August Clifden Sales Report
The annual August Connemara Pony Sales were held at Clifden Mart on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August, 2010.
From a catalogue of 368 ponies, 297 came through the ring. From these, 185 lots were sold. Well known horse dealer, Bob Sweeney from Ballina, Co Mayo purchased 32 lots. These ponies ranged in price from €1700 to €4000 and the majority of these are bound for markets abroad.
The highest priced lot over the two days was a 5 yr old, Class 1 mare, sold by Ann Connaughton, Athlone and purchased by Mr. A Pendeur from the UK. This mare fetched €4,700. Lot 37, a 4 year old mare, by Cremully Western Melody and out of Western Lady, was sold by Michael Mitchell, Bushypark, Galway and purchased by Ed Crotty, Co Waterford for €4600.
Peter Fleming from Ballinrobe, Co Mayo produced his 12 year old mare, Ballygarris Dawn with her colt foal at foot by Newbridge Bosco in pristine condition. Joop de Jong from Holland, purchased this duo for €4000 and was very pleased with his purchase.
Lot 117, a 5 year old gelding broken and ridden with 15 SJI points fetched €4000, Padraic Cahill from Ballina was the vendor.
Lot 108, a 7 year old gelding by I Love You Melody, broken and ridden and was a finalist in the 2006 All Ireland Loose Jumping was sold for €3600.
Highest demand was for 5 year old and upwards, broken and riding. Quality brood mares with desirable blood lines were well sought after. This was evident with the two highest priced ponies, Lot 52 & Lot 37.
19 ponies sold from between €3000 and €3750. 29 lots sold from the price bracket €2000 to €2900. 33 ponies were sold overseas, 15 to France, 16 to the UK and 2 to Holland. 14 ponies were sold to Northern Ireland with the remainder of the lots being sold throughout Ireland.
The next Connemara Pony Sale in Clifden will be held over 5 days, commencing Thursday, October 21st until Monday October 25th (inclusive) – Bank Holiday Weekend. Entries for this sale close on Friday, September 17th 2010. All enquiries, Tel: 095-21 861
While the Mart at Clifden is a welcome outlet for those breeders wishing to sell and those individuals wishing to purchase. It is some what disappointing that all the lots advertised in the catalogue are not purchased through the medium of the auction ring. Mr Bob Sweeney continuously purchases stock (mostly geldings)before they enter the ring.It is very unfair and misleading to those that travel from afar to arrive at the mart and await a particular lot number only to find it has already been purchased. This has already been brought to the attention of the mart and they have posted notices to the effect that all lots must go through the ring. However this has been blatantly ignored by the aforementioned Mr Sweeney and he continues on with his practice.I believe that the mart are responsible to ensure that this does not continue and give everyone a fair chance to compete at auction. Otherwise the mart may be heading towards being a fair where it is a free for all. So Padraic do the right thing, maintain the mart,be fair to those that travel from near and abroad and ban this unfair practice. If Bob Sweeney needs Geldings he will compete for them.
Well fair play to you John, it’s refreshing to hear from someone who has an opinion and is not afraid to put his name to his comments.
A general question regarding exportation…. , I presume you have some general information on approximate costs to import to Canada or the USA.
by air?
by Sea?
what requirements are involved in Quarantine?
Information that people interested in Connemaras would like to know.
Thank you.
Reg Corkum
Hi Reg – we’re working on getting that info together for you. We should have something publishable in the next day or so. Good comment!