Farming Eye

Last Friday’s sale of sheepdogs at Skipton once again produced some great prices, with a top call of 3000gns paid for a black-and-white bitch from Andrew Throup, Marchup Fly. This one is a full sister to 8000gns Marchup Midge and 5000gns Marchup Sam and joined an undisclosed north west Scotland buyer.

Fly is by Roy, the 2008 World Sheep Dog Trials champion and 2007 International Supreme winner from Welshman Aled Owen, Penyfed, Tŷ-Nant, Corwen, Denbighshire, out of Calderdale Sue, a top quality bitch acquired in 2009 by Mr Throup from Lancashire breeder Stuart Bennett, Trawden.

Shaun Richards, Watson Laithe, Hapton, Burnley, was again to the fore when selling two fully home-bred dogs by his own Clyde at 2700gns and 2500gns, the second and joint third highest prices of the day.

The former was an 18-month-old black and white dog, Tim, which joined Stephen Robinson,  Sykes Farm, Dunsop Bridge in the Trough of Bowland. Already working well with both cattle and sheep, Tim will be used for exactly that purpose as a fell dog on Mr Robinson’s hill flock, predominantly Swaledales, along with a number of Cheviots. He also keeps suckler cows.

Earlier in the day, Mr Richards achieved 2500gns with an older dog, Jess, a three-year-old black and white bitch, which sold to a regular buyer from Wales

Also selling at 2500gns was another well-bred three-year-old black and white bitch, Fly, from John Atkinson, who is shepherd on the Escrick Park Estate, York. He also runs White Rose Sheep Dogs, training top-notch trial dogs, as well as selling them extensively across Europe, Japan and America.

Mr Atkinson’s latest offering Fly is by Cap, bred in Northern Ireland by County Antrim’s Michael Gallagher – the duo won the 2010 International Trials and finished third in the 2011 World Sheep Dog Trials. Out of fellow Irish breeder G Montgomery’s Tess and already a nursery trial winner, Fly sold locally to Lothersdale’s Geoff Booth.

A Welsh-bred tri-coloured dog, Taff, from Geoff Gordon, of Llanrhidian in Glamorgan, then sold well at 2400gns to a regular buyer and triallist from the Scottish Borders, Joe McRobert, who runs Cheviot Sheepdogs at Fingland, Biggar, Lanarkshire.

The three-year-old, who turns four next month, is by A J Corrigan’s Jim, out of C J Gordon’s Jess, and has already made his mark on the trials field, performing well in nurseries to become the highest pointed novice dog in Glamorgan.

by Jonathan Long

The world record price paid for a working sheep dog at an official sale was shattered at Skipton Auction Mart in North Yorkshire today as an 18 month old black and white bitch from Shaun Richards, Burnley, sold for 8000gns.

Shaun Richards, left, with his new 8000gns world record price sheep dog Marchup Midge, joined by buyer Eddie Thornalley.

It smashed the previous world record price of 6000gns, also achieved at Skipton in February last year by a 13-month-old tri-coloured bitch from John Bell, of Parks Farm Howden, Selby. This new record holder sold to Suffolk shepherd Eddie Thornalley, of Worlington.

Midge is by Roy, the 2008 World Sheep Dog Trials owned by Welshman Aled Owen, of Penyfed, Tŷ-Nant, Corwen, Denbighshire. Her dam is Calderdale Sue, owned locally by Andrew Throup, of Silsden. Midge is a full sister to Marchup Sam, sold by Mr Richards at Skipton’s summer working dogs sale in July this year for 5000gns.

by Chrissie Long

Yesterday’s closing working dog sale of the season at Lazonby saw an eager trade, with the top price of the day paid for Dot consigned by Shaun Richards, Watson Laithes Farm, Hapton, this October 2009-born bitch was knock down to Jim Fraser, Auchnarrow Farm , Glenlivet, Morayshire.

The same purchaser also secured the second top price dog, Upland Moss. This 11 month old dog was consigned by Pennant Williams of Pen-Y- Bryn, Treuddyn, Mold and made 2400gns.

Other leading prices for working dogs included bids of 2200gns, 1800gns, 1700gns and 1500gns, while the unbroken dogs topped at 380gns. (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long

Skipton Auction’s Mart’s summer sale of working sheep dogs was a complete flyer on Friday with the second highest price in the world ever paid at an official sale, plus a four-figure price for a pup under six months old.

Shaun Richards, Hapton, Burnley, achieved the first feat with a 15-month-old black and white dog that made 5000gns, while Beverley Fort, Steeton, Keighley, sold a five-and-a-half-months-old brown and white bitch pup for 1000gns.

Mr Richards’ classy dog Marchup Sam, an excellent prospect for the trials field, was bred locally by Andrew Throup, of Silsden. Her dam is Calderdale Sue, while the sire is Aled Owen’s Roy, with whom he won the International Sheep Dog Society-organised World Trials in 2008 and the 2007 International Supreme.

It was Mr Richards’ best-ever performance in terms of price at the North Yorkshire venue. He said the achievement was even more fulfilling, as he had only been working with Marchup Sam for a little over a month. While he sold locally and will be used as both a work and trials dog, the buyer requested anonymity.

In addition, Mr Richards made 3500gns with his two-year black and white bitch Poppy, who found a new home in Aberdeenshire. Poppy is also by Mr Owen’s Roy, out of Maddie, bred in Caton, Lancashire, by Tom Huddleston, secretary and treasurer of the English National Sheep Dog Trials, which take place this Thursday to Saturday (Aug 2-4) at Over Kellet, Carnforth.

Beverley Fort’s 1000gns bitch Marchup Roxy was also bred in Silsden by Andrew Throup. She is a daughter of Jace, while the sire is Staff, from J Richardson, who has produced many winning trials dogs. Roxy’s new Scottish Highlands owner, Tracey Sutherland, of Caithness, is hopeful her smart acquisition will also go to prove herself on the trials field in next year’s nurseries.

The second highest price of the day at 3800gns fell to an exciting nursery prospect, Hillmoor Blu, a 22-month-old tri-coloured bitch from Skipton sale debutant John Atkinson, who is shepherd on the Escrick Park Estate near York, owned by renowned conservationist and sporting gun Charlie Forbes-Adams.

by Chrissie Long

Top price of the day at Bentham and District’s annual sale of working sheep dogs was a bid of 2500gns from Messrs Raine of Coach and Horses securing the purchase of Woody, a three year old registered dog from well known handler Derek Scrimgeour.

Messrs Campbell travelled from Argyle to sell Fly, a two and a half year old Black and White Registered bitch which made 2050gns to Mr Atkinson of South Milford. Other leading prices included; William Huddleston with Bill 1900gns; Oliver Brown with Meg 1750gns; John Bell with Mirk 1700gns.

And catching the eye towards the end of the sale was David Mackereth of Workington with two eight month old bitches, Nip and Ness, which were extremely well schooled for their age making 1400gns and 1050gns, both to Richard Postlethwaite, Bampton.

by Chrissie Long

Last Friday’s sale of working sheep dogs at Skipton was headed at 4000gns by a 13 month old black-and-white bitch, Gin, from Lancastrian Shaun Richards.

Buying the sale leader was regular sale supporter Eddie Thornalley, Mildenhall, Suffolk, who is shepherd for Andrew Foulds, Elveden, Thetford. Mr Thornalley was making his third consecutive visit to the North Yorkshire venue to buy dogs presented by Mr Richards.

Skipton has for long been a happy hunting ground for John Bell, Howden, Selby, who has frequently headed the  prices with quality broken dogs.

This time round he achieved the day’s second best price, a 3250gns bid with his 15-month-old Scottish-bred tri-coloured bitch Tess, by Caithness-based M A Cook’s Spot, out of Dot, from Jock Sutherland, Sangormore, Durness, in the Scottish Highlands. Tess found a new home with Keith Fawcett, of Argill House, South Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen.

Shaun Richards was back in the money again when taking the third highest price on the day of 2850gns with his two-year-old black and white dog Barfield Nap, by Alec Baines’ Tan Hill Taz, out of Wenndale Roz, bred by Richard Briggs, Wennington, Bentham. He sold to a regular buyer from Wales.

With younger dogs coming through at home, Welshman Meirion Williams, Llwyn Onn, Brooks, Welshpool, performed well with two well-proven fully homebred October, 2010-born entries, both by the same parents, Rob and Fizz, who have also been responsible for other high price Skipton performers from Mr Williams. First up at 2600gns was Zac, while the black and white bitch Gwen made 2400gns.

John Bell also sold two further dogs, including a younger entry, Omega Moss, a 12-month-old son of Welshman Aled Owen’s International Supreme and World Trials champion Roy, out of D G Lightfoot’s Nell, for 2500gns.

by Jonathan Long

Lazonby Mart’s annual sale of working and unbroken sheep dogs and puppies saw a fantastic entry of 61 dogs forward and a new centre record of 4000gns set for Barfield Roy from Messrs R Hutchinson, Bowes. This dog showed an abundance of style and ability throughout his run and met spirited bidding from the offset before being knocked down to Messrs Stobbart, Croglin High Hall.

Other prices included 3050gns and 3000gns for dogs from Watson Laithe Farm; 2700gns for Setmabanning Farm, 2300gns for Thornton, 2000gns for Itonfield Cottage, 1900gns for Debdon Farm, 1800gns for Argill House, 1800gns for Gaisgill Farm and 1400gns for Woodmans Cottage. Working dogs levelled up at £1690.50 (+386.75) and unbroken dogs averaged £193.20 (+£73.03).

by Chrissie Long