The 24th Annual Whitley Hey production sale on behalf of Mr Paul Slater was held in North West Auctions J36 in conjunction with Darlington Farmers Auction Mart on Monday 18th August 2025. Forward were 600 head comprising of…
191 Shearling Rams sold to 3300 Guineas
74 Warranted Ewes sold to £680
199 Shearling Ewes sold to £750
136 Gimmer Lambs sold to £650
An absolutely magnificent display of sheep once again from Paul Slater at Whiteley Hey attracted over one hundred buyers to North West Auctions as the growing reputation for the quality at this annual production continued its upward trajectory. Without the restrictive Bluetongue restrictions hampering the regular Scottish and Welsh buyers to this sale the packed ringside could well have set a new attendance record.

Tups
The top three tups were all magnificent pure Texels out of the first pen of the day as lot six sold for 3300 guineas and lots four and five sold for 3200 guineas. The stunning first pen of nine all sired by the 36k Teiglum Firefly set the ring alight early doors as they averaged a marvellous £2257. The leader of the pen headed away to Messrs A N & A Jelly, Chisnall Brow Farm, Chorley whilst his high flying companions went to B Jones, Alton Manor Farm and TD, ME & GE Todd of Holme Farm, Sedburgh.
Following the three tremendous Texels were two further tups at 2600 guineas, lot twenty-five a wonderful Charollais crossed Beltex along with another super sort wearing lot fifty.
Sensational three quarter Beltex tups sold twice to 2400 guineas and again at 2200 guineas as the buyers looking to breed show lambs were certainly keen to source the right genetics.
An excellent twenty-six other tups sold between 1500 guineas and 2000 guineas as the sale averaged a pleasing £1254 per head.

Females
An absolute frenzy at the female ringside as a sizzling trade ensued. The numbers speak for themselves as the warranted ewes average £441.62 (+£41.62) the shearling ewes averaged £392.87 (£70.20) and the gimmer lambs averaged £269.05 (+£64.07).
Top of the ewes at £680 was a simply stunning Beltex, she was followed thrice by pure Texels at £600 as the red hot ewe trade saw only ten sell below £400.
Shearling ewes continued the momentum with perfect pairs of Texels selling to £750 once and £700 three times with more than seventy sheep following between £400 and £520.
A great run of gimmer lambs this year look certain to please their new owners, top were a fine pair of Texels at £650, a second pair followed at £520 with the next twenty eight lambs over £300.

Leading Prices
Shearling Rams (Guineas)
Texel - 3300 3200 3200 2000 1800(x3) 1700(x4) 1600(x6) 1500(x4) 1400(x6)
Charollais X – 2600(x2) 1800 1550 1500 1450
Beltex X – 2400(x2) 2200 1900(x2) 1800 1600 1550 1400
Warranted Ewes
Texel - £600 £520 £500 £400
Charollais X - £550 £520 £420 £400
Beltex X - £680 £480 £420 £400
Shearling Ewes
Texel - £750 £700 £520 £500 £480 £450 £420 £400
Charollais X - £420 £400
Beltex X - £420 £400
Gimmer Lambs
Texel - £650 £520 £370 £350 £340 £320 £300 £280 £260
Charollais X - £350 £320 £300 £270
Beltex X - £280