IRISH entries took the four top prices at Skipton mart's annual autumn sale of working sheep dogs.

The leading 7,000gns (£7,350) went to County Antrim's Daniel McAllister and his 13 month-old slate and white dog, Torr.

He bought Torr last October from Scottish breeder Alan Frame and his new owner - Ian Fleming from Lanark – will put him to work on his 3,000 Scottish Blackface sheep and also use him as a trials dog.

The other three top prices were 4,600gns (£4,830); 4,500gns ((£4,725); and 3,900gns (£4.095).

Local breeder Beverley Fort, from Steeton, achieved 3,300gns with Bill, a nine month-old black and white dog by Northumberland shepherdess Emma Gray's 2016 Nursery Champion, Tweedale Jamie whose grand sire was Littledale-based Ricky Hutchinson's celebrated International supreme champion, Sweep. Bill, the highest priced dog under 12 months, was bought by triallist Jim Cropper from Bacup.

She also achieved 2,900gns with Max, a 14-month-old black and white dog by Brendan McAllister's Spot, out of Chris McNaughton's Sal. He was bought by Sharon Baxter from near Peterhead.

Welsh trialist Kevin Evans sold a quality trio including North Hill Swift, a black and white bitch which sold for 3,000gns to Chris Fawbert of Masham.

The total entry of 114 dogs, comprised 82 broken field-run dogs and 32 in the unbroken pen. Registered dogs: 27 sold from 400gns to 7,000gns (av £2,443); registered bitches: 21 sold from 1,000gns to 4,600gns (av £2,478); unregistered dogs: four sold from 750gns to 1,900gns (av £1,614); unregistered bitches: one at 2,600gns.

Overall average for registered broken dogs £2,458 and unregistered broken dogs £1,838. Unbroken: registered dogs from 100gns to 1,600gns (av £560); registered bitches from 350gns to 1,150gns (av £799); one unregistered unbroken bitch 680gns.

Skipton’s next sale of working sheep dogs will be in February.