On a sunny day in June, 2003 the Flannelly family opened the doors of the newly built Kill International Equestrian Centre and welcomed the competitors, family, supporters and volunteers of the 2003 Special Olympic World Games to their venue. And it was obvious from this auspicious occasion that this was a venue which would be well utilised by many for events, livery, lessons, seminars and of course the up coming SCOPE Auction.
As you drive through the original gates of Iris Kellets yard you enter the Avenue which leads
you to an amazing facility which boasts three Indoor arenas and an outdoor arena all with the latest Equestrian Surfaces footing.
The outdoor surface is a true all weather surface which is totally unaffected by rain of any amount and as such I predict that Kill International will become one of the most popular venues for all facets of equestrian sport from top level showjumping through to dressage and and all levels thereof.
The Blessington Show which was scheduled to be held at Punchestown had a sudden change of venue due to the condition of the grounds and the pounding it had taken from the Eminem concert and the impending pounding it was going to get from the Witness weekend which saw thousands from all over Europe, Ireland and the UK descend on Punchestown. For this reason the Blessington Show was urgently looking for a suitable venue for their Kerrygold Super League Grand Prix Show and so it was that on Saturday 5th July, 2003 the showjumpers got their first look at Kill International.
The chat in the pocket was all good news for the future of the Centre - without exception everyone was most impressed with the beauty of the place, the practicality of the layout and the unequalled surfaces.
To be able to warm up in the middle sized arena which has direct access to both the outdoor and also to the Olympic Indoor Arena on the same surface as will be jumped on the outdoor is a treat not often afforded to showjumpers.
Add to the formal arenas the grass arenas which were in the front fields on the entrance Avenue and you have a facility which can hold many hundreds of horses through many varying levels - and the grass arenas were kept busy seemingly from breakfast to breakfast!
Considering it was a last minute move to Kill the Flannelly's did extremely well to accommodate this huge show just 3 days after the last of the Special Olympic horses left the venue and so there were no complaints about the grass arenas - riders were just pleased to have such a great place to compete!
The best in Ireland came to the show and it was fantastic to see Tom Slattery and the McKeigue owned Coille Mor Hill out again taking the 1.40m class on the Saturday in fine style. This stallion is a particular favourite of mine as he was the first Irish Draught I had seen jumping at top level and he was an imposing picture over a fence with his jet black coat and evident pink tongue - and so it was a wonderful experience to see him this close up! Edward Doyle was hot on Tom's heals with his second in the same class riding the McLoughlin Bros. Midnight Call. Marie Burke's own Cavaliers Choice took third spot in the line up with Danielle Quinliven on board B. Daly's Newmarket Girl slotting in beside her with her 4th placing. Taylor Vard riding Jayne Dillion's Collins 5 was in 5th position and John Floody on his own Summerhill completed the placings.
All classes were well supported and the KerryGold Grand Prix class saw the arena looking very sharp indeed with an excellent track built by Gerry Byrne. G&K Building Company sponsored the Grand Prix and they enjoyed the ambiance of the ringside marquee which gave them prime viewing position to see Harry Marshall aboard his own Splendido take the big prize and James Kernan on his own son of Touchdown, Out of Touch in second just behind him. Third position went to local and organiser of the the show Edward Doyle aboard Michael Earl's stallion, Ramiro B. Edward Cawley's Windgates Paragon and Conor Swail cruised into 4th spot with Jayne's Collins 5 and Taylor Vard again in the placings with another 5th place giving Linda Courtney and her own Cavaleve 6th spot.
