THE scarcity of traditionally bred Irish hunters, combined with the earlier restrictions on movement throughout the country, resulted in the Traditional Irish Horse Association cancelling its annual Show & Go Hunter Sale at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre this year.

Undaunted, the Fagan family pressed ahead with a similar auction last Friday and while there were indeed few traditionally-bred horses among the near 30 catalogued, the sale was otherwise conducted along the usual lines with Jim Derwin once again buying the top-priced lot.