A NEW world record price of 3,125 guineas (£3,278) was paid for a working sheep dog at Skipton Auction Mart on Friday.

The record price for a working dog sale was paid by Hertfordshire sheep farmer Paul Evans for Lynwood Cassie at the mart's annual spring sale of working dogs. Lynwood Cassie, by Don out of Lynwood Speck, was described as "a high-class, stylish worker already having reached nursery standard." Her new owner now plans to run his expensive new dog in competition.

The 12-month-old mottled bitch was trained by former farmer John Bell, of Howden, near Selby, who sold another dog, a 12-month-old black bitch called Bet, for 2,250gns (£2,362).

Elaine Hill, Gazette sheep dog correspondent, said of the record price:

"At the top end dogs can fetch that sort of money but this was an exceptional price for such a young dog."

May 29, 2003 14:30