NIAMH McEvoy made her Longines Global Champions Tour debut a successful one in Shanghai last weekend, when she won the five-star 1.45m speed class with her new ride, Helen Enright’s Julius. From 28 starters, 12 posted clear rounds and, before McEvoy entered the arena, Denis Lynch already made his way onto the leader board for Ireland. Riding Chicago, he jumped clear in 67.81, a time which was good enough for eventual ninth.

Two horses later, however, McEvoy set a target of 63.87 with the 12-year-old son of Mylord Carthago, and none of the remaining five starters could catch her. German riders occupied the rest of the top-five placings, with Sophie Hinners coming closest to McEvoy having stopped the clock on 64.20 riding Iron Dames Kaleni Jo.

Speaking after her win, McEvoy said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the horses in Shanghai! Julius is a new addition to my string, and this was our first show together. He’s a fantastic, modern horse, and he really showed his talent this week. I’m very excited for the future with Julius, I think he’s a very exciting horse.”

She continued: “Olympic had a great round in the 1.60m first round of the teams, helping the Mexico Amigos place 11th. It was an incredible experience to make my GCT debut in Shanghai, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season with the Mexico Amigos.”

The Longines Global Champions Tour of Shanghai was the third of 15 legs in this year’s series and, in Friday’s team competition, McEvoy rode Olympic ‘GL’ ‘FVD’ to four faults in the first round for the Mexico Amigos. Lynch rode Conterno-Blue PS to a similar result for New York Empire, before incurring eight faults in the second round on board Chicago. His team finished ninth, of the 17 which competed.

Unfortunately, both McEvoy and Lynch retired in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Shanghai, but Cian O’Connor lies fifth on the current league table having picked up valuable points on the first two legs.