IN early summer I was invited to take part in ‘The Grand Cross International des Amazones’, a ladies’ side saddle race over hurdles at The Hippodrome de Croan in France. The invitation came from the organiser of the race, the legend that is Antoinette de la Bouillerie who is a member of the Co Wexford Codd racing and hunting family.

Antoinette and her husband Olivier are masters of their own family pack, The Rallye des Grands Loups, that are kennelled at their home Chateau Lathan in Briel in the west of France. She frequently hunts side saddle and buys mainly Irish-bred horses. Recently, Antoinette provided her hunters to Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association chairman Pat Hayes and David Lalor, who were attending the International Masters of Foxhounds AGM in Paris and took in a day’s hunting in France.

Only half-bred horses are allowed to compete in the race and, this year, there were two ladies from Ireland - myself and Susan Oakes - as well as Alexandra Whitcombe from the USA and Katie Featherstone from the UK.

I decided to bring Carlingford Leo, owned by Paddy Hughes. Leo is my horse of a lifetime and has helped me make so many dreams come true. Last year, we jumped around the international classes in Mullingar and Millstreet, as well as being placed second in the Six-Bar at Granard Show.

Epic trip

We loaded Leo, along with three horses belonging to Susan Oakes, onto Mick Molloy’s lorry and headed for Dublin Port. From there, we boarded the Ferry for the 18-hour sailing to Cherbourg. On the boat, we met James Griffin, who was also heading to Croan Racecourse with Roi Mage, who was entered in the feature race - The Grand Cross.

It was a three-hour drive from the port to the racecourse. We arrived and met up with the other riders, as well as the super support crew of Ray and Natalie Monahan. Once the horses were walked and settled into their boxes, we all headed off for dinner in a local restaurant, where I finally got to meet Antoinette de la Bouillerie in person, after months of calls and messages as we organised the trip.

The following morning, we headed to the racecourse to exercise our horses and then to the local café (boulangerie) for breakfast and afterwards walked the course. It was a long wait until our race on the Saturday evening, but it passed quickly as we got to watch some wonderful racing, getting our horses plaited and our gear organised.

Special feeling

It was a very special feeling to put on horse trainer, international event rider and master of the Westmeath Foxhounds Dot Love’s racing colours, as she was such an inspirational lady and a great horsewoman.

At last, we got to the start and Leo was very keen all the way around the mile and a half racing track. He was jumping super for me, and I knew there was still lots of gas in the tank. I knew Katie was going to have a good go in the finishing straight too, but then I saw a lovely forward shot to the last, landing moving, and Leo is so powerful and I knew he would not be caught as I pushed him all the way to the line.

What a feeling, it was hard to believe I won. Coming back into the Parade Ring was such a buzz as they made such a fuss of us. I was presented with an amazing trophy and each of the girls received a beautiful silver plate and the champagne flowed. That night we were invited to a wonderful dinner at the racecourse.

On Sunday, we attended the President’s Lunch at the racecourse before slipping into our riding habits and silk hats to parade before The Grand Cross Race. The crowds were amazed to see us in our traditional hunting attire from our respective countries. It was a bit of a rush to get our horses back to the stables and run back to see Roi Mage win the feature race for the second year in a row. Well done James Griffin.

What a weekend for the Irish.