WARD Union Hunt member Johnny Drake put his organisational skills to use in the GAA world last Saturday as he ran a traditional cross-country chase as a fundraiser for Balyna Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association in Broadford.

The Ward Union-supported chase attracted a starting field of 42 adults and 27 teenagers, who tested themselves and their mounts over multiple farmers’ lands. The course was laid out to allow riders to experience a constant run, but with plenty of space between ditches, hedges, drains and uprights.

When the proceeds from entry fees, sponsorship, a monster raffle and a post-chase auction held in Broadford House were taken into account, over €12,000 was raised for Balyna LGFA. The club’s members expressed their thanks to the riders, landowners, organisers, marshalls, sponsors and their own underage players who sold raffle tickets.

While the fundraiser was in aid of a GAA club, and the raffle did include premium level tickets for the Leinster football final, the auction had a decided rugby and even romantic slant to it. It included two tickets to the Ireland versus Italy match in the Aviva Stadium on St Valentine’s Day, a €100 voucher to the Lemon & Duke Restaurant plus accommodation for six with parking that night at Citybreak Apartments.