Working Dogs Peak at 2,000gns at Skipton Sale
27/01/09

Two top calls of 2,000 guineas were the highlights of the opening working sheep dogs fixture of the year at Skipton Auction Mart. (Fri, Jan 23)

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The winter sale saw a stronger trade for dogs of all standards, with interest from throughout the UK and Ireland, while local handlers found plenty of demand in the part-broken section.

The first high of 2,000gns was achieved for Quinn, a rough-coated registered black and white dog from Frank Noble, Bishop Auckland. By RM Millichap’s Ben and approaching his third year, Quinn joined Scottish handler Kenny Dickson, of Stirling.

It was the closing bid of the day that secured the second joint high when Whist, a three-year-old black and white registered dog from James Burrow, Silverdale, Carnforth, was acquired by Nigel Watkins, South Wales, for Irish handler Allistair Lyttle, of Pettigo, County Donegal.

Mr Lyttle, a member of the Irish national team, who finished third in last year’s Irish National Sheep Dog Trials, was sixth in the International Trials and won through to the semi-finals of the World Trials, also paid 2,000gns for a dog at Skipton’s autumn sale last October.

His latest acquisition, by Robin Dean’s Roy, out of Mr Burrow’s own Scott, has won and been placed in nursery trials. Mr Lyttle says he will be putting Whist through his paces before considering a potential future on the trials field.

Other leading prices included three successful bids of 1,800 guineas for Myllin Jim, from Welsh breeder Huw Francis, Penllwyn, Powys – he too sold a dog at Skipton’s autumn sale for 2,000gns –“Jaff” from Sean Richards, Hapton, Burnley, and another “Jaff” from Trevor Smith, Hebden Bridge.

Welsh breeder, Brynnley Williams, Hollywell, sold Elwy Holly for 1,750gns, and Adrian Dowson, Battle Hill, Barnard Castle, Tom for 1,600gns.

Broken dogs sold to 2,000gns (av £1,433), part-broken to 980gns (£551), unbroken to 120gns and broken Bearded Collies to 700gns (av £578).

The 2009 working dogs season at Skipton continues on Friday, May 22, with the Spring sale, followed by the Summer sale on Friday, September 4, and the Autumn sale on Friday, October 30.

Many Skipton-sold dogs have gone on to bigger and better things in national and international trials arenas.

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