TYRONE’S Niamh McEvoy came out on top of the four-star KAR Sport Horses 1.55m Grand Prix at Vejer de la Frontera on Sunday, during the fifth week of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour, when riding Olympic GL FVD into first place. A start list of 50 was soon reduced, when all but two combinations faulted over the tricky course first time out. The two who proceeded to jump again were both Irish - namely McEvoy and Billy Twomey on Ace of Hearts Z. Assured of the runner-up spot, Twomey opted to retire from the jump-off, leaving McEvoy to claim victory as the only finisher. Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon and Casalla Blue PS placed fourth in the class, while Dermott Lennon and Millview Cicero were ninth.

The Irish luck continued as Sligo’s Richard Howley won the day’s Small Tour 1.45m Grand Prix with the 14-year-old stallion Caprice d’Elle from a start list of 51, 12 of whom jumped off against the clock. Howley proved best of seven who jumped double clear rounds.