Irish Cancer Society Named Beneficiary of 2026 Up The Yard Challenge Race at Punchestown
Media Release 19 January 2026: Punchestown Racecourse has confirmed that the Irish Cancer Society will be the chosen charity for the 2026 Up The Yard Challenge Race, following a collective decision by the participating riders. The charity contribution is a new initiative this year and all funds raised will go directly to supporting the Society’s vital cancer care, research and support services across Ireland.
The popular charity race for Irish stable and stud staff will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd February 2026, after the final official race on the card at Punchestown. Each of the 16 selected riders is required to raise a minimum of €500, with every euro donated benefiting the Irish Cancer Society.
Glenda Ryan, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at the Irish Cancer Society, welcomed the announcement:
“We are incredibly grateful to be chosen as the beneficiary charity for the 2026 Up The Yard Challenge Race. The commitment shown by these riders, who already work tirelessly behind the scenes of the racing industry, is truly inspiring. Every donation raised will help to fuel our vital services and our groundbreaking cancer research. The generosity of the riders and supporters at the 2026 Up The Yard Challenge Race will help us to ensure that no one in Ireland has to face cancer alone.”
Now firmly established since its launch in 2017, the Up The Yard Challenge Race was created to recognise and celebrate the riding talent within yards and studs nationwide. Many of the participants ride out daily and play an essential role in the racing and breeding industries, and the initiative offers them a rare opportunity to compete at one of Ireland’s most prestigious sporting venues.”
Punchestown Sponsorship Manager and event organiser Leona Hughes said:
“Anyone working in this industry knows the standard of horse knowledge, handling and riding talent that exists in yards and studs across the country. These people are up at dawn, producing the very best equine talent that we see on the racecourse. This race is about giving them their moment on a major stage. Choosing the Irish Cancer Society as the beneficiary adds an extra layer of meaning to what is always a very special day.”
The 2026 Up The Yard Challenge in aid of the Irish Cancer Society takes place on Monday 2nd February at Punchestown Racecourse. Full details of race riders and conditions can be found on www.punchestown.com/news-info/
**ENDS**
Anyone with questions or concerns about cancer can contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on freephone 100 200 700, or email supportline@irishcancer.ie
To the staff of Punchestown Racecourse,
On behalf of myself, my husband Jim, and our three children, George, Olivia and Grace, we would like to thank you most sincerely for sending us to Lapland last Saturday, the 13th of December.
George was the lucky boy from Two Mile House National School whose Golden Ticket was pulled from the hat at Punchestown Premiere Weekend. He won an all-expenses-paid day trip to Lapland in Finland. Having his name called felt like a Christmas miracle — a truly wonderful thing to happen to our family — and we were filled with excitement and gratitude from that moment on.
We were even excited for our 3.00am wake-up call on Saturday morning! I would describe the day as a Magical Marathon — 21 hours of constant movement, filled with truly magical moments.
We flew with TUI, who had chartered the flight to Kittilä in northern Finland. The flight lasted over three hours, and we disembarked into a very unfamiliar world. The temperature was -22°C. My nose hair froze as I breathed in, and the cold crept up the legs of my jeans — a dry cold unlike anything we experience in Ireland. It was dusky even at 1 o’clock local time. The trees were covered in snow, and the surroundings were quiet and beautiful. Santa’s elves were everywhere, spreading cheer and encouraging us along.
On arrival, we had to layer up to protect ourselves. We were warned that it was particularly cold, even by local standards — snowing and breezy — but the suits we were given worked a charm.
We got to meet Santa, and we asked him to help Punchestown win Racecourse of the Year. He said he would. We also told him how excited all the boys and girls from Punchestown and Two Mile House are for his visit next week and sent him their love.
Throughout the day we enjoyed so many incredible experiences: a reindeer ride, a husky sleigh, sledding down snow slopes, snowball fights with the elves, cookie decorating, warming up by cosy fires and even riding a snowmobile.
The day was made up of beautiful moments that will never be forgotten. The children loved every part of it — even the long flights, the tiredness & the cold.
Punchestown has played an important role in my family’s history. My grandmother and grandfather: Maura and Michael Burke, leased land in Punchestown from Mrs. Arthur Moore during the 1980s and 1990s.
As a Two Mile House girl, Punchestown has been a constant in my life from early childhood to the present day. When I was in primary school, we had three days off during the Punchestown Festival every year. My extended family and I loved Punchestown week and always attended at least one day. We would be given a pound by my grandmother and spend hours on the hurdy-gurdys going back and forth to our family.
I celebrated my hen party at Punchestown, and my husband and family attend the New Year’s Eve meeting every year.
Punchestown generously donated money to my brother, Adam Burke, in 2017, and I attended with him on the morning it was presented to him by Dick O’ Sullivan and Snowball Pearce. We celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday of Premiere weekend in the private suites and were so well looked after by your staff.
My aunt Helen Smullen and cousins Ciara, Sinead and Eimear Smullen rode in the charity race at the Punchestown festival over a number of years.
The racecourse is interlinked with so many of our family traditions, and now we bring our own children to Punchestown annually as well.
Congratulations on winning Racecourse of the Year — it is so richly deserved. The racecourse is such an important part of many local people’s lives. It’s a happy place for us where we celebrate, be together and feel at home.
Thank you again for an experience our family will treasure forever.
With sincere thanks,
Kate Eustace & Family