A home-bred black and white dog from Brian White and Aoife Smith, from Naul in North County Dublin, secured the lead price of 9200gns at the spring sale of working sheep dogs at Skipton Auction Mart.

The couple sold their 17-month-old dog, Moss, back to Co Roscommon breeder, Pat Byrne, Knockcroghery, who was most impressed by the dog's trial run at the event.

“I wanted a really good dog and went to see Moss in action on his home ground, and also his mother, Gwen, working, which was very important to me, as it’s all down to good breeding,” said Mr Byrne, who will rely on the dog for his 280-strong flock of Suffolk and Cheviot sheep, and Limousin and Charolais cattle.

Moss is out of the couple's own bitch Malta Gwen, bred by Carlaine Thom, of Malta Border Collies, based in Co Tyrone, and was bred to Ricky Hutchinson's Sweep – an International reserve supreme champion that has bred numerous trial winners across the world.

Next highest disclosed price was 4400gns paid by Highlands' sheep producer, Jock Sutherland, Sangormore, Durness, who went to this money for Gill, a 19-month-old black and white bitch from Shaun Richards, who runs Pen-y-Borough Sheep Dogs in Eldroth, above Settle. She was bred in Scotland by JJ Templeton, and is by his Spot, out of Sky.

Mr Richards also received 4000gns for his home-bred November 2015-born black and white bitch, Pen-y-Borough Ann, by Andrew Throup's Marchup Roger. Ann is out of the since sold Derwen Lassie, and sold to Welsh triallist Kevin Evans, of Penclyn Farm, Modrydd, Brecon.

Mr Evans also went to 4400gns for the 16-month-old, Jet, from Welsh handler and trialist Brynley Williams, of Ysceifiog, near Holywell in Flintshire. Bred by M Holt’s Rob, Jet is out of Titch.

Irish trialist Michael Gallagher, from Armoy in Co Antrim, achieved 3800gns for his two-year-old black and white bitch, Templemoyle Hope, a daughter by AP Ward’s Ben, out of Geraldine McCloskey’s Pippa. She found a new home in the Scottish Borders with regular buyer Joe McRobert, Fingland, near Biggar in Lanarkshire.

In an all Welsh transaction, Ross Games, of Talgarth in southern Powys, sold his 13-month-old tri-coloured bitch, Nan for 3700gns, to R Lewis, Cardiff. Mr Games' entry, out of his brother Arran’s Kemi Pop, sold here last October for 2200gns, by fellow Welsh breeder Pennant Williams’ Sweep.

Another 3700gns bid was achieved by Alec Baines, of Tanhill Sheepdogs at Skirrygil Farm, South Stainmoor, Kirkby Stephen, with his home-bred November 2014-born black and white dog, Tanhill Jock. She is out of his own Tanhill Jess, by Welsh breeder IB Jones’ trials winner Tim and sold to form Irish National winner, John Brennan, of Templemore in Co Tipperary.

Regular vendor, John Bell, of Parks Farm, Howden, Selby, sold two 16-month-old dogs from the same litter at 3750gns and 3500gns. Both were by Kevin Evans’ Moss, out of the Irish-bred Tara, from Seamus Gormley, of Kilcreen Sheep Dog Centre in Claudy, Co Derry. Buying back some of their own genetics, the former, the black and white Kilcreen Don, sold to Mr Gormley, while the latter, Kilcreen Rob, was knocked down to Mr Evans.

Willie Goldie, Barrhead, Dalrymple in East Ayrshire, paid 2500gns for Come Bye Glyn, a May, 2015 ,home-bred brown and white dog from J Griffiths, of Brecon, Powys.

Top price in the unbroken pen was 1400gns paid for Northern Ireland’s Geraldine McCloskey, of Temple Moyle Sheepdogs in Dungiven, County Derry, with her three-month-old Ruby, by her husband Canice’s Pippa, which is daughter of James McCloskey’s Sweep, winner of the 2016 International Sheepdog Trials, by Brendan McAllister’s Spot.

Ruby’s buyer was Cotswolds farm manager Dick Roper, the reigning One Man and His Dog champion and International Sheep Dog Society English national president.

In the broken section, 31 registered dogs sold from 400gns to 9200gns, to average £2207); 17 registered bitches sold from 150gns to 4440gns to level at £2501. Overall, 48 registered dogs averaged £2312. Unregistered dogs saw four sell from 750gns to 2500gns to average £1509, with three bitches changing hands from 750gns to 1400gns with an average £1172.

Unbroken entries saw 11 registered dogs sell from 280gns to 1120gns to average £580 and nine registered bitches sell between 200gns and 1400gns to level at £531.