A TOP price of £4,830 was paid for a two-year-old black and white bitch in the late spring sale of working sheep dogs at Skipton.

Jess was from John Maginn, the former Irish national champion who will represent Ireland in the World Sheep Dog Trials, at Lowther Park, Penrith, in September.

She attracted keen interest and sold to a telephone bidder.

“I’ve hit the jackpot – it’s my best sale price ever,” said Mr Maginn, from County Down.

John Bell, of Parks Farm, Howden, Selby, narrowly failed in his bid to top the prices at Skipton for a record 16th time when Dewi Kate, his December 2009-born black, white and mottled bitch, sold for £4,410.

She is a litter sister to Dewi Fan, who set a world record price of £6,300 when sold by Mr Bell at Skipton in February.

Mr Bell also sold his 13- month-old black and white dog, Lad, for £2,835 and Cordon Craig a 13- month-old tri-coloured dog for £3,045.

The third top price was £3,780 for Queen, a year-old black and white bitch from Derek Cheetham, Bolsterstone, South Yorkshire.

There was strong demand for quality dogs from buyers from the UK and overseas.

Of the 70 on parade, 31 sold for 1,500gns or more, of which 21 achieved 2,000gns and above.

Prices and averages: Broken registered dogs to 4,600gns (av £2,129), part-broken registered dogs to 950gns (£544), broken unregistered dogs to 1,300gns (£893), part-broken unregistered dogs to 450gns (£315), registered bitch pups to 550gns and registered dog pups to 500gns.