THE opening race of the Corinthian Challenge Series takes place this Sunday at the Curragh.

Training has intensified for all participants in advance of the big day and anticipation is at an all-time high.

The Corinthian Challenge is a three-race series and a vital annual fundraising activity for Irish Injured Jockeys. Each participant has a target of €10,000 to raise over the four-month challenge period and they need your support. Please give what you can to help them on their quest, and all funds raised will go to our injured jockeys, those who need it most when the going gets tough. Here is a brief overview of the Corinthians taking part this year.

Jane Davis: Living in Gowran, Co Kilkenny, Jane is no stranger to the industry having worked in horse racing all her professional life. From Horse Racing Ireland to racecourse management and now in her current role as marketing manager at Red Mills, she’s a high achiever.

Neil Durkan: From Greystones, Co Wicklow, Neil is a director at Durkan Homes and a seasoned racing enthusiast and campaigner in charity races. He took part in the Corinthian Challenge in 2019 and most recently in the Kidney Research Fund Race at the Punchestown Festival.

Peter O’Reilly: An insurance broker living in Dublin, Peter held an amateur licence in the ‘90s and also rode in charity races at Cheltenham and Punchestown. This is not his first fundraising challenge. In 2015, he rode a lap at every racecourse in Ireland in 24 hours in aid of Irish Injured Jockeys.

Joan Tyner: From Shippool, Co Cork, Joan works with Goffs as a bloodstock executive. Her family are heavily steeped in racing. Her father Robert recently retired from training after many years. Joan’s brother Jack lost his life tragically following a fall at a point-to-point in 2011 and her amazing mum Mary took part in the Corinthian Challenge in 2019. Her mother’s participation spurred Joan on to sign up.

Craig Kileff: Craig lives in Armagh and works for Bluegrass Feeds. The Malawi native has worked in Zimbabwe and the UK in the past. He represented Ireland in polocrosse on two veteran teams and rides out most mornings for the Crawford brothers.

Laura Bennett: Laura is the manager of the Foaling Unit at the Irish National Stud and also a riding instructor. She lives in Suncroft, Co Kildare, and regularly competes at horse shows, show jumping at RDS level. Her mother was a jockey and her father is a farrier, so it’s no surprise that Laura caught the racing bug and signed up for the challenge.

Stan Begley: Stan has vast experience in the racing industry, having worked in Australia and America and is currently at the Irish National Stud. He has ridden out for John Feane and Fozzy Stack and loves to hunt. His grandfather, the late, great Stan Cosgrove, would be very proud of his participation in the charity race series.

Michelle O’Brien: Michelle is an engineer with MSD and lives in Leamlara, Co Cork. Steeped in racing, she is a daughter of Michael T. O’Donovan, who held a permit to train for many years, and there were always horses at home. She still enjoys riding out and currently rides out in preparation for the challenge most days.

Darren Harrison: A former flat jockey from Monasterevin, Co Kildare, is an exercise rider who works with Peter Fahy and previously Kevin O’Ryan. He is a graduate of the Racing Academy Centre of Education in Kildare and has previously enjoyed 12 rides on the track for Paul Deegan. He is looking forward to getting back between the rails again throughout the series.

Marie Vallet: Marie is living in Oranmore, Co Galway, where she works as an animal physiotherapist and osteopath. Her passion for caring for the health and wellbeing of animals, perhaps, is stemmed from growing up in a busy household where her father was a doctor and from establishing a natural connection with animals early on. She has vast experience in different areas of the equine industry and even won three trotting races in France.

Laura Burnett: Laura is an engineer with a lifetime of experience working with horses. Originally from England, Laura has been living in Dublin for the past four years, working in the real estate industry on residential and commercial development schemes. She has previously worked for Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle and since lockdown has been riding out for Ross O’Sullivan.

Fiona Dowling: Fiona is the educational manager at the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE). Originally from Listowel, Co Kerry, Fiona boasts extensive industry experience. For example, she looked after Grand National winner Silver Birch, she’s an Irish National Stud graduate, and she has ridden in the Punchestown charity race.

Emer Lawlor: From Dunboyne, Co Meath, Emer is a member of An Garda Síochána. She also owns her own yard where she breaks and rides young horses. It’s safe to say there will be no speeding tickets issued at the Curragh on Sunday as Emer looks ahead to the opening challenge.

Dean Ryan: Dean is a fitness instructor from Newbridge, Co Kildare, with ample experience of the racing and breeding industry at home and abroad. He spent over 10 years working in with horses in Australia and in Keeneland. He even took part in rodeos in both jurisdictions for two years and can’t wait for the buzz of race-riding throughout the challenge.

Best of luck to all the Corinthian Challengers, from all the team at Irish Injured Jockeys and at The Irish Field.

If you want to find out more or wish to donate to their individual fundraising endeavours simply search justgiving.com for ‘Corinthian Challenge 2022’