2025 was a bit of a changing of the guard on the national show jumping circuit with younger riders dominating in the majority of the big classes.

Niamh McEvoy in particular seemed to lead a charmed life with victories in six of the seven Plusvital Premier Series competitions, on three different mounts, during the summer. The Ballypatrick-based Northerner began her campaign with a win in the first round in Barnadown aboard Rock Warrior.

Some 60 combinations took on John Doyle’s 1.50m track with just 14 making it through to the jump-off. McEvoy claimed three of the top four prizes. Winning with Max O’Reilly Hyland’s eight-year-old Rock Warrior (Casalla La Silla x Cassi). She also finished third with Keith Ennis’ Olympic GL FVD and fourth aboard BP Rocket Man. Mikey Pender claimed the runner-up spot riding HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky x HHS Acorado).

The second round of the series took place in Mullingar at the start of June. Once again McEvoy came out on top, this time aboard the 11-year-old gelding Olympic GL FVD, owned by Keith Ennis.

A total of 56 starters was reduced to eight for the timed decider. McEvoy once again proved unbeatable, securing her second consecutive Premier Series win in a time of 46.49. Nicholas Butler took second place riding Ladycastle Paco in 46.82, while Susan Fitzpatrick finished third with Valisco PS.

The third leg of the Premier Series took place in Cavan Equestrian Centre, where a field of 36 was reduced to 12 for the decider. McEvoy claimed victory for the third time aboard her new mount, the Belgian-bred Flora du Mesnil, a 10-year-old mare owned by GBBS Int Ltd. She also secured second place riding her Barnadown winner Rock Warrior.

McEvoy and Flora du Mesnil made it two in a row when the duo captured the fourth round in Maryville. Thirty combinations took on the 1.50m track, with just eight making it through to the jump-off. McEvoy was the first to produce a double clear, stopping the clock at 37.44 for the win.

The Premier Series went north to Balmoral for round five, where McEvoy’s winning streak came to a halt. On this occasion, it was the turn of Mikey Pender who claimed the win aboard his own eight-year-old home-bred gelding Madgeslane Louis (Luidam x OBOS Quality). Comdt. Geoff Curran and Hawthorn Hill took the runner-up spot for the Army Equitation School, while Max O’Reilly Hyland partnered Rock Warrior to third place.

Niamh McEvoy won the Small Grand Prix at CSI5* Dublin Horse Show \ Aisling Creative

Tattersalls played host for the sixth round of the series, where, in addition to valuable league points, there were also two places to compete in the international classes at the Dublin Horse Show on offer.

McEvoy got herself back on track with a first-place finish in Tattersalls at the end of July riding the ever-consistent Olympic GL FVD. The pair stopped the clock at 51.70, just ahead of their stablemates Max O’Reilly Hyland and Rock Warrior who finished as runners-up.

The seventh and final round of the Plusvital Premier Series took place in September at the Irish Breeders’ Classic in Barnadown. Once again, the pairing of McEvoy and Olympic GL FVD proved to be a winning one, when they saw off stiff competition in the nine-strong jump-off. The duo were last to go and posted a clear in 37.88 seconds to claim first place in the class, the series and secure the title of National Champion for 2025.

McEvoy and Flora de Mesnil went on to the Dublin Horse Show, where they claimed victory in the Dublin Stakes on the Saturday, the first five-star win of the rider’s career. Seven riders made it through to the jump-off. McEvoy guided the mare to the winning clear in 35.75 seconds. Dutch rider Willem Greve took runner-up spot with Pretty Woman Van’T Paradijs, just ahead of Jason Smith (SUI) in third riding Picobello Van’T Roosakker (37.19).