Father, daughter go head-to-head at 64th annual Gore Dog Sale

Photo / Shawn McAvinue

A Western Southland father and daughter duo went head-to-head at a dog sale.

George and Martha Broughton were both vendors at the 64th annual Gore Dog Sale last week.

Martha, the Mount Linton Station sheep genetics manager, sold her 3-year-old heading dog Bryn for the top price of $8000.

Her father, George, sold his 17-month-old heading dog, Boss, for $5000.

When asked if the pair had a friendly rivalry, Martha said: "No, because I'm always better."

She taught her father everything he knows, she said, laughing.

George, of Otautau, graciously admitted defeat: "Beaten by youth".

Mount Linton Station sheep genetics manager Martha Broughton got the top price of $8000 for her 3-year-old heading dog Bryn at the 64th annual Gore Dog Sale at Charlton Saleyards last week. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

He was a teenage shepherd at Mount Linton Station when he sold his first working dog 40 years ago.

"I was about to go to Lincoln and needed beer money."

His first buyer was John Taylor.

Taylor bought Boss from him at Gore.

"That was quite cool."

He got Boss as a pup.

"I get quite a bit of satisfaction out of getting them up and going."

George Broughton, of Otautau, pats heading dog Boss after selling him for $5000 at Charlton Saleyards last week. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

Martha said she was nervous when demonstrating Bryn working with a flock sheep, as a crowd of more than 200 watched and buyers placed rapid bids at the auction.

"I hadn't done any practice because I've been busy with rugby and work."

Huntaway pups wait to be auctioned at the sale. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

She got Bryn as a 2-month-old pup and had taken him on two intensive lambing beats on Mount Linton Station.

Due to one of her dogs going on maternity leave earlier than expected, Bryn was 10 months old when he worked his first beat.

Peter Allison, of Waihola, writes a note in his catalogue among a crowd of more than 200 people at the 64th annual Gore Dog Sale last week. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

"He had to step up."

Most dogs make their debut from the age of 18 months, she said.

Bryn proved to be steady, able to hold a flock of big Suftex terminal ewes and stand his ground against Angus cattle.

PGG Wrightson auctioneer Ross McKee, of Riversdale, at work at the sale last week. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

"He won't back down but he's smart about it."

Sheep and beef farmer Henry Riordan bought Bryn to work on his nearly 300ha farm Bengerburn, in Heddon Bush, near Winton.

She sold Bryn because she was focusing on breeding border collies and owned four of them.

Consequently, there was not enough work available for Bryn.

PGG Wrightson auctioneer Ross McKee, of Riversdale, said most of the dogs - 35 heading, 10 huntaways and 12 pups - featured at the auction sold.