TWELVE lots changed hands at last Saturday’s sale in the Mullingar Equestrian Centre with local dealer Jim Derwin purchasing five of these, including the top-priced lot at €8,000, the heavyweight show hunter Starfield Libero (Lot 33).

This five-year-old gelding by Luidam was consigned by Co Meath’s Glenn Farrell Walker, joint owner of the chesnut with locally based Michael Orlandi whose family bred the sales-topper out of the former Grade A mare Errigal Shoe.

“This is a nice, quality Luidam gelding who had a successful season on the local showing circuit,” said Kells-based Farrell Walker. “He was lightly hunted last season and goes well on the flat. I’m fortunate that Mullingar is practically on my doorstep so I always like to enter a lot or two. I’ve more like this fellow at home if anyone is interested!”

Derwin parted with €5,100 for the next lot into the ring, Enya Brennan’s traditionally bred Ballingal Cool Diamond (Lot 34), a five-year-old mare who has 43 Show Jumping Ireland points. This chesnut by the French-bred Connemara stallion Funambule II, is out of the Coolcorron Cool Diamond mare My Rakish Patsy.

There may not have been a lot of active buyers at the sale but it was good to see so many British visitors back at Mullingar following the Covid-affected years, many of whom were en route to Ballinasloe.

Mullingar