It was a big weekend of jumping at Kill International Equestrian Centre in Co. Kildare with big numbers in all classes for the 44th Blessington Agricultural Show of which Ned Doyle is the Chairman. Ned, father of Irish Internationals, Jack and Edward undertakes this task with humour and tact at all times and that is not always an easy task when running a show.

The impressive outdoor arena at Kill International boasts the Equestrian Surfaces synthetic floor which is maintained to perfection by Kill International staff and this means that the Course Builders could build with total confidence and the tracks all weekend were a credit to Tom Holden.

The second arena was moved from outdoors to the impressive Olympic Indoor which again is a perfectly maintained Equestrian Surfaces synthetic surface and those jumping indoors were not unhappy about the shift of arena - this arena was under the care of Course Designer Frank Glynn who looked relaxed and happy all weekend, possibly because he did not have the pressure of designing for the Super League Grand Prix class which was the feature event of the show.

So all was set for great jumping and even when the short bursts of rain did happen, it had no effect on the jumping due to the great surface. Sunday saw the pony jumping in the front field and the numbers there were incredibly big and it seemed to go on for ever - but there were plenty of kids with big smiles on their faces so obviously the jumping was successful.

Great to see the Amateur class so well attended as well and the jump of was a super, fast and furious class where everyone cheered and yelled encouragement which made for some daring jumping and risks taken, some of which worked and some of which certainly didn't - but there were not too many hitting the deck which was great.

The crowds who came to watch throughout the weekend were big and in fact amongst the biggest crowds I have seen this season - perhaps this is due to the fact that the non-horsey can come and enjoy themselves watching top level sport without having to wade through mud and poop to get to an area where they can have a good vantage point - another of the advantages afforded by the most modern offering in top class facilities, Kill International Equestrian Centre. The hospitality marquee set at the top of the outdoor arena, next to the secretary's marquee all added to the festive atmosphere in the quaint village of Kill this weekend.

For many of the showjumping fraternity this was their first opportunity to catch up with Fintan Flannelly Jnr. after his December wedding to Veronica which was followed by 3 months travel around the world - a trip which included a visit to Australia - and as always Fintan Jnr was "in there pitching in" and in the photo left we see him showing his style with the rake! Fintan Jnr is the "face of Kill International" and he welcomes everyone with his ready smile and quick wit and it is great to have him back - he was well missed!
Pictured right is the other half of the Flannelly brothers team who make Kill International work. Denis Flannelly runs his Competition Barn at Kill International giving him a close eye on the day to day workings of the Centre in close cooperation with brother Fintan Jnr.

Denis is also a superb trainer who

is kept busy with his American and Australian riders who base with him as well as his own competition schedule which has this year included a tour of duty to Portugal for the International show held at Villamoura. Pictured with Denis is his partner, Valerie Roe (in white) and American owner, Mary Lou Cassone who flew in for training with Denis.

Pictured left is "farrier to the stars" John Dooley and his wife Anne.
John divides his time between caring for the most vital part of jumping horses and jumping himself - and he is delighted to have qualified for Dublin Horse Show next month jumping on the Greenhills Team - but even more exciting for this couple is the fact that their 15year old son, Gavin has also qualified for Dublin Horse Show in the 1.20m Young Rider class. John was competing this weekend and was also the "farrier on call" for the show and still managed to be ringside everytime son Gavin was on course.
Pictured left is another of the busy Irishmen at this show - Jack is super copetitive and has a great team of horses this season and also has been coaching many of the Young Riders and the proof that

he can coach AND compete is that he is rarely out of the placings and also lays claim to coaching two of the members of the Irish Junior Team heading to the European Championships next week - he is seen here chatting with Nicola Fitzgibbon and will be traveling to Portugal to support both Nicola and Sara Jayne Tracy when they compete at the Championships.

Left we see another of Ireland's International showjumpers, Paul O'Shea catching up on the "ins and outs" of the courses for the weekend with Senior National Course Designer.

Check out the quintet of "bottoms" above - see if you can pick who they belong to!
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