A NEW world record price for a working sheep dog paid at an official sale has again been broken at Craven Cattle Marts’ winter fixture at Skipton Auction Mart.

Dewi Fan, a 13-month-old tri-coloured bitch from John Bell, of Parks Farm Howden, Selby, was sold for 6,000gns to an anonymous overseas buyer.

The previous world record price of 4,900gns was jointly recorded at Skipton by another tri-coloured dog from John Bell and a black and white border collie from reigning World Sheep Dog Trials champion, Welshman Aled Owen, of Corwen, Denbighshire.

Dewi Fan was Mr Bell’s first acquisition as an eight-month-old from Welsh breeder David Streeter, of Rhigos, Aberdare.

She is by the renowned Dewi Tweed, who landed the 2009 International Trials at Lowther Park for breeder Richard Millichap, from Port Talbot, South Wales.

Second-highest price at 2,600gns was achieved by a July, 2008-born dog, Hillmoor Oscar, from Red Rose breeder Frank Cleary, of Tockholes, Darwen.

Prices and averages: Broken registered dogs to 6,000gns, part-broken registered dogs to 1,650gns, broken unregistered bearded collies to 1,750gns, broken unregistered dogs to 700gns, part-broken unregistered dogs to 350gns, pups to 150gns.