A TOTAL of 20 teams took part in the inaugural Owners & Trainers Golf Classic at the magnificent Mount Juliet Golf Course in Co Kilkenny last week.

The event was in aid of horse welfare charity Treo Eile and was staged in glorious sunshine.

Connolly’s Red Mills supplied the winning team and landed the top prize of an overnight stay in Mount Falcon Estate.

Trainers Mouse Morris, Conor O’Dwyer, David Marnane and Johnny Levins came in second and won vouchers for bespoke horse portraits from artist Jason Ó Ceannóbháin.

Teams representing Gordon Elliott and the Irish Jockeys Association tied for third but, on countback, the verdict went to the Elliott quartet and they took home fabulous holdall bags from Dubarry Ireland.

The ITBA team supplied the male and female winners of the longest drive competitions courtesy of Sean Ronan and Fiona McEnery. They received Plusvital vouchers.

Racehorse owner Tim O’Driscoll, a member of the Gordon Elliott team, won the ‘nearest the pin’ prize of a case of champagne from Banim Wine Merchants.

The ‘picky out’ prizes were won by Ken Whelan (golf pack from CW Clothing), Ger Canty (Fujifilm instant photo printer from Bermingham Cameras) and Kieran Gleeson (overnight stay and dinner at The Club at Goffs).

Regina Byrne of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners said: “We want to thank all those who gave prizes, goodie bag gifts and tee-box sponsorships. We also thank all the teams for participating. We had a wonderful day and we’re looking forward to the next one in 2024.”