THE three-day renewal of the May Connemara Pony Sales was a lively affair with plenty of bargains to be had in the three-year-old and under market and, despite the top price being lower than the same sale last year, there was a good number of five-figure sales.

There were 648 entries and the 505 through the ring garnered a 67% clearance rate, with the top price €11,600 and eight ponies sold for five-figure sums.

Of the 337 sold, 51 were sold to online bidders and outside of Ireland, the majority as usual are bound for the UK (61), followed by Germany (7), France (6), Sweden (5), Luxemburg (1) and Finland (1).

In comparison, last year’s May sale offered an entry of 634 lots and ended with a 64% clearance rate with a top price of €15,800, which was paid for Paddy Maloney, a gelding by Rathlacken Richard. The preceding year’s May sale top price was €17,200.

While inclement weather was at play at the April sales this year, last weekend was bright and sunny, perfect conditions for trying and buying.

Sales manger Ann de Courcy said the team was very happy with the weekend.

“The general feeling was that trade was back a bit on February and April, but anything nice made very good money. It was harder to sell three-year-olds and it was a good opportunity to pick up good value there. The UK market was very strong and we had a German lady who bought two on her first trip here, as well as a first-time Swedish lady who bought one and they were paying strong money.

“There was a lot of younger stock, which is likely an over hang from foals from last year, perhaps who were affected by the passport delays, but hopefully that will all be resolved in time for this year’s foals. We are now looking forward to the August three-day sale, which we expect will be good and strong.”

Lot 55, Suckfield Archie, a 155cm grey gelding by Tulrush Jake out of Suckfield Kate, made €11,100 on Friday afternoon, making him the highest purebred Connemara Pony of the Clifden May Sale \ Rynes Walker

Sale topper

The top price of €11,600, while down on last year, was very close to that paid at the one-day April sale this year when Mosside Mystic Meg, an 11-year-old 14.2hh Connemara-cross mare by Gevaudan out of Leap Year Lass made €11,000.

Last weekend’s topper, Swanview Split the Wind (Lot 197), is also a Connemara-cross. This 160cm five-year-old grey gelding is by the prolific and, sadly, recently deceased, Ice and Fire D’Albran out of the Irish Sport Horse mare Swanview Lance Courage. He was described by vendor Pat Collins as having clean X-rays, a gentle nature and the potential to go far as an eventer. He was purchased by UK buyers Farwood Equine. Ice and Fire D’Albran was also the sire of February’s sale topper Falcon Jack, for which Patrick O’Gorman paid €13,600.

The second-highest price was fetched by Jane Kinsella’s Suckfield Archie (Lot 55), a five-year-old 155cm grey gelding by Tulrush Jake out of Suckfield Kate. He went for €11,100 to Lynn Roberts, also based in the UK.

Not far behind was lot 51, Captain Shadow, a four-year-old 153cm grey gelding by Truskan Boy out of Cois Fharraige Lady, consigned by Enda Tierney and sold to sales regular Patrick O’Gorman. O’Gorman and partner Hannah Gordon signed for 26 lots in total, several of them among the highest priced lots.

These included Lot 104, Cunnagher Jack, a five-year-old 15hh grey gelding by Mayain Castle out of Knockma Ivy who fetched €10,200. His sire was the highest priced stallion sold at the August 2021 sales and is now successfully competing under saddle in the UK.

He also signed for Lot 68, Capoola’s Sunny, a striking five-year-old 148cm palomino gelding by Coral Bambi out of Drumcrave Heather, who was described as having hunted with the Longford Harriers, and having attended cross-country schooling and training shows. He fetched €10,000.

Lot 68, Capoola's Sunny, a 148cm Palomino gelding by Coral Bambi out of Drumcrave Heather, made €10,000 on Friday afternoon at the Clifden May Sale \ Rynes Walker

€10,000 seemed to be a nice round number for O’Gorman and he paid the same for Lot 174, Cloonan Orlando, a 150cm five-year-old bay gelding by Lough Melvin Gorteen out of Coill Rua Carley and Lot 335, Hillswood Prince of Mirah, a four-year-old 155cm bay gelding by Glenmore Mirah Patrick out of Killea Little White Lark.

The final lot to make €10,000 was Sarah O’Donnell’s Wilma Samson (Lot 95), a 148cm five-year-old grey gelding by Atlantic Hazy Storm out of Ardbear Rosie sold to Niall Daly.

The top-priced mare was Lot 292, Corhas Cloud, a 148cm seven-year-old grey by Castleside Carrig out of Lady Hill, who was sold for €9,000 to Tiernan Gray.

Younger ponies

The top priced three-year-old was Lot 237, Dunguaire Finn, a 15hh dun gelding by Banks Douglas out of Dunguaire Duchess. He is from the same damline as Dunguaire Fionn McCool, who was second at HOYS in 2023, and fetched a very healthy €7,200. Another stand-out three year-old was Lot 139, Bettyspark Prince, a 150cm grey gelding by Bay Shadow out of Crusheen Bettyspark Lady, who went for €6,200. Rounding out the top three three-year-olds was Lot 263, Aughavinna Paddy, a 150cm black gelding by Shadows Dun out of Ballysalagh Pride, who fetched €5,600.

The top priced yearling was Lot 47, Cornavad Boy, a dun colt by Glenmore Mirah Patrick out of Laheens Dolly, who was sold for €3,400. Next best was Lot 567, Seabhac Mear, a dun colt by Aughnanure Leo out of Gleotin, who went for €3,000. Lot 233, Furnish Paddy, a dun colt by Tra Bhain Ceileog out of Camus Rosie went for €2,400.