| 2013-10-29 |    |
Tom Birkett Leads the Way at Skipton Working Dogs Sale
Top dog at the autumn sale of working sheep dogs at Craven Cattle Marts Skipton Auction Mart was Lancashire breeder and handler, Carnforths Tom Birkett. (Fri, Oct 25)
Mr Birkett, of Hall Croft Barn, achieved the days leading price of 3,800gns (£3,990) with a highly promising youngster, his 18-month-old black and white Border Collie dog, Ben, by the 2010 International Trials champion and 2011 World Sheep Dog Trials fourth-placed dog Cap, from Irishman Michael Gallagher in Armoy, County Antrim.
Tom Birkett, right, with his Skipton top price 3,800gns dog Ben, joined by buyer John Roberts.
Cap caught Mr Birketts eye when he attended the 4th
International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) World Trials - the Olympics for working
sheep dogs and their handlers - at the Lowther Estate, near Penrith
in Cumbria. I knew then that I would like to breed from it, he
said.
Ben is out of Mr Birketts own Sue, herself a product of well-known
northern breeder Derek Scrimgeour's Ben, also the sire of Spot,
who sold for 2,400gns when Mr Birkett last headed the prices at
Skipton five years ago.
He surpassed that figure at the latest renewal when achieving his
highest ever price at the UKs leading working sheep dog sale venue.
Ben fell to a regular buyer at Skipton, Welshman John Roberts,
of Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, and will be used as a work dog.
Pat Byrne with his Skipton second top price 3,200gns bitch Wispa.
Next best on price at 3,200gns and again his highest price at
Skipton - was another young dog, the15-month-old black and white
bitch Wispa, from Irishman Pat Byrne, of Woolmanhill, Ballyglass
in County Mayo. She is by International Supreme champion, Welshman
Aled Owens Bob, out of a home-bred bitch by Lad, acquired from
fellow County Mayo dog man Alan Moran.
Sheep and cattle farmer Mr Byrne also turns his hand to training
young people in the Irish art of hurling at St. Dominics GAA club
in Knockcroghery, County Roscommon, of which he is a former player.
He saw Wispa snapped up by a buyer from Wales who requested anonymity.
David Mackereth with his 3,000gns Skipton bitch Jess.
Youth was again to the fore when a 13-month-old black and white bitch, Jess, from Lake District breeder David Mackereth, of Bassenthwaite, sold for 3,000gns to a phone bidder, Raymond Garrick, who farms in the Shetland Isles and who was buying his first dog at Skipton, which will be used for both work and as a trials prospect.
Jess, by a dog from Midlands breeder Peter Wilson, was only put
up for sale by Mr Mackereth as he is emigrating to Australia at
the end of this year to start a new life farming sheep and cattle
on a 600-acre holding he has purchased in Victoria.
He said Jess received over 4,000 hits from the UK, USA and Sweden when put up
for viewing on YouTube. Mr Mackereth also sold a second black and white youngster,
his 12-month-old Dan, for 1,500gns to a Northumberland buyer.
Another Irishman Pat McGoldrick, of Meenadreen in County Donegal,
made 2,850gns with his 15-month-old black and white bitch Nip,
bred by Pat Byrne and a granddaughter of Aled Owens World Sheep
Dog Trials champion Bob. He sold to a Welsh buyer.
Skipton regular Roy Canning, of Keighley, stepped forward with
his 16-month-old tri-coloured bitch Lou, a daughter of his own
Ella, by Peak District breeder Roy Drivers Hemp. She made 2,500gns
when joiner a buyer from Ireland.
Shaun Richards, of Watson Laithe, Hapton, Burnley, who regularly
makes four-figure prices with his dogs at Skipon, was on the mark
again with another young 18-month-old black and white Border Coliie,
Vic, fully bred by Robert Fielden in Todmorden. He sold locally
for 2,400gns to T Robinson & Son, of Sykes Farm, Slaidburn.
Back with the Irish entrants, Colm Doherty of Tirbracken in Londonderry,
sold his February, 2012-born black and white dog Spark, already
a nursery trials winner who also produced a good run in the North
of Ireland nursery final, for 2,300gns to a Scottish buyer to be
used as a work dog.
Next best at 2,250gns was a three-year-old tri-coloured bitch,
Midge, from Steve Aconley, of Wintringham, Malton. Third in the
Ryedale Sheep Dog Societys 2012 aggregate, she is by Pickering-based
Pete Turnbulls Kep, out of Mr Aconleys own Sindy. She found a
new home in South Yorkshire with Penistone beef and sheep farmer
Graham Pears and will again be used as a work dog.
Local breeder Andrew Throup, of Middle Marchup Farm, Silsden, who
has strong following with his well-bred dogs, which are much sought
after, achieved 2,050gns with Marchup Dale, a 20-month-old red
and white trials-ready dog by J Richardsons former Yorkshire Nursery
champion Staff, who has produced many winning trials dogs. Dale,
a full brother to Mr Throups Yorkshire nursery trials winner Bob,
sold for use as a work dog to sheep and suckler cow farmer Nick
Gill in Borrowdale, Keswick.
The sale attracted an entry of 98 dogs, 62 of which were sold.
Leading prices and averages were: Broken registered dogs to 3,800gns
(av £1,930), part-broken registered dogs to 1,350gns (av £843),
unbroken registered dogs to 250gns (av £184), part-broken unregistered
dogs to 950gns (av £515), registered pups to 500gns (av £315),
unregistered pups to 250gns (av £143).
Craven Cattle Marts general manager Jeremy Eaton said: There was
keen interest in all dogs that showed promise, particularly between
700gns up to 1,500gns, though caution was certainly the order of
the day above 2,000gns, which is a reflection of the current state
of farming and the costs accrued through from last winter.
