A sheepdog from Brecon and Radnorshire has sold for more than £6,000 at a recent auction to a Japanese sheep farmer.

Rhayader's James Jones sold Brondrefawr Misty for £6,200 at the CCM Working Sheepdogs online sale earlier this month.

Misty, a 22-month-old black and white bitch, is a daughter of fellow Welshman Kevin Evans’ trialling legend, Tanhill Glen, a dual European Nursery and Royal Welsh Champion who has had such a major impact on selling prices at Skipton in recent years.

Misty was closely followed online from the outset and successfully claimed at the close by a Japanese bidder, sheep farmer Shinjro Kigawa, of Deergrove Sheepdogs in Shizouka, a city on the south coast with views of Mount Fuji.

While sheep are not prevalent in Japan he runs a 70-strong mixed hybrid sheep flock, including Suffolk and Cheviot, and also trials, having competed in the 2017 World Sheepdog Trials in Gloucestershire.

Mr Kigawa said: “In Japan, trials were not held for several years due to the influence of Covid, though they are about to be re-opened. Before I knew it, all my dogs were 10-years-old and it became urgent to raise the next generation of dogs.

"I’m very happy to have a deal with Mr James Jones and am grateful for the opportunity to raise the next generation of dogs. I prefer to be able to feel the growth of dogs rather than competition. And I like to help people who are having trouble raising dogs.”

Also during the event, top breeder and triallist Kevin Evans, of Llwynfedwen, Brecon, made a sale of £3,800.

Gyp, a tri-coloured bitch, was sold to a German buyer in Ulrika Stromer, of Barum in Lower Saxony.

Top dog on price by a country mile at the sale was secured by leading Welsh handler and triallist, Dewi Jenkins, of Tynygraig, Ceredigion.

Gwyddil Ben
Gwyddil Ben was sold by Dewi Jenkins for £18,100 (Photo supplied)

Mr Jenkins sold his black and white dog, Gwyddil Ben, a 12-month-old son of Clwyd Bob, for £18,100.

Next up at Skipton on Friday, May 19, is the live field sale of working sheep dogs, followed by another online-only sale on Friday, June 13. Respective closing dates are May 3 and May 26.