The inaugural 2012 RMA Dundee Working Dog auction held recently provided a big hit with buyers and vendors, with a complete clearance of 18 working dogs and pups drawn from across NSW and Queensland.

Sale entries, catalogued by breeders from as far south as Goulburn and north to Dirranbandi, met solid bidding support from a large buyer contingent from the three eastern states. There were 62 bid-cards registered.

The sale, held at the Dundee Sports Ground near Glen Innes on the Northern Tablelands in NSW, attracted close to 150 people, there to witness the dogs go through their paces with stock and then to keenly bid on the dog of their choice.

The sale topped at $4500 and averaged of $2200 for a 100pc clearance – an excellent result and well above expectations, considering this was the inaugural sale.

The catalogue carried quality breeding throughout, and the working-age dogs showed good ability to work in yard or paddock conditions, and often both. Some entries already carried cattle work experience.

Dogs showing maturity along with being fully trained from 20 months to three and a half years of age ranged in price from $1000 to $4500, to average $2510.

The younger inexperienced dogs and pups ranging in age from six to 14 months also met solid competition, selling from $600 to $2700 and averaged $1668.

The top priced dog was Lot 4, Marista Ric, bred and offered by Matthew Sherwood, which was bought by Nigel Kerin of Kerin Poll Merino Stud, Yeoval NSW. The Kerin family secured a second dog, paying $3300 for Bowraville Kasey, offered by Ross Fletcher.

Hamish Chandler from Ben Lomond, NSW sold the second highest priced dog, the bitch, The Ridge Miss, for $4400 to Andrew and Sue Ross of Guyra.

Local breeder Peter Hogan of Peterson Kelpies sold the highest-priced pup, Boolimba Maggie, for $2700, purchased by Therese Turnbull of Collerenabri in western NSW.

Sale vendors automatically qualified to compete for the $5000 prizemoney in the feature RMA Vendor Trial – the richest yard trial of its kind in Australia.

The event was keenly contested with Peter Darmody of Beckhom, NSW taking out top honours with his Red & Tan Kelpie, Wybimbie Butch.

Jim Marshall of Scone ran second with Gunna Mick, with Matthew Sherwood of Goulbourn and Sarah Mortimer of Dirranbandi tying for third.

Based on the inaugural sale’s outstanding success, the sale committee and RMA agents involved plan to conduct a second sale in late 2013.

• The inaugural Dundee Stock Dog sale was conducted by Colin Say & Co Pty Ltd in conjunction with RMA, with Shad Bailey auctioneering. Glen Curry of Harold Curry, Tenterfield, Luke Lawler of Frame Rural Agencies, Inverell and Michael O’Brien of RMA took the bids.