THERE was a change in format to the traditional hunt chase at this year’s Dublin Horse Show. From the traditional four-member team of hunt members, teams of three made up of two adult members of mounted games riders and all-female hunt anchor riders. If the reception from the spectators in the stands in the RDS Main Arena is anything to go by, the new format, sponsored by Diageo, got their full endorsement.

It had all the essential ingredients: speed, excitement, dexterity, drama and of course, recovery. Commentators Tom Busteed and Conor O’Leary had the spectators in full voice and after the first round they did not need much more encouragement. It also honoured the spirit of the competition that Thady Ryan envisaged when he introduced the first event at the Dublin Horse Show over 50 years ago.

Hunt teams are traditionally made up from members of over 100 packs in Ireland, while the mounted games members are part of an association of over 350 members ranging from under 17 years of age, and from 17 years to about 40 years who compete not alone nationally but internationally, and are past winners of World and European titles. Peter McCarty on the Co Kildare team was European Champion in 2018.

The excitement began with Waterford’s Craig and Katie O’Connor, and anchor-rider Linda Murphy taking on Dublin’s Orla Monague, Sorcha Woods and Annemieke Plass. Waterford emerged as worthy winners.

They were followed by Wicklow’s Padraig Moran, Killian Creed and Galway Blazers’ follower Maeve Carty versus Laois’ Mark Devitt, Michael Hughes and Westmeath Foxhounds’ Rosemary Wentges. Laois just edged out Wicklow.

Then Meath’s Philip Weldon, Ross Crowe and Alice Copithorne took on Cork’s Aishling O’Leary, Loaise O’Leary and Killinick’s Ann Lambert with Cork coming out on top. To finish the first round, Wexford’s Ciaron O’Leary, Aodain O’Leary and Ballymacad’s Kate Hyland really challenged Kildare’s Jake O’Connor, Peter McCarthy and Alicia Devlin Byrne, but it was a clear win for Kildare.

In the semi-finals, Waterford won against Laois, while Kildare beat Dublin.

Showdown

The scene was set for the final between Kildare and Waterford with the more difficult games of swords and flags for the mounted games riders. It opened with the two O’Connor cousins competing against each other.

However, European champion Peter McCarthy for the Kildare team followed with a cracking round. Linda Murphy for Waterford on her smashing dun pony flew around but her team chase opponent Alicia Devlin Byrne was on her five-time RDS Connemara pony Champion Blackwood Fernando who also won in Balmoral and is a former Clifden puissance winner. Despite being 22, he is as good as ever and edged out the Waterford team to win a thrilling final. RDS President Bernie Brennan presented the Kildares’ Peter McCarthy, Jake O’Connor and Alicia Devlin Byrne with the Thady Ryan Trophy.