TWO 11-month-old litter sisters from John Bell stole the show when selling at 4,250gns and 3,400gns respectively at Skipton Auction Mart’s spring working sheepdogs sale, on a day when turnover set a new record high.

Even though now aged 84, Mr Bell, of Parks Farm, Howden, remains one of the UK’s leading sheep dog handlers and he had once again worked his magic on the two youngsters he bought as pups.

Both are tri-coloured bitches. Groesfaen Fern, the second of the sisters to take to the field, handled the sheep slightly better than her twin and commanded the top price when bought by Carmarthenshire’s Nigel Watkins, one of Wales' top-performing sheepdog handlers.

Mr Bell’s other litter sister, Groesfaen Bracken, also caught the eye on the trials field before joining a sheep farmer in North Yorkshire.

North Craven’s Shaun Richards, of Pen-y-Borough Sheep Dogs, Eldroth, who, like John Bell, is a frequent top price achiever at Skipton, stepped up with another talented performer, a black and white dog, Marchup Roger.

It sold for 5,000gns to a Cumbrian bidder who requested anonymity.

Andrew Throup, of Middle Marchup Farm, Silsden, sold a fully home-bred two-year-old black, white and mottled dog, Marchup Ben, for 2,900gns to a buyer from Scotland.

Former BBC One Man and His Dog presenter, Gus Dermody, from Nantwich, sold his two-year-old black and white bitch, Fran, for 3,250gns.

Fran’s buyer was Chris Watmore, who, with his wife Janet, owns and runs the 1,500-acre Holystone Estate near Rothbury in Northumberland. The same buyer also paid 2,000gns for the August, 2010, black and white dog, Cloverhill Ron, who was sold by well-known County Antrim triallist Michael Gallagher.

On his first-ever visit to Skipton, the 2014 One Man and His Dog winner and 2013 Irish National champion, Ireland’s James McClaughlin, of Clonmany, set the early pace when selling his 23-month-old tri-coloured bitch, Gwen, for 3,100gns. She found a new home in south-west Scotland with sheep farmer William Sproat, of Borgue, near Kirkcudbright.

Another 3,100gns achiever was Paul Turnbull, of Kildale, with his experienced five-year-old tri-coloured bitch, Lyn. The buyer was from North Yorkshire.

Kirkby Stephen’s Frank Satterthwaite made 3,000gns when he sold his well-bred August, 2013, tri-coloured bitch, Blue, to Cumbrian beef and sheep farmers Reuben and Hilary Atkinson, of Forest-in-Teesdale.

A 20-month-old tri-coloured dog, Glen, from David Wood, of Bamford, also sold well at 3,000gns. The talented all-rounder found a new home in Cumbria.

Skipton regular Emrys Jones, of Tal y Bont, Gwynedd, achieved 2,950gns with his 14-month-old black and white smooth-coated bitch, Glan y Gors Lass. The dog sold locally to Beverley Fort, of Steeton.

A 2,800gns performer was James McLaughlin’s brother, Owen, also from Clonmany, and again making his Skipton debut with his 12-month-old tri-coloured bitch, Kate. It joined regular Skipton buyer Joe McRobert, who runs Cheviot Sheepdogs at Fingland, near Biggar.

Carnforth’s Tony Birkett achieved 2,500gns with his 14-month-old tri-coloured bitch, Peg. The buyers were C&M Symons, of Yetholm, Kelso, who also paid 2,000gns for another Shaun Richards dog, the August, 2012, black and white bitch Pat.

Chris Taylor, of Keasden in North Craven, made 2,400gns with his November, 2013, tri-coloured bitch, Gayle, who was knocked down to a regular buyer from Wales.

G Fearon, of Keswick, sold his November, 2011, tri-coloured dog, Kemi Dez, for 2,200gns, while Mist, a 15-month-old black and white bitch from Irish breeder CP Kelly, of Dungiven, made 2,050gns. Nap, a two-year-old black and white dog from Belgium breeder Jo De Meyst, from Zwevezele, sold at 2,000gns.

Catching the eye in the pup pen was a four-month-old fully home-bred black and white bitch from Oakworth’s Carol Mellin, which sold for 700gns to Stephen and Helen Robinson in Dunsop Bridge.

With 96 dogs forward, good, solid trade throughout the day was responsible for the new turnover record, with quality broken dogs for both work and trial once again in keen demand. Broken registered dogs averaged £2,217, with part-broken registered dogs selling to 800gns and averaging £440. One broken unregistered dog sold at 820gns.

Skipton’s summer sale of working sheep dogs is now scheduled to take place a week earlier than initially planned on Friday, July 3. Entries close on June 19.