Having undergone a quiet opening day, the action gathered pace on Wednesday and was further boosted by a late flurry of private sales.

Auctioneers worked hard to create a very positive clearance rate of 69% (63% in 2013) along with an improved turnover of €266,625 (€233,675) and a marginal increase of average of €2,099 (€1,947).

“A good clearance rate, and, overall, not a bad sale,” remarked Stuart Clarke. “We had lots of customers over the two days, and we certainly could have sold more horses if we had had them. There definitely seems to be a lift in the job and although prices still need to improve for the vendor, people are beginning to pay more.”

Typical of the sort in demand, and heading the figures at €7,000, was CAFRE Lunar Eclipse, a five-year-old gelding (184) by Carrick Diamond Lad (dam by Furisto) consigned by CAFRE Enniskillen Campus. Well-related, he counts the American-based advanced event horse Private Heart as a full-brother, and is a half-brother to a number of further eventers and show jumpers most notably Herbst Golden Eclipse (Aldato), who represented Ireland at Le Lion D’Angers under Joseph Murphy. Seven further siblings also have recorded form, so it came as no surprise to see a crowd of bidders clustered at the ringside.

In the end, it was English event rider Millie Earnshaw who made the successful bid.

“He looks very fat at the moment because he has been showing. However despite that, he seemed athletic, he jumped and he knew where to put his feet. He also appeared very straightforward and trainanble, which is so important,” she said.

The gelding’s sale was the fruition of another successful project by the equestrian students at Enniskillen. Having bred him, they went on to break and produce him, before he embarked on a introductory campaign this year. Lightly competed, he scored highly in flexi-eventing and caught the eye when competing in the working hunter classes at Lusk Equestrian.

One to sell well from a number of private transactions was Roisin Hughes’ Roxborough Double Diamond (197a), a seven-year-old mare by Welcome Flagmount (dam by Flagmount Diamond). Despite carrying a wealth of competition form in classes up to 1.20m level, serious bids for the traditionally-bred mare were unforthcoming. Eventually led out unsold at €5,900, she was later secured by Longford-based Anthony Farrell for €6,250.

“I like the fact that she was family owned, and seemed nice and easy,” commented Farrell, who is well known in pony show jumping circles. “I have bought her for Jordan Kilkenny, with the idea of jumping her in the young rider classes this season. I also liked the fact that she is one of the last progeny of the good stallion Welcome Flagmount.”

The winner of 35 SJI points under Ryan O’Neill, Double Diamond had qualified for and competed in most of the major age finals, including those at Cavan and Balmoral.

Another traditionally-bred individual to stand out was John Ryan’s grey gelding Drombane Soldier (152) a seven-year-old by Cloneen Clover (dam by Young Barnaby). Having showcased well under Brendan Ryan, he was the subject of quite a tussle between Athlone’s Jim Derwin and his eventual purchaser Anthony Lane.

After making the winning bid at €6,000, Lane said: “I look for horses that can jump, with the view to producing them further and to eventually sell on. This one caught my eye because he was also attractive and looked an easy ride.”

Bought as a foal, the gelding had been hunting with the Suir Vale Harriers and had clocked up 10 SJI points in just a few outings.

“He’s a real Irish horse, who I think is ideal for the UK,” Said Thurles-based Brendan Ryan. “I also rode his sire Cloneen Clover up to 1.30m level (for owner Ian Smyth) and he had a fabulous temperament as well.”

Next in line, at €5,000 was Robert Frazer’s Sonas Touch (182), a homebred gelding by Out of Touch (dam by Poltarf). Lightly produced, he was led out unsold at €5,000, before finally settling for the same price in a private sale. English dealer Berney Wharfe accounted for this one, who was thought to be ideal eventing material.

A further seven horses and ponies realised between €4,000 and €5,000, including Richard Nallon’s pony sale-topper Obama Lad (106a). The grade A performer had only recently passed to Nallon, who in turn sold him to a cash buyer.

As usual, there was a sizeable Swedish contingent at Cavan, who accounted for several of the better priced lots. Among these was Fran Kelly’s Le One And Only (155a), a seven-year-old mare by Le One (dam by Ginger Dick). A useful sort, again carrying traditional breeding, he changed hands privately to Johan Wetterskog for €4,500.

Compatriot Anneke Linde was busy buying ponies, and she was especially pleased to have secured Yvonne Vard’s Corran Boy (24) for €4,100. Prepared for sale by Peg McMullen, and well ridden on the day by her French student Clemence Marger, the eight-year-old carried affiliated form in both show jumping and eventing disciplines.

“He looked so rideable,” commented Linde. “We have a very good trade at the moment for both competition and riding school ponies, and this one is just the sort we try to buy.”

It was notable that demand for four-year-olds was fragile, with the result that only seven changed hands over the two days. Five of these failed to exceed €2,500, while standing out to head the group at €4,300 was Roy Shields’ gelding (205) by Coolcronan Wood (dam by Grosvenor Lad). Sharon and Mark Jackson signed for this old-fashioned type, who will be hunting with the Morpeth hounds next season.

Although the pony trade stood up well, there were huge inconsistencies among the figures for the horses. By and large, those without a recorded pedigree occupied the lower ranks in terms of prices, and interestingly, from the 206 catalogued (excluding the supplementary sheet) only 117 lots had a recorded sire listed, let alone a recorded dam.