24/08/2026
A great day for Whiteley Hey!
More photos tomorrow.
The 25th Annual Whiteley Hey production sale of commercial rams and females on behalf of Paul and Claire Slater took place at North West Auctions J36 in conjunction with Darlington Farmers Auction Mart on 24th August 2026. Forward were 578 head comprising of…
201 Rams sold to 4800 Guineas
59 Warranted Ewes sold to £815
180 Shearling Ewes sold to £1300
138 Gimmer Lambs sold to £450
A fabulous crowd once again assembled, fittingly for what was a special day at this memorable 25th anniversary sale. Return customers are always a feature at the Whiteley Hey sale and they were again out in force; many new faces joined them to create a wonderful atmosphere. The sheep looked superb, particularly considering the extreme dry conditions they have endured in the build up to the sale.
Tups
The tremendous tups topped at a terrific 4800 guineas when lot one hundred graced the sale ring, a stunning Texel cross Beltex sired by a £9k Foghill tup bred by Grant Maxwell was the pick of bidders from far and wide, the eventual purchaser was WP Hughes & Son, Holyhead. Next in line at 3800 guineas was the first tup of the day, an excellent pure Texel sired by the £35k Ettrick Gruffalo which was duly bought by LE Lloyd & Sons, Hereford. Two further tups travelled to 3000 or more; both the same way bred as the sale leader (Texel X Beltex) which sold for 3200 guineas to A Sutcliffe, Carlton-in-Cleveland followed by one at 3000 guineas which sold to AN & A Jelly, Charvey. Charollais cross Beltex tups with stretch proved popular with the heavy prime lambs most desired this season, top of the breed at 2700 guineas was a thumping tup which sold to PJ & ES Rogerson, Great Asby. Thirteen tups sold at 2000 guineas or more with another twenty-six at 1500 to 2000 guineas. The tups averaged a remarkable £1333.65 apiece which is a pleasing £79.65 up on the year.
Females
The females came out fabulous, full of breeding and scope and they looked like suiting the serious prime lamb breeder from the moment they left the lorry this morning. A stunning trio of pure Texel shearling ewes by the £36k Teiglum Firefly grabbed the limelight when they joined the quality run put together by WP Hughes & Son, Holyhead at £1300 apiece. Other tremendous Texel shearlings sold seriously well with two at £1050, two at £1000 and five at £900. Two shear ewes travelled nicely also with a single superstar Texel at £815 plus a pair at £800, Beltex ewes sold to £650 and Charollais to £620. Gimmer lambs were also gathering momentum, size, stretch and skins paramount to buyer requirement. Texels again led the way with a pair at £450 and another duo at £400; other Texels sold to £370 whist Charollais bred lambs peaked at £320 and Beltex £310. Averages rose significantly as the ewes levelled at a massive £500.32 (+£58.70), the shearlings excelled at £507.39 (+£114.52) and the gimmer lambs kept their end of the bargain to average £279.25 (+£10.20).
Leading Prices
Tups (Guineas)
4800 3800 3200 3000 2700 2400 2200(x4) 2000(x3) 1800(x6) 1700(x3) 1650 1600(x8) 1500(x8)
Ewes
£815 £800(x2) £650(x4) £620(x4) £600(x3) £520(x2) £500(x5) £480(x2) £420(x10
Shearling Ewes
£1300(x3) £1050(x2) £1000(x2) £900(x5) £850(x5) £720(x2) £700(x7) £680(x2) £650(x5) £600(x5) £550(x2) £520(x5) £500(x4)
Gimmer Lambs
£450(x2) £400(x2) £370(x2) £320(x2) £310(x7) £300(x10) £290(x17) £280(x12)
