Special Kilcullen interest in Punchestown kidney race
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| Eimer Smullen and Sinead Smullen with trainer Denis Cullen. |
Regular customers of The Hair Emporium in Kilcullen will have a special interest in the organ donor awareness charity race at this year's Punchestown Festival, writes Brian Byrne. The reason? One of the salon’s long-time stylists will be taking part in the 32nd running of the race, which has raised more than €1.7 million for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund established by local businessman James Nolan.
Sinead Smullen has been in training for the event since last summer, along with her younger sister Eimear, with Denis Cullen's Beechcourt Stables near Naas. It will be the first time two sisters have competed in the event together, although James Nolan and his brother Andrew both competed in the same races in 1992 and 1994. James founded the PKRF, to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and to fund support services for kidney patients on dialysis, after receiving a life-saving kidney donation from his sister Catherine.
The 'Have the Conversation — Say YES to Organ Donation' race is traditionally the last event of the Punchestown Festival, and this year is on Saturday 29 April. Each of the amateur jockeys has to train to a fitness and competency level where they can qualify for a racing licence, and must raise a minimum amount of sponsorship. This year there were 71 applicants, from whom 25 were selected for the race. A special participant this year includes Dave Bennett from Dublin, who is riding to honour the donor family who made his kidney transplant a reality.
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| Eimear leading a ride out session at Beechcourt Stables. |
For Sinead and Eimear Smullen, taking part this year continues a family tradition — their mother Helen and sister Ciara were former participants in the event. Both are well used to horses as they grew up with them at their Two Mile House home and are regular riders with the Carlow Farmers hunt.
Denis Cullen says it hasn't been difficult to get them up to racing fitness. "They knew how to ride and they know horses, so it is just a matter of learning the different techniques of racing. Instead of riding hunters, they're dealing with horses which are professionals in their own business. But they're two good riders — I used to go hunting with them before, and they're brave."
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| Sinead in full flight riding out at Beechcourt. |
Eimear, who works in the family business of Smullen Transport at Newhall, says the difference between what they are used to and riding for a race is 'like getting out of a Morris Minor and into a Ferrari'. Both women have been riding out every morning for the past eight months at Beechcourt and recently also on the 'Old Vic' gallops on the Curragh, a 9-furlong run named after the 1989 Irish Derby winner.
And will there be some sibling rivalry when the starter’s flag falls? “Maybe a little bit,” Sinead admits with a smile. “But we’ll be looking after each other as we go around as well ... and then I'll push on and I'll win."
Eimear isn't quite agreeing to that last part.
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| Dave Bennett, honouring donor family. |
