Top notch dogs from Wales and Ireland were responsible for the three leading prices at the autumn sale of working sheep dogs at Skipton Auction Mart last Friday.
Welsh trialist Meirion Williams, of Llwyn Onn, Brooks, Welshpool in Powys, achieved top call of the day at 4,000 guineas (£4,200) - his best-ever price at Skipton - with his three-year-old black and white dog Barnie, a fully home-bred son of Pandy Rob, out of Fiz, whose breeding lines go back to fellow Welsh breeder Richard Millichap's 2003 reserve Supreme champion Ben.
Placed in both nursery and open novice trials, Barnie had already accrued ten National points in the hands of Mr Williams. He is a little brother to two bitches from the same breeder and with the same parents that headed the prices at 3,900gns (£4,095) and 3,600gns (£3,780) respectively at Skipton's May, 2010, working dogs sale.
Barnie was said to be a reluctant sale in order to make room for some highly promising up-and-coming young dogs, also by Pandy Rob and Fiz, in the Williams training fold. "I was sorry to see him go," said Mr Williams, who over the years has notched up some 30 placings on the trials field. Barnie's new owner requested anonymity.
Northern Ireland's Seamus Gormley, of Kilcreen Sheep Dog Centre in Claudy, Co Derry, set the early pace when his 16-month-old black and white dog Dick sold for 3,500gns (£3,675) to a regular customer in South Wales.
Dick, newly broken by Mr Gormley, a noted sheep dog trainer and handler who has twice represented his country in the Supreme Trials, is by Glen, also bred in Northern Ireland by County Antrim's John Murphy, of Shanes Castle. Mr Gormley also owned Gale's father Jim, bought from fellow Welshman Jim Dyson.
With excellent potential as a trials dog, Dick's dam is Lin, now owned by County Antrim's Alec McClintock and bred in Scotland by David Shannon. "He is a tremendous dog in every way," said Mr Gormley.
The same vendor later transferred his interest to the ringside when paying 2,500gns (£2,625) for Barfield Glen, an 18-month-old from Roger Marsden, of Teesway, Darlington. His new acquisition is by Tanhill Taz, bred by seasoned English trialist Richard Hutchinson, from Littledale in Lancashire, out of Wendale Roz, herself a product of Wendale Star, bred in Wales by Aled Owen, the 2008 World Trials champion.
Also achieving 3,500gns was another well-known Welsh breeder and trialist Huw Francis, of Penllwyn Farm, Llanfyllin, Welshpool, Powys, with his 21-month-old tri-coloured dog Cammen Chip, by his own Moss, out of Cammen Queen, bred by near neighbour Hywel Watkins.
The sire is held in high regard by his breeder. "We have sold many good dogs by Moss," said Mr Francis, a regular vendor who has averaged well over 2,000gns with his Skipton-sold dogs, though Cammen Chip was his best-ever price at the venue when joining a buyer from the Midlands.
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