Retired Jockey, Paul Carberry presents Graham Atkinson with the winner's trophy as he is crowned the 2018 Corinthian Challenge Champion

Landscaper wins injured jockeys charity race series

John Donohoe

Published: Tue 30 Oct 2018, 2:39 PM

Last updated: Tue 30 Oct 2018, 2:45 PM

Fourteen riders went to post in the final leg of The Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series for Irish Injured Jockeys (IIJ) at Leopardstown Racecourse last weekend. The series was won by Graham Atkinson, riding Uncle Henry for trainer Joseph O’Brien.
Graham is a landscaper from Upton, Co Cork who has grown up in racing - his brother Don Atkinson recently retired from point-to-point riding following four decades in the saddle and his cousin Wayne Lordan is one of Ireland’s top flat jockeys. Graham celebrated with his wife Theresa, children Lucy and Charlie, brother Don and extended family and friends who made the trip from Cork to support him.
“I am thrilled to have won the 2018 Corinthian Challenge it’s hard to explain just how special it is, I’m over the moon," he said afterwards. "I guess after winning the first race of the series the pressure was off and I decided to relax and enjoy the remainder of the races, I never expected to win it outright! It’s been a privilege to ride amongst some of the best people I’ve ever met these last few months, everyone has put in a lot of time and effort getting race fit and raising awareness and funds for Irish Injured Jockeys, it’s been a personal journey for us all one way or another. I would like to sincerely thank Joseph O’Brien and his wonderful owners and staff who have provided me with a horse for each race, I am so grateful to you all and to the team at Irish Injured Jockeys for their support along the way too. I would like to thank my wife Theresa, children Lucy and Charlie and all my family for their patience and support over the last few months, it has been a major commitment for us all. Finally, for all of those kind people who have supported my fundraising efforts along the way, thank you so much and I hope you got a kick out of backing a winner and doing your bit for IIJ too. If anyone hasn’t got around to donating yet it’s not too late, please visit www.corinthianchallenge.com where you can still donate to my fundraising page online.”
Remarkably, no less than five participants went into the race on Saturday at Leopardstown in contention of that overall title, these were; Marina Hamilton 14 points, Graham Atkinson 13 points, Harry Shearman 10 points, Orla McKenna and Rachael O’Callaghan five points each which made it a very exciting final race of the series for all involved and their supporters. Each race of the series has a winner and placings with points allocated to each rider accordingly, the points accumulate throughout the series will decide on the overall winner of the 2018 Corinthian Challenge for Irish Injured Jockeys.
Orla McKenna, sister of Gold Cup winning jockey Mark Dwyer, who works at Tattersalls Ireland won the race itself at Leopardstown aboard Song of Namibia for trainer Ger Lyons. However, Graham who finished a close second to her on the day had won and been placed previously which ensured he had accumulated enough point to be deemed the 2018 Champion of The Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series.
The Charity Race Series is an extremely successful fundraising initiative and is now firmly established as an annual event for the racing charity as it draws to a close in this its third year. Thus far the series has raised over €300,000 for Irish Injured Jockeys, with this year’s participants raising a massive €100,000 already with efforts ongoing.

Participants in The Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series for Irish Injured Jockeys

•   Rachel Carberry – Wife of former jockey Paul Carberry, she’s from Kilcullen living in Meath, mum of three children. Her sister Laura is also married to a jockey – Fran Berry.
•   Killian McCarthy – Married to Jennifer Walsh, brother-in-law to Ruby, Katie and Ted (Jnr) Walsh and Nina Carberry.
•   Orla McKenna - Mum of 2, works in Tattersalls as a bloodstock administrator, brother was a famous jockey Mark Dwyer (won 2 gold cups) now retired, brother is a pro golfer.
•   Frank Byrnes – Crash repairs company owner from Galway, ultra-marathon runner…adrenaline junkie.
•   Paddy Woods – From Julianstown, Co. Meath. Director of Phonovation, an IT company which was named top company by Deloitte recently, he also took part in the series last year finishing second overall. Said riding in the Corinthian Challenge is the best fun he’s ever had with his clothes on!
•   Theresa Maguire – Sister of famous retired jockey Jason Maguire who rode over 1,000 winners during his career, she works for horse trainer Noel Meade and she took part in TG4 series Jockey Eile in 2013.
•   Denise Callanan – From Monasterevin, grew up on a family stud farm, a degree in Equine Management and now studying Acupuncture while pin hooking young horses and riding out at Jarlath Fahey’s yard.
•   Graham Atkinson – Cousin of famous jockey Wayne Lordan, brother of Don Atkinson who recently retired after 4 decades in the saddle, Graham rode at Point-to-Points and is a landscaper based in Cork.
•   Marina Hamilton – Donegal based, mum of 3 and married to BBC News Northern Ireland correspondent Enda McClafferty. Marina’s one of Ireland’s most renowned painters and sculptors (the HRI blue/green horse sculptors presented at awards for a few years were hers)
•   David Christie – From Co. Fermanagh, assistant trainer to his dad David Snr, qualified in Product Design – Edinburgh Napier University.
•   Harry Shearman – Works at the Irish National Stud but has worked in the past for Henry De Bromhead and Willie McCreery.
•   David Brogan – Living in South Co. Dublin, Degree and Masters in Business fields, has taken part in numerous fundraisers for IIJ over the years e.g. Jog For Jockeys as he’s also a keen runner. Rode pt-to-pts previously, dad was a jockey and uncles trained.
•   Ian Kearney – Probation officer from Navan, played for Meath at Senior All-Ireland level winning two Leinster finals, lost a lot of weight to take part.
•   Jason Mallon – CEO of Cold Move and over 20 years at Senior Management level, has sponsored at the races previously now this is a very different experience, based in Kildare.
•   Rachael O’Callaghan – Physio from Mullingar who is married Roger O’Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud Farm.
•   Also riding today is Alan Redmond, a 2017 contestant who unfortunately missed riding in the final last year due to a lame horse, will be riding but has agreed not to compete with the potential winner he is simply taking part.