THE Ward Union Hunt Antler Challenge is being revised this year and is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 5th at the new venue of Primrose Park, Greenogue, Kilsallaghan by kind permission of Joey and Emma Moore.

Joey, who is a member of the Wards and a whipper-in with the Fingal Harriers, features in a promotional Facebook video for the Challenge which also ‘stars’ former top jockey turned show jumper Paul Carberry. The latter heads up the design team for the course which is styled on an old-fashioned point-to-point track, jumping over natural hedges and ditches.

“It’s a fantastic course,” said Carberry on dismounting after the trial run. “It’s getting into shape now ‘though there’s a few more things still to be done but it looks great. Hopefully we’ll be back here on the 5th of February, all going well and finding a good horse for it. It will take a bit of jumping but there should be a lot of craic.

Ward member, former Fingal joint-Master and point-to-point handler Willie Harvey fronts up the video with his grey hunter Banner. Willie, who competed in the Challenge in the past, has plenty of respect for the new course. “I won’t be one of those belting off in front,” he told the Irish Horse World. “I’ll let the young fellows do that so that by the time I get to each hedge there should be a big hole in it!”

While there is an entry fee of €150 for the Challenge, spaces are filling up fast – as they are for the Junior Antler Challenge (€50 a head) which is set to take place before the main event. There will be a number of categories contested in the senior Challenge including first lady rider home and first Ward Union Hunt member to cross the finish line.

Over the last number of years, the Ward Union Hunt Club has been involved in organising and assisting a number of charity runs in the hunting area. Members and subscribers also assist at the Tattersalls Ireland July Show in association with Rolestown Show, collecting much-needed funds for St Francis Hospice. At the hunt’s recent children’s meet in Tattersalls, the July Show Committee presented a cheque for €25,000 to the Hospice.