THE last time I spoke to Michael Duffy was following the sale of a horse he produced to five-star Nations Cup level. And the time before that, it was the same story.

And that has been the story all through his life so far, producing ponies and horses to the highest level and selling them on. I remember warming up alongside Michael every Sunday at the winter league in Rockmount when we were both in ponies; me with my one pony (on a wing and a prayer), and Michael, a few years my junior, with a lorry full every week.