A TASMANIAN Kelpie has for the second consecutive year sold for the top price at the Casterton working dog auction in Victoria.
Tassie breeder Matthew Johnson sold his 17-month-old black and tan Kelpie dog Ben for $10,500 to Paul and Jean Weeding from the Okehampton Merino stud at Triabunna, at the Clark Rubber Casterton Working Dog Auction on Sunday.
Organisers catalogued 81 dogs from more than 100 prospects, selling 50 after several dogs were withdrawn or passed in, for an average of $3208, $61 up on last year’s result.
The second highest price of $10,000 was achieved by Ian O’Connell of Hamilton with Bagalla Mister, bought by Evan Flint from Kingston, South Australia.
The Weedings last year paid a record $12,000 for Matthew’s red Kelpie Tom at the auction, but Paul saw Ben work when the breeder helped out with putting worm capsules in Merino weaners at Okehampton recently.
“He (Paul Weeding) did not let on one iota that he was going to buy him,” Matthew said.
Paul Weeding said Ben was the yard dog he had been looking for to give more force for moving large mobs of sheep, with Tom now being used more in the paddock and his other dog Roger about to retire.
“You can’t put a price on a good dog – they are just a tool of trade that you can’t do without,” Paul said.
The Weedings run 5000 Merinos and 120 Angus breeders.
Matthew said Ben was a “full-on”, but brilliant, yard, shed and truck dog.
“There is plenty of power there and plenty of work,” he said.
Working Dog Auction committee president Nancy Withers said the line-up of dogs was the best the auction has had, with more entries from New South Wales breeders with dogs from well-known working bloodlines, including the Wyreema stud from Narrandera, Andrew Kennedy from Nyngan and Stephen Weyman from Cowra. Andrew Kennedy sold AKennedy’s Choker for $9000 and Susie for $6000.
Several other dogs sold for $5000 or more, including Paul McPhail’s Jess for $5600, Christopher Sherwood’s Marista Silly Sally for $5500, Lisa Stevenson’s Pushemup Bella for $5200 and Peter Darmody’s Wybimbie Ark for $5000.
Ms Withers said the inaugural RMA Working Dog Futurity held on Saturday had helped attract more quality young dogs from return and new auction vendors.
The 2013 futurity with a cash prize of $4000 for the first placegetter’s owner was won by 19-month-old dog Jones’ Mia owned by Hay grazier Doug Coombes and trialled by breeder Ricky Jones from Broken Hill.
“She’s a good natural little dog and I like her. She got around because she was left to do what she wanted.”
Ricky said Mr Coombes was happy with Mia since buying her at the 2012 auction, but was on holiday in Belfast, Ireland.
“He will be happier tonight when I tell him we won.”
Hamilton breeder Ian O’Connell was second in the futurity with Lessi Charlie owned by Carter's Transport and James Ridgway was third with Hilton Park Eddie.
Major sponsor Chris Malcolm of Clark Rubber said it was a fabulous weekend for anyone who loves dogs and the country.
“There are some seriously good dogs here. The quality seems to be improving every year,” Mr Malcolm said.
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