Quality well-bred, fully broken dogs were keenly sought at Skipton Auction Mart’s sale of working sheep dogs, selling to a top of 7900gns to average in excess of £5000.

Welsh handler and trialist Dewi Jenkins from Tynygraig, Talybont, topped the trade with his 20-month-old black and white bitch, Aran Mia. She is by his 2016-born Clwyd Bob, related to multiple champions on both sides and himself a son of main stud dog Jock – International supreme champion in 2022.

Mia is also a daughter of Gwenno and was acquired part-broken among a litter of three from Alun Jones, Bala, North Wales. Now fully broken, she sold to Jon Arne Sand, of Lier in Viken County, Norway. The 74-year-old sheep farmer is an accomplished trialist who bought his first dog here in 2021, paying £12,800 for one from Kevin Evans.

Second top price was 6200gns for the 26-month-old black and white bitch, Meg, from Craig Kempson, Waterfoot, Rossendale. She is sired by Kevin Evans’ dual European Nursery and Royal Welsh champion, Tanhill Glen and out of fellow Rossendale breeder Janine Ashworth’s Dairada Penny. Meg sold to a Northumberland sheep and cattle farmer.

Tony Birkett, Carnforth, took 6000gns for the three-year-old black and white dog, Spot, by Kevin Evans’ red Spot, a German import that has also had a big impact on dog prices. He is out of Tony’s own Ruby, herself a daughter of Ricky Hutchinson’s 2015 reserve supreme champion, Sweep. Spot sold to Jock Sutherland, Sangormore, Durness.

Arfon Roberts, Abergele, received 5000gns for Tan, a 15-month-old red, white and tan daughter of Jed, from Andrew Procter, Great Musgrave, Kirkby Stephen. Bred from Arfon’s own Sally, Tan, was knocked down to a Midlands-based buyer.

Up-and-coming handler, 18-year-old Caleb Russell also came up with the goods, taking 4000gns on his first foray into the sheep dog sales with his rising three-year-old black and white bitch, Nell, a gift as a pup from his father, Ian Ibbotson. Nell was knocked down to Ribble Valley’s Ian Lancaster on behalf of a customer.

Selling up to Jedburgh with Frank Hickson at 3400gns, Northern Ireland-based Michael McAlister, Glenariffe, sold the 16-month-old black and white bitch, Sally, by Braehead Lad, out of his own Lynn.

Averages: Fully broken dogs – Eight registered dogs, £3018.75; seven registered bitches £5040.

Auctioneers: CCM.