The pre-race favourite, Simon, the mount of Davy Russell, refused at the fourth, World Wide Web, who won the event in 2007, fell at the fifth-last under rider James Ridley when upsides in front, while last year’s winners, Treble Trouble and Patrick Millington, pulled up five from the finish. Yvonne Goss, who won the first ever Hayes Golden Button Challenge on Perry, was fourth on Haxton.

A field of 52 lined up and 32 finished the three-mile course, which was run on largely good to soft ground. The winner scored by two lengths, with the third four lengths further back.

Carberry, who flew from Ireland on the morning of the challenge, said: “That was some crack – my horse refused at the 18^th, but I turned him round and soon got him back into contention. Before the refusal he was going very easily, but after that it got a bit tighter.”

Leicestershire-based Gibson rode Piper, who she partnered to victory in the Melton Hunt ride in February following two successes in the Harborough Hunts ride. Gibson said: “I’m cheesed off we were beaten, but I’m pleased because my horse has been brilliant.

“I was in fifth or sixth early on, led at half-way because he quite likes to front run, then let Paul and a few others give me a lead. Five out World Wide Web fell and that left Paul in front, but he went wide at the next fence and I should have ridden like a jockey and cut in.”

Gloucestershire-based A-level student Gittins, 18, teamed up with Bono for their third attempt on the Hayes Golden Button Challenge – they pulled up in 2007, were 15^th in the 2008 running and leapt up to third this time. Gittins said: “He’s still only nine, and he’s been learning how to battle and gallop – we’ve been teaching him to be a racehorse.

“I led for the first ten fences, which wasn’t the plan, but my horse was so fit. He’s not a full thoroughbred and he couldn’t quicken up with the winner, but I’m very happy to finish so close to Paul Carberry – I’ll be back next year.”

Yvonne Goss, who lives near Evesham, said of her round on newcomer Haxton: “We parted a few hedges, but he seems to have a sixth leg. He finished full of running, but I’ve not done anything like this on him before.”

The human running race, in which 70 went to post, was easily won by Evan Fuery, while the jcbdiggers.com inter-hunt challenge went to a team from the Cotswold Hunt.

Fuery said: “Early on I was following a very attractive girl, but then she wanted to check out my legs, so I went ahead and stayed there.”

Ireland’s Davy Russell, who rode Simon: “I was just behind Paul [Carberry] at the fourth, when his horse jammed on the brakes and was briefly stuck on the fence. My horse took one look and said ‘no thanks’. Paul got going again, but that was it for me. He had been brilliant over the first three and was going to be a fair good ride. I’m fine, the horse is fine so there’s always next year.”

Newmarket-based Eddie Ahern, who rode Ferrari, said: “I had a few scary moments and was up the horse’s neck a few times, but it’s an amazing thrill, the best buzz I could ever have.”

Otis Ferry, who rode Cool Park, said: “God, it’s such a buzz. I just want to do it again. My horse was very shifty and didn’t want to take a fence by himself, so I had to calculate when I could get to the next jump with some company. I’d never sat on the horse before so wasn’t sure how fit he was.”

Kate Mapstone, from Chester, rode Cavy. She said: “We finished 15^th. It was a bit scary at first because there were a few loose horses, but it rode very well once things settled down. I’d done the Wynnstay Hunt ride, which was not as big, and finished third in that. I’ll definitely come back again.”

James Ridley, from Forthampton in Gloucestershire, rode World Wide Web who fell five out when upsides and in front. He said: “They were the smallest rails on the course, but he hit the top and came down. I loved it up until then. I’ve done this three times and this was the best one. My horse jumped off and settled, whereas normally he takes a tug. It was great fun to be up in front with Paul. The credit goes to my mother, Heather, who gets the horse fit.”

Capt Harry Wallace, from the Kings Troop, rode Blackadder. He said: “We were in a melee going to the first, a set of bales, and he never saw the fence. He didn’t take off and we fell. I got back on and had a good ride after that. We went the short route at everything.”

Capt Max Chenery, also from the Kings Troop, fell on Baroness. He said: “We fell at the 16^th when a horse came down in front and we had no where to go. The horse is fine and we jumped some really nice big hedges.”

Caroline Webley, from Worcestershire, rode Oliver. She said: “The second ditch was scary. I came off there, but got back on and finished the course. I’m thrilled. It was great fun and the horse was brilliant considering he’s only a hunter.”

Lucy Holland, from Bicester, rode side-saddle on Guilsborough Gorse. She said: “I was in the top ten or 12 and going really well until we came to the 21^st a ditch. He didn’t see it, left his legs behind and came down. The horse is fine – we’ll ride again.”

Southerly Roberts, from Reading, finished the course on Thai Ho. She said: “That was the first time for me and my horse and we both loved it. I started at the back to avoid any trouble and slowly picked off a few rivals. I hunt with the draghounds, but this was better than that. It’s as good as bungee jumping.”

Mark Russell helped the event’s organisers in staging the running race. After gaining a top-six finish, Russell said: “I’m very pleased with the outcome. We’ve had 70 runners and hopefully next year we will have more. The course is really nice and a bit unusual because it doesn’t have any hills, but it’s still hard work. It’s short and sharp and good fun.”

David Redvers, chairman of the organising committee, said: “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Warner Family, who let us stage this event on their farm, and also to other landowners who allow us to cross their fields.

“Once again we’ve had great support from sponsors and a terrific will to make this event happen from a great team, especially Louise Daly, our secretary.

“We are grateful to everyone who competed or turned up to watch and support this event. We look forward to seeing you all on New Year’s Eve 2010.”