To mark the 80th birthday of popular Co Meath horseman Hugh Leonard, the Ward Union Hunt masters and committee commissioned portrait photographer Sinead Ni Riain from Thurles in Co Tipperary to capture the occasion with the Ward Union hounds.

Leonard has had a remarkable career as a horseman, having hunted 71 successive seasons with the Ward Union pack. The image of him with the Ward Union hounds is one of many Ni Riain has on display at Tattersalls International Horse Trials this weekend.

As an amateur jockey, Leonard won numerous point-to-points, as well as the Peter Simple Chase at Fairyhouse, the Mullacurry Hunt Chase and the Champion Hunter Chase at Navan and also finished runner-up in the La Touche in Punchestown.

The Meath man played polo from 1948 to 1970 and represented Ireland, winning the Holden White Trophy against England at Cowdray. He was one of the first people to bring polo ponies from Argentina to Ireland in 1964.

As a show rider, Leonard produced many show winners and rode regularly at the RDS for the most successful owner at the time, Nat Galway Greer. For many years he has been in demand as a show judge and serves as senior steward at the RDS during horse show week. He has supplied made hunters to followers of many packs around the country.

However one of the most unusual events he took part in and one that he is particularly proud of, is the time he represented Trinity College against Oxford and Cambridge in a downhill skiing race. This he did despite never attending Trinity College. It was a case of being “in the right place at the right time”, according to the octogenarian.