THE DEATH has taken place of Irish equestrian legend Iris Kellett at the age of 85.
As a 22-year-old international showjumping rider, Kellett won the Princess Elizabeth Cup at White City, London, in 1948.
More than 20 years later, in Dublin, she claimed the 1969 Championship of Europe – almost certainly the pinnacle of her competitive career.
Kellett arrived on the international showjumping circuit towards the end of the military era in the sport, when the second World War put an effective end to the dominance of the great military equitation schools.
(Ireland’s Army Equitation School is the only one to survive at world competition level.)
As the era of the civilian showjumping rider dawned, the young Iris Kellett – a woman competing in what had been up to then an almost exclusively male sport – became one of the world’s top professional riders.
Her influence upon equestrianism in Ireland in particular, and the Irish horse industry in general, extends far beyond the medals and prizes of her competitive years.
She set unique standards and provided inspiration for generations of Irish riders, some of whom went on from her tutelage to blaze glory across the international stage.
Eddie Macken is but one whose genius was discovered, nurtured and refined by Kellett.
In the years that followed her international success, she devoted herself to the teaching side of equestrianism, not only in showjumping but in dressage and eventing as well.
Over the years, her knowledge was keenly sought by riders, teachers and administrators in equestrian sports worldwide.
She also judged, lectured and demonstrated her skills in many countries, where her expertise in horse breeding, production, training and competition had become almost legendary.
She served as a director of Bord na gCapall and was a major adviser on the development of equestrian science as a degree subject at the University of Limerick.
Kellett also served on various other boards and committees over the years, where her influence on the development of Ireland’s horses and riders was without parallel.
Typically, she also took a lively interest in the activities of riding for the disabled in Ireland.
She was the recipient of many honours, both at home and abroad. In 1997 she was inducted into the Texaco Sports Hall of Fame.
Kellett, who died on Friday night, will be buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, on Wednesday after an 11am funeral service at St John’s in Kill, Co Kildare.