HUNTING stalwart Michael O’Shaughnessy, Askeaton, Co Limerick, synonymous with the Stonehall Harriers, passed away on Wednesday in his 97th year. He became huntsman of the Stonehall Harriers in 1949 on the retirement of Paddy McDonough.

In 1953 he added mastership to his other role and has remained in office ever since, a staggering 68 seasons of unbroken service to the hunt, setting surely what has to be a world record.

Deepest sympathy to his wife Peggy of 63 years and to all his friends and admirers in Stonehall. Right up to last season, Michael and Peggy were car hunting, following his beloved Stonehalls.

Michael’s funeral Mass was held on Friday at St Mary’s Church, Askeaton with burial afterwards in Beagh Cemetery, Ballysteen.

Clifden Sales next weekend

THE final Connemara Pony Sales fixture of 2021 takes place next Saturday and Sunday, December 4th and 5th at the Clifden Mart in Co Galway. The first day includes 140 geldings, 15 colts, 13 mares, 24 fillies and two stallions. Day two will see 70 colt foals and 50 filly foals through the ring, as well as 30 mares and 40 fillies.

The catalogue will be available on www.connemaraponysales.com and the sale will be streamed live, with online bidding, on MartEye.

Dujardin takes reins on Gio in London

CHARLOTTE Dujardin will take back the ride on her double Olympic medal-winning mount Gio at the London International Horse Show next month.

The 10-year-old gelding, who also won team silver and individual bronze at the European Championships this year, was sold to 16-year-old British rider Annabella Pidgley last month. They will line out in the World Cup Grand Prix and the World Cup Freestyle at the show, formerly held at Olympia but taking place at ExCel this year.

IJRC “saddened” by Olympic format

THE International Jumping Riders’ Club (IJRC) released a statement this week to say it is “disappointed and saddened” by the FEI proposal on the three-person per team format for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Through the IJRC, FEI Jumping Committee members Pedro Veniss (Brazil) and Daniela Garcia (Mexico) said they “would like to underline that they are against the decision of three riders per team competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics, although the IOC letter has been accepted by the FEI JC. This is in spite of the fact that it is not the task of the IOC to define qualification and format of the different sport disciplines,” adding that they “wish to disassociate themselves from support of both the qualification system and of teams composed of only three riders with no drop score.”