tropez Pirates 183
5. Doha Fursan Qatar 164
6. Rome Gladiators 163
7. London Knights 160
8. Miami Glory (Cian O’Connor/Denis Lynch) 157.50
9. Shanghai Swans 152
10. Cannes Stars 148
11. Paris Panthers (Darragh Kenny) 142
12. Vienna Eagles 137
13. Chantilly Pegasus 134
14. Madrid In Motion 126
15. Cascais Charms 117
16. Monaco Aces 100
17. Berlin Lions 83
18. Moscow Bears 65.50