THE Killinick Harriers have had a remarkable season. They won the hunt chase league back in July and then went on to win the championships at the Dublin Horse Show, for the third time in a row. Finishing off the season in style, the team of Johnny Roche, Benny Walsh, Jenny Roche and James Rath clocked up another win at the National Ploughing Championships last week.

The hunt chase season has traditionally ended with a standalone competition at the Ploughing Championships, but for the first time it was counted as part of next year’s league.

With league points in mind, the competition drew hunt clubs from all over the country, including Donegal, Longford and Wexford - 10 in all competed.

Ground conditions were testing, but the hosts, the Laois Hunt, had set up a galloping track. There was one difficult turn to a set of barrels but most teams coped well in the preliminary rounds.

In the quarter finals, there was disappointment for the Kildare Black team. In the opening round they had beaten the Scar Hunt, who made it through as the fastest losers. Drawn against them again, an unfortunate handover meant that the Kildare’s would not progress to the semi-finals.

The Longford Harriers beat the Ballinagores and the Wicklows edged out the Wexfords to secure their places in the semi-finals and then it was the Donegal Harriers versus the Killinicks.

A thrilling round to watch, but the Killinick’s fluid hand-overs and expertly ridden rounds meant that they took the win and were through to the semis.

FAST AND FURIOUS

On to the semi-finals and, after a less than ideal start to the competition, the Scars were now back on an even keel.

A foot-perfect round saw them progress to the final after knocking out the Longfords. Next up were the teams from Wicklow and Killinick. The Wicklow team held nothing back, but they just weren’t quick enough to catch the Killinicks.There was plenty of excitement surrounding the final as there was a prize fund of €1,000 for the winners.

Before commentator Dickie Power, who is a hunting correspondent for The Irish Field, had a chance to gather himself the starter let off the first two riders in the final.

Louise Walsh for the Scars and Johnny Roche for the Killinicks were stride for stride the whole way around. A good hand-over from the Scars would be essential and it was all Gary Murphy needed to keep the Scars in the hunt.

However, on the final stretch heading back for the hand-over, the Killinick’s second rider, Benny Walshe really opened up, giving the Killinicks an advantage as Jenny Roche then took another impeccable hand-over.

Eddie Leonard for the Scar Hunt had work to do, but he managed to hold the distance between the two teams. The Scar’s final rider, Tome Reville was under enormous pressure to make up ground and when James Rath took another perfect hand-over there was no stopping the Killincks. They cruised home to take the win for the sixth year in a row.