OVERSEAS trade proved buoyant at the Connemara Pony Sales’ three-day December sale at Clifden last weekend following the 11th hour postponement of their October sale. John Sweeney of CPS said they were delighted with the turnout of ponies and particularly pleased with the buoyancy of the market.

“There was plenty of online interest from both Irish and overseas buyers on the Friday and Saturday with in excess of 50 ponies purchased through Marteye platform, with the main interest online coming from the UK. We had a total clearance of in excess of 70% and 47 ponies were sold online. In excess of 60 ponies are going abroad with over 50 of these going to the UK (40+) and France (10+) with the balance going to Holland, Germany and Sweden.

“The sale turned out better then we might have expected and brought to a close what was a challenging year. Connemara Pony Sales is looking forward to our next sale on February 20th and 21st for which we are already getting entries,” said John Sweeney.

The first session of some 130 lots featured geldings, broken and ridden ponies. The top price of the sale was achieved by Lot 41 Golden Trumpet, a four-year-old dun gelding by Caherlistrane Bay out of Dam Earls Wave, presented by vendor PJ Watson and purchased by Patrick O’Gorman and Hannah Taylor for their UK stables for €8,000.

The 14-year-old bay stallion Caherlistrane Bay (by Coral Lad (Coral Star) out of Sky Glen by Mervyn Kingsmill) stands with Derek Delapp in Oughterard. Described as stamping his offspring with good looks, movement and a lovely temperament, his progeny are reportedly selling well with plenty under saddle here and in the UK.

O’Gorman and Taylor struck again for Lot 156, paying €7,100 for the six-year-old mare, Mochulla Yellow Rose (by Mochulla Dun out of Tirnaskea Sunny Day), presented by Fergus Hanley.

John McKay’s six-year-old grey gelding Grennaun Bobby (Coolin America out of The Grennaun Rose) was knocked down to Niall Daly for €6,500. Daly also snapped up Lot 65 for €3,900, a four-year-old grey gelding, Illane Amigo (by Ardgaineen Rebel out of Illant Breeze), presented by PJ Phelan.

Local man Liam Diamond signed for Lot 68, a five-year-old gelding Beezies Cadbury (out of Beezies Echo Milli) for €5,300.

Regular buyer Gertie Tynan signed for two when acquiring Lot 74 for €6,100, a four-year-old gelding Tinnahinch Star (by Loch Melvin Gorteen out of Deep Valley Orchid), presented by Niall Horan. Lot 75, presented by Emma Flynn, a four-year-old gelding Rockwell Purple Rain (by Lankill Lad out of Rathlacken Misty) also went to Tynan at €4,600.

Nigel Crown parted with €5,600 for Brendan Noone’s Lot 168, a four-year-old filly Sam’s Girl (by Woodfield Sammy out of Funchinagh Lady).

Lot 199 Rosscon Luna (by Frederiksminde Hazy Match out of Omey Aurora), again presented by PJ Watson, was signed for by Tiernan Grey at €4,200.

Jennings tops foal trade

While there were fewer online bidders for foals, Sunday’s session saw some strong trade for foals. Proceedings got off to a great start with Lot 333, the filly foal Kiltiernan Shadow (by Silver Shadow out of Silver Dolly), presented by Mary Connolly, and purchased by Simon Cooper for €3,000.

The colt foal Ballygarris Magic (Lot 445) (by Bohola Mirah out of Battlestown Velvet), presented by Co Mayo’s Michael Jennings, was purchased by Tom Cunningham for Clifden’s top foal price of €3,150.