Lerwick Pony Sale Report

​

​The 58th Annual Lerwick Shetland Pony Show and Sale was held on Friday 6th October 2017 at the Shetland Rural Centre. The Pony Breeders of Shetland Association (PBSA) in conjunction with Shetland Livestock Marketing Group (SLMG) and Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) once again hosted the sale of registered pedigree ponies. There were 75 ponies entered for the sale with 74 forward, a slight increase on numbers from 2016 and once again all very good quality ponies.....

The 58th Annual Lerwick Shetland Pony Show and Sale was held on Friday 6th October 2017 at the Shetland Rural Centre. The Pony Breeders of Shetland Association (PBSA) in conjunction with Shetland Livestock Marketing Group (SLMG) and Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) once again hosted the sale of registered pedigree ponies. There were 75 ponies entered for the sale with 74 forward, a slight increase on numbers from 2016 and once again all very good quality ponies. The ponies began arriving at the Mart on the Thursday afternoon prior to the sale and exhibitors and potential buyers were invited to socialise together and enjoyed a fantastic spread of sandwiches and home bakes laid on by the PBSA.




The show of ponies to be sold commenced at 9am on the Friday immediately prior to the sale with good entries in all classes. The Judge for this year’s show was Mrs Kay Gibb who travelled from Aberdeenshire to officiate. She remarked on the good quality of the stock that came in front of her and praised the efforts of the Pony Breeders of Shetland.


The Best Filly foal and Champion Foal at the show was the Standard Cream Chestnut Dun Loanin Morgan from Mrs J I Roberts, Unst. The best Colt Foal was the Miniature Chestnut Bergli Lucky from Bergli Stud, Walls. Overall Show Champion was the 39” Black 2 year old Filly Hestigeo My-Verdandi from Mrs I Dickie, Yell. Reserve Champion was the 15 year old 39” Bay Mare Grutness Fudge from Mrs E M D Flaws, Sumburgh.

​
The sale commenced at 11am and was broadcast live via i-bidder. After the success of the i-bidder Online Auction system, over the last 3 years, those involved were hopeful of another good response from buyers unable to attend the sale. Photographs and details of the lots for sale were available to be viewed online for several weeks prior to the sale to generate interest and give buyers a chance to make enquiries and choose their purchase. On the day a live audio and video feed of the show and sale was streamed online enabling the whole world to watch with many ponies being sold through i-bidder.


This year again saw an increase in buyers from out with Shetland travelling to the Islands to purchase ponies with a positive atmosphere on sale day. The sale was slow to start but gained momentum and prices were better across the board this year with some strong competition for a few ponies. This was reflected in some better average prices compared to 2016 with mares, fillies and filly foals having more than doubled and better overall average prices than the Aberdeen sale, which took place 3 days later. Huge thanks to Alan Donald of ANM and to auctioneer Rod MacKenzie for doing such a fantastic job for all concerned.


Show Results
Miniature Filly Foal

1. Tyla of Kirkatown – D. Laurenson – 300gns to Claire Felton, Hartlepool
2. Burnside Daisy – Dennis Johnson – 260gns to Julie Christie, Ellon
3. Bergli Alexis – Bergli Stud – 1400gns to S & G Cross, Milton Keynes

Miniature Colt Foal

1. Bergli Lucky – Bergli Stud – Not Sold
2. Gue Sprinter – Carole Laignel – 80gns to Nina Murray-Kiestra, Inverness
3. Robin’s Brae Valiant – Lorna Burgess – 200gns to Nina Murray-Kiestra, Inverness

Standard Filly Foal

1. Loanin Morgan – Jem Roberts – 360gns to G. McIntosh, Ayrshire
2. Robin’s Brae Viola – I. Burgess & L. Smith – 660gns to Jane Smith, Middleton
3. Moorens Devon – Dennis Johnson – 90gns to Kenneth Roberts, Kilwinning

Standard Colt Foal

1. Happyhansel Thorfinn – Vaila Cumming – Not Sold
2. Muness Maestro – Lisa Hunter – 40gns to Claire Felton, Hartlepool
3. Bergli Norseman – Bergli Stud – Not Sold

1, 2 & 3 yrs Fillies

1. Hestigeo My-Verdandi – Ingrid Dickie – Not Sold
2. Merkisayre Dawn – George Tait – 160gns to Thomas Lochtie, Tillicoultry
3. Gue Rosalie – Carole Laignel – 300gns to Michael Laurenson, Lerwick

1, 2 & 3 yrs Colt or Gelding

1. Burnside Soldier – Dennis Johnson – 20gns to Kenneth Roberts, Kilwinning
2. Pip Squeek of Haybrake – Lauraine Manson – Not Sold

Mares 4 yrs and Over

1. Grutness Fudge – Myrna Flaws – 300gns to Peter Hunter, Unst
2. Muness Zara – Gordon Douglas – 280 to Joe Howard, Castle Douglas
3. Burnside Mystic – Ingrid Dickie – 1020gns to George Tait, Burra

Entire Male/Gelding 4 yrs or Over

1. Merkisayre 9 Carat Gold – George Tait – 520gns to George Gold, Beith
2. Hjaltland Ragnar – Mari Williamson – 440gns to D. Zblewski, Muir of Ord
3. Robin’s Brae Kellan – Lorna Burgess – Not Sold

Best Filly Foal entered in the sale: Loanin Morgan
Best Colt Foal entered in the sale: Bergli Lucky
Champion Foal: Loanin Morgan
Overall Champion: Hestigeo My-Verdandi
Reserve Champion: Grutness Fudge
Stranduff Rosebowl – Best filly foal from all Shetland Shows: Loanin Morgan
Irvine Cup - Best colt foal from all the Shetland Shows: Bergli Lucky


Average Prices
17 Filly Foals averaged – 411gns
19 Colt Foals averaged – 84gns
11 Fillies averaged – 372gns
3 Colts averaged – 40gns
2 Geldings averaged – 105gns
2 Stallions averaged – 480gns
11 Mares averaged – 484gns


Leading Prices
Filly Foals: Bergli Alexis 1400gns to S & G Cross, Milton Keynes. Robin’s Brae Vienna 1100gns to M. Tomlinson, Southport


Colt Foals: Robin’s Brae Vulcan 320gns to C. J. Anderson, Dumfries. Robin’s Brae Valiant 200gns to Nina Murray-Kiestra, Inverness


Fillies: Bergli Tima 1070gns to A. Preston, Stranrar. Bergli Pandora 760gns to A. Preston, Stranraer


Colts: Swarthoull Gambler 80gns to Lynda Cochrane, Kilwinning. Burnside Soldier 20gns to Kenneth Roberts, Kilwinning


Mares: Burnside Mystic 1020gns to George Tait, Burra. Pringlewood Edina 700gns to Joe Howard, Castle Douglas


Stallions: Merkisayre 9 Carat Gold 520gns to George Gold, Beith. Hjaltland Ragnar 440gns to D. Zblewski, Muir of Ord


Geldings: Breckenlea Krave 140gns to D. H. Thomas, Wales. Merkisayre Commadore 70gns to Kenneth Roberts, Kilwinning


Huge thanks to Northlink Ferries, Harbro Limited and Mark Donaldson for their continued support.