An improved top price of €8,500 over last year’s renewal of the mixed sale in Cavan provided early evidence of returning confidence to the market as 163 lots went through the ring last Wednesday. Of these, 119 lots found new homes and while it may not be the best time to sell a hunter, there were plenty of purchasers happy to take them off vendors’ hands if the price was right.

The top-priced animal, Lot 113A, was led out unsold for €7,200 but later listed as becoming the property of Jim Derwin for €8,500.

Coming up from Clare Equestrian, the unnamed grey gelding is a seven-year-old by Chippison out of a Cruising mare and was described as now competing under SJI rules following his introduction at training shows. There was a lot to like about this strong type who appeared to live up to his billing as easy and well-balanced.

An English cash buyer gave the day’s second highest price of €8,200 for Leitrim vendor John Mulligan’s home-bred Mohill Quattro (Lot 85), a 10-year-old dark brown mare who has almost 100 SJI points.

Also acquired for cash from across the water for €7,600 was Lot 96A, Mullinalaghta Lady. Consigned to the sale by Co Longford’s Declan Murray, this eight-year-old grey by Luke Skywalker attracted spirited bidding and went on the market at €6,000. She is an excellent example of a modern Irish Draught and should do well in breed performance classes.

The top-priced four-year-old was similarly acquired for €6,800. Consigned by Wexford’s Fionnan Nolan, Dakota (Lot 169) is a grey gelding from the first full crop of the Grade A jumper Royale Cruise out of a Coevers Diamond Boy mare.

Ponies

There was a strong selection of ponies, two of whom made €5,600. Scotland’s Arthur McNabney acquired the dun gelding Lonesome Luke (Lot 18) from his Co Clare breeder, Michael O’Looney. The purebred Connemara, who is by Shackleton out of an Earl Of Newbridge mare, started registered jumping on St Patrick’s Day and now has 22 SJI points.

Heading to Germany having been purchased by Reinhold Distel is Lot 39, Paddys Flower, who was consigned to the sale by Co Cork’s Kathryn Lynch. The six-year-old grey mare, who has no recorded breeding, started registered jumping in March last year and now has 83 SJI points. She has jumped well in six- and seven-year-old classes.

Accompanied by year-old daughter Vera, Paddy Looney, Europe business manager with Horseware, spent one of two days home in Ireland at the sale and acquired Lot 30, Michael O’Looney’s Ballyea Beaux, for a friend in Sweden for €5,000. The five-year-old dun gelding, who has competed at training shows, is by the Connemara Leag.