A NEW world record price for a working sheedog at an official sale was set at Skipton Auction Mart’s late spring sale on Friday.

It fell to Cap, a 16-month old black and white dog from Ireland’s Padraig Doherty.

The selling price of 14,100 guineas, or £14,805, shattered the previous world high of 8,800 guineas, or £9,240, also set at Skipton in May, 2013, for a 15-month-old black and white dog from John Bell, of Parks Farm, Howden.

After making history as the new world record price holder, he returned to Northern Ireland with a sheep farmer who requested anonymity. Cap will be used as a work dog on the farm and is also an excellent nursery trials prospect.

Next best at 6,000gns was an entry from North Craven’s Shaun Richards, of Pen-y-Borough Sheep Dogs in Eldroth.

His December, 2013-born tri-coloured bitch, Nora, was purchased by father and daughter fell farmers, Ivan and Hannah Dickinson, of Brocktown Farm in Kentmere.

Earlier in the day, the same buyers had also gone to 3,900gns to acquire a second Shaun Richards’ home-bred and fully broken two-year-old black and white dog, Pen-Y-Borough Blue.

Mr Richards stepped out with a third dog, the September, 2014, Bill, which sold well at 3,600gns.

John Bell was himself well represented again with several top quality dogs. His best seller at 4,200gns was his 15-month-old black and white dog, Ben, who found a new home with David Houghton, at Isherwood Farm, Affetside, near Bury.

Later in the day, Mr Bell also achieved 3,900gns with another quality young black and white dog, the 13-month-old Fern, by MC Andrews’ Glen, out of RP Jewitt’s Tess. It fell to a Northants buyer.

Mr Bell also made 3,100gns with an even younger dog, ten-month-old black and white Mick. It sold to a buyer from Wales.

Eminent Welsh breeder and trialist Huw Francis, of Llanfyllin, Welshpool, in Powys, was also among the leading prices, selling his two-year-old tri-coloured dog, Bill, for 4,000gns to a buyer from Cumbria.

Brian White and Aoife Smith, from Naul, sold five fully broken dogs for a combined total of over 16,000gns.

Eammon McAuley, of Larne in Northern Ireland, hit 3,800gns with his September, 2014 tri-coloured dog, Jim, and 2,450gns with Jim's litter sister Jen, who sold to a Scottish buyer.

Carnforth’s Tony Birkett caught the eye with his December, 2014, home-bred black and white dog, Moss, which fell for 3,500gns to a Scottish buyer, and his two-year-old black and white bitch Skye, which sold for 2,900gns to a buyer in Northern Ireland.

Another 3,500gns achiever was Philip Mellin, of Moor Lodge Farm, Oakworth, with his two-year-old black and white bitch, Flowerscar Nell. She found a new home with Norman Balcomb & Son, from Romney Marsh.

Another well-bred youngster under one-year-old to make 3,500gns was a July, 2015, black and white dog, York, from William Torrens, of Castlederg, Belfast. He sold to an Irish buyer.

Frank Satterthwaite, of Kirkby Stephen, also topped 3,000gns with his August, 2013, tri-coloured bitch, Jill.

In the unbroken pup pen, the leading price of 900gns fell a January-born red and white bitch, Upland Meg, from Peter Hallam, of Foxt in Staffordshire. She joined Keswick’s Rachel Scrimgeour.

Prices and averages were: broken section: registered dogs to 14,100gns (av £2,678), registered bitches to 6,000gns (av £2,531), overall average for registered field dogs £2,572; unregistered dogs: bitch to 1,000gns, Collie-cross Huntaway bitch 1,200gns; part-broken dogs and pups: registered dogs to 1,000gns (av £359), bitches to 900gns (av £524).