LAST weekend’s two-day Connemara Pony sale at the Clifden Mart resulted in astounding returns with the huge demand for the native breed returning a clearance rate of 80% from the 343 lots that passed through the sales ring.

The top price of €13,200 was the highest return seen at the venue in well over 10 years and it was paid on Saturday by Clifden regular Eddie Ahern for Niall Collins’ six-year-old gelding Ross Alley. By Tempo Active Alas, the gelding stands at a huge 16.2hh, most unusual for a pure-bred Connemara Pony, and has hunted, show jumped and been across the country.