IRISH sheepdog handlers, Brian White and Aoife Smith, from Naul, Dublin, topped Skipton Auction Mart’s summer sale of working sheep dogs with their four dogs selling to a top of 7200gns and a combined sum of £21,105.
Leading the sale of 142 dogs was the couple’s 17-month-old black and white Ben, by Ricky Hutchinson’s International reserve supreme champion, Sweep, from Litteldale – which has bred numerous trial winners across the globe, including Brian and Aoife’s previous top price dog at 9200gns here in May.
Out of fellow Irish breeder and trialist Pat Murphy’s Ballyglass Rosie, Ben was knocked down to Welsh handler and trialist, Nigel Watkins, Panthowell, Llanoldewsant, Llangadog. 

The Scottish Farmer:

         Ben led the sale at 7200gns

The young couple also sold the next top priced lot at 5700gns. This was paid for their 29-month-old black and white dog, Jack, bred by Pat Byrne, Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon. He is sired by Mr Byrne’s Lad, out of Kerri, and sold to Welsh trialist Kevin Evans, Penclyn, Modrydd, Powys.
Next highest disclosed price was 4000gns for a previous nursery trial winning bitch, Jill, a September 2014-born bitch from regular vendor, William Torrens, Castlederg, Belfast. Cumbrian trialist, Arthur Temple, of Holmrook, forked out the cash for this entry.
Brian and Aoife were back in the money at 3800gns when they sold the 21-month-old, Malta Bess, bred by Northern Ireland’s Carlaine Thom, of Malta Border Collies in County Tyrone. Sired by Jake, from Scottish team member, Norman McDonald from Dalbeattie, she fell to phone bidder, Kathy Acres, Hedon, near Hull.

Averages: Registered dogs, £2580; registered bitches, £2584; unregistered bitches, £2625; unbroken registered dogs, £705; unbroken registered bitches, £617.