NIAMH McEvoy proved once again why she is one of the brightest lights on the Irish show jumping circuit when she secured both first and second places in the 1.50m Plusvital Premier Grand Prix at Cavan Equestrian last Sunday.

Winner of the first round of the series in Barnadown with Rock Warrior, and the second round aboard Olympic VL FVD in Mullingar, this is the third time this year that McEvoy has dominated in the Premier Series; this time riding the Belgian-bred Flora du Mesnil to the win, and BP Rocket Man into the runner-up spot.

Speaking to The Irish Field after her win, McEvoy said: “We’re delighted with how both horses went, they both jumped great. We’ve only had her (Flora du Mesnil) for a very short time. Last Wednesday was our first show together at Garranemore. She’s a fantastic mare, really genuine and competitive. She’s a real winner.

“She’s quite big and has a massive canter. I think I made up the time when I left one out to the last fence with her.

"I was faster at the beginning of the track with Rocket Man, but left one out to the final fence with her. We will bring Flora to the Premier in Maryville next, and then hopefully it will be the Europeans with Rocket Man the week after that.

“As usual, it was a great show in Cavan. We are very lucky to have a centre like it. The footing was really good and the weather, of course, made it all the better.”

McEvoy is in the driving seat on the leaderboard, holding four of the top six places; she is out in front with Olympic GL FVD on 17 points, and joint-second on BP Rocket Man (14 points). The top two after the leg at Tattersalls will compete in the five-star classes at the Dublin Horse Show.

A total of 36 combinations lined out for the competition which was worth €15,000. Some 12 of the starters produced a clear first round.

McEvoy was pathfinder riding Richard Kirby’s Ballypatrick-bred eight-year-old gelding BP Rocketman (Stakkato Gold x Quidam Junior). A superb clear second round in a fast time of 44.63 really put it up to the remaining 11.

Next to go, Lt Raphael Lee and the Minister For Defence’s Kilfenora (Kec Maximum Joe x Aldatus Z), bred by Anna Kennedy, had two fences down for eight faults. Jason Foley was next aboard the Belgian-bred Casia Z, owned by Chedington Equestrian. Just one error cost them four faults in 46.32.

Jason’s brother Max, riding Freestone Farm’s eight-year-old Sumas Knockout (Tyson x Vdl Arkansas), had two down for eight faults. Aidan Killeen and Prime Equipment Ltd’s Inlaws Orinoco (Harlequin Du Carel x Oklund) then added their name to the list of four-faulters in 46.59.

Fifth into the ring, Ethen Ahearne riding Dermot Walsh’s LVS Goldrush H (Stakkato Gold x Stakkato), bred by Heritage Bloodstock Ltd, produced the second double clear round but failed to come close to McEvoy’s time, stopping the clock at 46.76 for eventual sixth place.

Kilkenny’s Molly Hughes Bravo and her family’s home-bred HHS Tokyo (Z Seven Ascot x Catoki) then also managed to leave the poles in place in a slightly faster 45.34 for fifth place.

McEvoy was next in with the latest addition to the Ballypatrick string, the 10-year-old mare Flora Du Mesnil. By the son of Darco, Copin Van De Broy, she is out of Joce Du Mesnil, by Echogene Lat. Confident from the off, McEvoy once again produced a foot-perfect round, managing to slice 0.41 off her own time to go into the lead.

McEvoy’s stablemate Harry Wood then attempted to catch her riding Max O’Reilly Hyland’s BP Limitless (Elvis Ter Putte x Laughton’s Flight), bred by Austin Broderick, but eight faults in 47.07 saw them out of the running.

Mikey Pender is never one to be underestimated and sure enough he beat McEvoy on time, guiding the Bravo/Hughes-owned and bred HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky x Acorado) across the finish in the fastest time of the day (42.26), but with four faults for eventual seventh.

Cathal Daniels and Cappog Tomy (Camiro De Haar Z x S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe), bred by Tommy Reilly, gave an impressive account of themselves, coming home double clear in 45.26 to claim fourth place. Last to go, Susan Fitzpatrick rode her own German-bred Valisco PS to a second clear round breaking the beams in 44.72 which saw them take third place.

The next round of the series takes place on July 6th in Maryville.