Shaun Richards takes 6000gns top at CCM Autumn working sheep dog sale

The daughter of Welshman Ross Games’ Preseli Bronk, out of fellow South Wales breeder Neil Redman’s Oaktree Lynn, was purchased by Shaun eight months earlier and had been further trained on by the North Craven handler, who has sent out numerous top priced dogs since the inception of sheep dog sales at Skipton in 1996. The buyer requested anonymity.

The same vendor also claimed 1900gns with a younger 13-month-old home-bred black, white and mottled bitch, Pen-Y-Borough Tizz, which sold locally to Geoff Wilson, Malham.

Next best at 5600gns (£5880) was sale regular, Carnforth beef and sheep farmer Colin Birkett, with a February, 2022, black and white bitch, Netherbeck Jenny, by Jedbergh handler Frank Hickson’s Chase, out of the home-bred Millie – a full sister topped Skipton’s previous live sheep dog sale in July at 6000gns.

Colin was running Jenny on behalf of his 18-year-old daughter Ellen, who is studying agriculture at Kendal College. The buyer was John Marsh, a sheep farmer from Eastbourne, who had purposely made the 650-plus return journey north from East Sussex in the hope of obtaining a quality dog after viewing online videos of several potential candidates. “She was the one that I really wanted,” said John, who has attended Skipton gimmer lamb sales in the past.

Meanwhile, Colin reports that he still has one remaining litter sister at home, which may well join her well-sold siblings at a future Skipton sale.

Local handler William Bell, Kelbrook, a retired farmer and fencing contractor who has been supporting working sheep dogs sales at the North Yorkshire venue since they first began in 1996, claimed 5000gns – best of the boys on price - with his March, 2020, black, white and tan dog, Mac, acquired at 12-months-old from Rossendale breeder Frank Ainsworth. Himself an accomplished triallist, William sold Mac, a nice Open trials prospect, to Mark Dale, Goole.

Two field-run dogs topped 4000gns, the best at 4800gns coming from 23-year-old Rossendale shepherdess and triallist Janine Ashworth. Her 16-month-old Valley View Finn is a home-bred son of l Welsh breeder and triallist, Kevin Evans’ Hendre Sam, a Welsh Nursery Champion and multiple Open trials trials winner who is line bred to his dual European Nursery and Royal Welsh champion, Tanhill Glen. A bitch by the same sire made £12200 top at a Skipton online sale. Out of Janine’s Dairada Penny – a full brother was sold privately for 5000gns – Finn went to a phone bidder who requested no publicity.

Hitting 4100gns was another venue regular from Wales, Brynley Williams, Holywell, Flintshire, with his May, 2022, black and white bitch, Penny, by Jonah, the 2021 English National and International Brace Champion in the hands of Ricky Hutchinson, Littledale Sheepdogs, Lancaster. The Scottish buyer was Ben Edmondson, Eskdalemuir, Lockerbie, who farms 1000 North Country Cheviots on a 2000-acre hill farm.

Four dogs sold at 3000gns and above, a brace consigned by former Manx National Sheep Dog Trials winner Richard Crowe, from Michael on the Isle of Man. Topping at 3550gns was his 18-month-old black and white bitch, Intack Bee, by Lancashire breeder and triallist Michael Longton’s Rooten Brook Max, going to Wales with G Howells, Carmarthen. Richard also claimed 3100gns with a fully home-bred May, 2023, black and white bitch, Elsye, purchased by Auchenchey Ltd, Dumfries.

Robin Bell, again heading down from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, achieved 3500gns with a July, 2023-born red and white bitch, Isla, by DM Bevan’s Noadevind Nyal, out of Frank Hickson’s Dollar. The buyer of the promising nursery prospect was SC Barron, Thirsk.

Making 3000gns was Kirklees vendor Jack Haigh, Golcar, with another young dog, a May, 2023, red white and mottled bitch, Wholestone Red, by Lynn Howells’ red and white dog, Boss, out of the handler’s own Peg. Red travelled east with John Atkinson, Escrick, York.

The undoubted highlight in the unbroken pen was a section-topping 1700gns (£1785) sale from Flintshire’s Liam O’Malley, Lixwm, Hollywell. The 36-year-old was making his first-ever appearance at a working sheep dog sale and was over the moon at the outcome. Mind you, his 16-week-old pup arrived with impeccable breeding, being a son of Kevin Evans’ Welsh Nursery and 2024 International Supreme Champion, Kemi Jack.

Out of Liam’s own Nan, the youngster will be named and registered by his new owner, same day vendor Robin Bell, a retired sheep and cattle farmer who still keeps a small flock, on which his new acquisition will gain further valuable experience.

Earlier in the day, Liam also ran a fully broken 13-month-old black and white bitch, Belle, by Lake District breeder Derek Scrimgeour’s Sweep, out of Shaun Richards’ Tess, which sold for 1800gns, making it a memorable debut for the Flintshire handler.

Back in the unbroken pen, Nick Gill, Barnard Castle, achieved sales of 900gns with a January-born bitch falling to Richard Crowe, following up with further sales of 700gns and 650gns twice for a trio of younger June-born pups from the same litter. All four were by the same strong work dog, Bob, with three of the youngsters out of a successfully trialled work bitch, Jan, who has sold pups to £11000. One of the 650gns dogs fell to a familiar face at Skipton, Bordley sheep farmer Kevin Huck.

CCM’s general manager and auctioneer Jeremy Eaton commented: “The sale created a lot of interest, with a number of buyers returning for field-run dogs to succeed previous successful purchases. There was also significant interest, both successful and unsuccessful, among phone bidders who were able to watch the dogs run real-time after viewing pre-sale videos provided by vendors.”

Of the 35 forward, broken registered dogs sold to 4800gns, averaging £2505, broken registered bitches to 6000gns, av £3364, part-broken/pup registered dogs to 1700gns, av £752, and a part-broken/pup registered bitch at 900gns.

Farmers Guardian Mart’stheHeart sponsored.