THE newly-formed and nearly all-Irish Miami Celtics team kick-started their 2018 Global Champions League season in style when taking victory in the first leg of the GCL in Mexico City last week.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and the under-25 rider, Galway’s Michael Duffy started for the team on this occasion and two stunning clear rounds on the second day when the pressure was on saw the pairing come out on top.

In total, 19 teams went to post and, in a dramatic fashion, the pair snatched victory from overnight leaders, the Paris Panthers team of Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet.

Run in reverse order of merit from Friday’s opening round and carrying their penalties with them, the teams were under huge pressure going into the final. The new format saw the two team riders jump one after another to deliver the team score immediately, making it easier for the public to follow.

The Irish duo, who were lying in sixth place after Friday’s opening round maintained their excellent show of form with both Duffy, aboard Graham and Ben Dalton’s 12-year-old stallion EFS Top Contender (Laurison x Continue) and Lynch, with Rushy Marsh Farm’s 10-year-old gelding RMF Cadeau De Muze (Nabab de Reve x Almeo), delivering foot-perfect clear rounds to finish on a final score of six faults.

When things fell apart for the teams that followed, Miami Celtic gradually climbed to the top of the leaderboard. Leading on a score of zero after the first day, Paris Panthers finished in second place, on a final score of 12 in a time of 118.29.

The Valkenswaard United team of Alberto Zorzi, Marcus Ehning and Bertram Allen also finished on a team total of 12, but in a slower time of 122.29 for third.

Allen finished second individually with Gin Chin van het Lindenhof, behind Swiss winner Pius Schwizer (Balou Rubin R), while Cork’s Shane Sweetnam was fourth with Main Road.

Speaking afterwards, Duffy said: “When I got the call a few months ago to be asked to be on a team was a dream come true. So it was a great start and to come here and win on the first event is a great start for the season — let’s hope we can stay there.

“Teaming up with Denis Lynch was absolutely brilliant because me being a little green at this level I made a silly mistake yesterday, I pushed too much into the double, and luckily enough he gave me a team talking and a slap on the wrist and it was a good education for me and made a massive difference.”

The 23-year-old continued: “This is what we all get out of bed in the morning for – this is the level everyone aspires to be at and these are the best shows in the world so for me it’s a dream come true and what better stage to show yourself on.”