ENTRIES opened on New Year’s Eve for the Ward Union Hunt Antler Challenge, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 10th, at Primrose Park, Kilsallaghan.

The venue was used for the first time last February, but we are assured that there will be a new course for this season’s renewal, the three-mile track encompassing natural hedges, ditches, woodland, rivers and drains.

As previously, there will be an Open Antler Challenge (with a first prize of €3,000) for those aged 17 and over and a Junior Antler Challenge for riders aged 13 to 16. New for this year are Open and Junior gate-jumping competitions. The cost of entry for the Antler Challenge is €150 (Open) and €50 (Junior) with a charge of €50 for the gate-jumping.

North of Ireland racehorse trainer, veterinary surgeon and South Tyrone joint-master Andy Oliver left the Moore family’s farm last year laden down with prizes.

He was the overall winner of the Open challenge, where he was also the first heavyweight rider home, the first veteran ridden home and the first home on a half-bred hunter. His wife, Saffron, was the first lady rider home in sixth.