REVIVED following a number of years’ absence from the calendar, last Sunday’s Ward Union Hunt Antler Challenge at the new venue of Primrose Park, Greenogue, proved a huge success with over 1,000 vehicles parked in the public area alone.

There was both a Junior and Senior ride and the event attracted title sponsorship from Primeline Logistics in Ashbourne while every fence had individual sponsors. There was a good-sized entry from the North Tipperarys, who held a Challenge themselves in December, and from the South Tyrone Foxhounds whose joint-Master, racehorse trainer Andy Oliver, was first home on his hunter Donovan while his wife, Saffron, was the first lady to finish on Rio.

The event was hosted by Emma Moore and her husband Joey, a member of the Wards and a whipper-in with the Fingal Harriers. The organising committee of eight included Johnny Drake who completed the Challenge in 23rd place on his former eventer, Portphilip Quality. Drake, and who rode another ex-eventer, Arlow, in last year’s Golden Button Challenge in England, said that the plan is to run the Antler Challenge again next year.

“Like the Golden Button, we wouldn’t run every year so that the hedges, etc have time to repair,” added Drake. “It takes a lot of organisation but we were delighted with the entry and with the phenomenal support we had in sponsorship locally and from our members. There were plenty of photographers there on Sunday and Equireel were also present, providing great aerial shots by drone. They will be able to supply videos to all competitors of their rounds.”

Andy Oliver’s Donovan won the prize for the first half-bred horse home while the Treo Eile-sponsored prize for the first thoroughbred home went to the former Ross O’Sullivan-trained Virginia Boy. This seven-year-old Footstepsinthesand gelding, who ran in two bumpers and two point-to-point maidens in 2021, was ridden by his owner since March last year, the North Tipperarys’ Fergus O’Shea.

Present on foot to keep an eye on proceedings were the four Ward Union Hunt joint-Masters Stephen O’Connor and Gerry Reynolds (Tuesday country) plus Brian Russell and David Baker (Fridays).

(See also Picture Desk pages 100-101).