Corinthian Challenge participants 2023 The Corinthian Challenge in aid of the Irish Injured Jockeys' Fund kicks off next month with 14 riders taking part in the first of three races taking place at Naas Racecourse on Saturday 27 August. The other races in this year's series are at the Curragh on Sunday 24 September and Leopardstown on Saturday 21 October. This unique opportunity offers racing fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience what it is really like to be a jockey while also raising awareness and much-needed funds for Irish Injured Jockeys. Riders will not only have the chance of winning each of the three races but they will also accumulate points for placings throughout the series with the overall winner of the series to be announced following the final race at Leopardstown on October 21st. To participate in this charity race series, each rider is asked to raise €10,000 through sponsorship and/or fundraising, all funds raised will go to Irish Injured Jockeys. Riders have to undergo an interview and training day with a view to receiving their licence to take part from the Racing Academy and Centre of Education, RACE in Co. Kildare. This year’s Corinthian Challengers are Eimear O’Gorman, Jansseen Hill, Michael O’Neill, Martina Dempsey, Niamh Ashe, Damien Moore, Aisling Fitzell, Vivienne Connolly, Darren Dunne, Aimee Murphy, Abigail Reilly, Hazel Smith, Anna Cropper and Katie Brown. 2023 Corinthian Challengers: Eimear O'Gorman Eimear O’Gorman is from a farming family in Carlow and there were always horses at home. She grew up riding ponies and has been working in the racing industry for over seventeen years as a yard manager, work rider, veterinary and stud secretary and she also had a livery yard at home. Jansseen Hill Jansseen hails from Country Antrim and is both a keen rider and boxer. A familiar face in the racing industry and also has huge experience working with young horses at sales around Ireland. She rode her first winner for Wilson Dennison in a Point-to-Point race in March 2023. To add to this she also holds two Irish Amateur Boxing titles. Michael O'Neill Michael hails from Kilkenny and is a competent showjumper and was a national amateur champion in 2018. He is the Managing Director of Tranziberia a road haulage company. Michael is currently riding out with Emmet Mullins and is also getting training from jockey coach Paddy Flood in RACE. Martina Dempsey Martina grew up in the Thoroughbred County near the Curragh in Kildare and was involved with horses from a young age. Her first job working in racing was with Trainer Frank Ennis and has gained experience with many other racehorse trainers on the Curragh and in Australia over the years. She is an education professional with a Master of Science (MSc) focused in Applied Equine Science from University College Dublin. Niamh Ashe Niamh, an Equine Therapist originally from Dublin and now living in The Curragh. Niamh works with owners and trainers to assess and treat horses with complex injuries and behavioural issues. Working with clients within the racing industry she also rides out five mornings a week in a racing yard. Damien Moore Damien is a Kildare man, living in Monasterevin whose dream is to ride a winner up the Curragh with his family watching. He is an ex-trainee jockey with over 8 years experience in the horse racing industry. He worked as a work rider in multiple yards across Ireland and stopped riding to start his own business as a professional horse racing tipster and also has eight racehorses in training in Ireland and the UK. Vivienne Connolly Born and bred in Kildare, Vivienne’s family have a long association with racing. Five generations have been directly involved in racing since 1812 with her great great great grandad holding the first public trainers licence and he built Curragh View at the top of Walshe's hill in 1836. Her own personal racing experience is limited to the last few years when she started getting lessons and rode out during Covid lockdown. Darren Dunne Darren, a Meath native hails from Dunboyne and works as a EMC Technician with Compliance Engineering, who is his main sponsor for the Corinthian Challenge Series. The support from the company and friends is the reason why he is pushing himself to take on this challenge of a lifetime. He started riding horses in 2015 and rode in the Punchestown Charity race in 2019 for Kidney Research. Aimee Murphy Aimee Murphy is from Newry in County Down and is currently residing in Newbridge. She has competed in show jumping up to Grand Prix level and has also hunted for many seasons. Amy rides out full time for the past two years and has her own yard. She is currently riding out for Michael Halford, Tracey Collins and Sarah Tobin. Abigail Reilly Abigail Reilly is from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland and has been riding from a very young age. She started out showjumping and then moved into a racing yard at 14 years of age which then progressed to breaking and training youngsters. Trained as a plumber she now rides at the weekends and keeps her fitness up with running and strength training throughout the week. She was encouraged to take part by Samuel Wilson for a bit of craic! Hazel Smith Hazel Smith lives in Athboy, Co. Meath, her feet are firmly on the ground even though her profession with Aer Lingus has her clocking up the air miles! She led up one of our previous Corinthian Challengers in Leopardstown, Emer Lawlor last year and has already ridden a few amateur races. Encouraged by friends and family Hazel decided to take up the challenge herself. Riding out for Tom Gibney and Tony Martin she has plenty of experience behind her. Anna Cropper Anna has lived in Kildare for many years. As a child, she competed in pony club events and had her own horses. Her love of horses brought her to work full-time in racing as a stable hand & exercise rider in both flat and national hunt yards in the UK and Ireland. Anna attended the Northern Racing College in Doncaster, gaining NVQ Levels 1-3 & Modern Apprenticeship in Race Horse Care & Management. Katy Brown Katy is originally from the UK but is living in Ireland for many years. She has held a trainers licence for the last few years and successfully trained winners both on the flat and national hunt in Ireland and the UK. Through the years of working in the industry, Katy has seen first-hand the commitment and dedication that jockeys show on a daily basis. Aisling Fitzell Aisling Fitzell comes from Cashel in Co.Tipperary, a stone’s throw away from Ballydoyle Racing and Coolmore, the home of Champions. She works in the banking industry but horses have always been a huge part of her life since she was a child and most of her earliest and dearest memories are that of hunting with her father and the Tipperary Foxhounds.
