In the interim, McClaughlin reports that his top trials dog, Ben, is this year heading for the Isle of Man Open in July, followed by another tilt at the Irish National. He said his first impression of the Skipton trials field was “tough, but fair and requiring a well balanced dog,” adding: “The sale is very well organised – it’s a pleasure to be here.”

Another 3,100gns achiever was Paul Turnbull, of Kildale, near Whitby, with his experienced five-year-old tri-coloured bitch, Lyn, by his own Kep, bought from John Bell as a pup, out of L Jones’ Bess, who has breeding lines connected to well-known Scottish breeder John Templeton.

Mr Turnbull, a triallist with seven Ryedale nursery wins under his belt, was returning to Skipton after a ten-year break and described Lyn as a “really good and genuine farm dog.” The buyer is from North Yorkshire.

Kirkby Stephen’s Frank Satterthwaite made 3,000gns with his well-bred August, 2013, tri-coloured bitch, Blue, by AR Griffiths’ Sam, out of ARP Warmington’s Sue. She is a granddaughter of Bobby Dalziel’s renowned trials dog, Spot, and great granddaughter of Aled Owen’s world champion, Roy.

Blue joined Cumbrian beef and sheep farmers Reuben and Hilary Atkinson, of Forest-in-Teesdale, and will be used solely as a work dog on their flock of predominantly Swaledale sheep. The buyers have high hopes that he will make a top-notch fell dog.

A 20-month-old tri-coloured dog, Glen, from David Wood, of Bamford in Derbyshire, also sold well at 3,000gns.The talented all-rounder, by Kevin Evans’ Caleb, out of J Nagle’s Sanduck Kit, found a new home in Cumbria.

Skipton regular Emrys Jones, of Tal y Bont, Gwynedd, in the Snowdonia National Park, achieved 2,950gns with his 14-month-old black and white smooth-coated bitch, Glan y Gors Lass, by Netherlands breeder and leading triallist, Serge van der Zweep’s Garry, out of IJ Caroll’s Nell.

The dog sold locally to Beverley Fort, of Steeton, who will put her new acquisition to her main stud dog, Beverton Bob, and also to work on the family’s pedigree Lleyn sheep flock.

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, by his sibling’s own top dog, Ben, out of PJ Doherty’s Peg. It joined regular Skipton buyer Joe McRobert, who runs Cheviot Sheepdogs at Fingland, near Biggar, in Lanarkshire.

Carnforth’s Tony Birkett achieved 2,500gns with his 14-month-old tri-coloured bitch, Peg, by Tom Lawrenson’s Clyde, out of his own Floss, herself a daughter of Irish breeder, County Antrim’s Michael Gallagher’s top-performing trials dog Cap. 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, by C Steiner’s Cain, out of W Todd’s Peg, 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 in County Londonderry, made 2,050gns. Nap, a two-year-old black and white dog from Belgium breeder Jo De Meyst, from Zwevezele, between Antwerp and Gent, 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.