Leading Peeblesshire-based sheepdog breeder and handler, Dean Aitken, produced the second highest priced trained lot at £7400, at a timed online sale of working dogs through Farmers Marts, Dolgellau.

The event, which attracted an entry of 142 dogs and pups, saw Mr Aitken sell Tweeddale Niki, a home-bred fully trained 2.5-year-old bitch to a new home in the USA.

Backed by the best of genetics, Niki is out of Mr. Aitken’s own trial bitch Viki which boasts eight consecutive generations of home-bred females going back to his original Jill by JHT Bathgates VIC. Viki was also the trial bitch that enabled Mr Aitken to be part of this year’s Scottish National.

Equally notable, Niki is by VIC Morris’ Gwyn which sired a £25,500 dog for David Henderson, Northumberland in 2022.

The top price was £8700 paid for Gelli Rod, a two-year-old dog from Welsh handler, D Howells, Port Talbot, which sold to Pat and Micheal Byrne, Ireland.

No fewer than 21 entries sold at or above the £4000 mark with several lots selling abroad, including the lead entry from well-known Welsh trialist, Kevin Evans. His Glant Jan made £5750 to a handler in Italy.

Mr Evans also sold the second highest priced partly trained entry, Kemi Emma, at £5150 to a sheep farmer in Argyllshire.

Another from Wales, J Jones’ Brondrefawr Fly, by Tanhill Glen, made £5500 when selling to a new owner in the same country near Powys.

Other top trained entries saw A Moran’s Nap make £5250 to a farmer in Cornwall.

Partly trained dogs reached a high of £7700 for Michael Healy’s 13-month-old black and white bitch, Jodi from Annaghmore, Killarney, Co Kerry. This young bitch was purchased by a sheep farmer in Llangadog.

The 21 sheepdog pups forward met a 95% clearance and averaged £1397 having sold to £4150 for N Matthews’ bitch, Ikara Jen from Ebbw Vale, which found a new home in Broughton.

Mr Matthews also sold the second highest priced pup, Hilltop Peak at £3300.

Overall, the sale saw an 82% clearance, with trained entries averaging £3405; partly trained at £1754, and pups at £1397. The sale average was £2210.