Lylehill Texels, a family-run pedigree flock based in Draperstown, will open its gates on 8 August 2026 at 7pm for an evening of farm tours, stock judging and family fun at the Glendinning family farm on Duntibryan Road.

Visitors will have the opportunity to see first-hand the quality of the Lylehill flock in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

Founded in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, Lylehill Texels began as a small, modest commercial venture alongside Alan Glendinning’s automotive and vehicle body repair business. Since then, it has developed into a focused pedigree operation committed to breeding modern Texels that combine commercial performance with style and presence in the show ring.

Alan’s interest in Texels began in his youth while working on a neighbouring farm.

Drawn to the breed’s power, carcass quality and presence, he later established the pedigree flock with the aim of breeding sheep that excel both commercially and in competition.

The foundations of Lylehill Texels were laid with carefully selected genetics. Early investment in a standout shearling ram and a group of ewe lambs from the renowned Braehead flock brought quality, consistency and confidence to the developing enterprise. These bloodlines continue to underpin the flock today, shaping its direction and setting the standards for future breeding. Among these early additions, one ewe holds particular significance as a personal milestone—purchased as a birthday gift, she remains a reminder not only of progress but of the family’s personal commitment to the flock.

Further progress came with the acquisition of two ewe lambs sired by Proctors Chumba Wumba from the Garngour flock. Their influence has proved transformative, contributing significantly to the depth and performance of the flock.

Despite originating from genetics well beyond the initial budget, these purchases have delivered exceptional returns, producing progeny that consistently perform strongly in the sale ring and enhancing the flock’s reputation.

A disciplined and structured breeding programme sits at the heart of Lylehill’s success. Each season begins with an AI programme in mid-September, with lambing planned for mid-February. Only ewes demonstrating strong maternal traits and descending from proven families are selected, ensuring continuity and steady genetic progress. Embryo transfer also plays an important role, allowing the business to maximise breeding potential while managing time efficiently alongside other commitments. This approach reflects a careful balancing of ambition and

practicality, ensuring the enterprise remains both progressive and manageable.

Management of young stock is equally planned. Lambs are given a structured start, initially nurtured in small groups before progressing to larger pens and, when conditions allow, moving to grass within a few weeks. This gradual transition supports resilience and steady growth, with high-quality grazing—particularly white clover—playing a key role in development. Feeding regimes are tailored to different classes of stock, with ram lambs prepared carefully for sale while ewe lambs transition towards a more forage-based system in line with long-term performance goals.

Presentation is another cornerstone of the Lylehill approach. Considerable attention is given to preparing sheep for shows and sales, with a clear emphasis on cleanliness, handling, and detail. This disciplined preparation ensures that stock are always presented to their best, reflecting the pride the family takes in their work and the standards they aim to maintain.

Alan looks back when he purchased his first ram lamb, Plasucha Folklore in 2022. “I remember standing at the Scottish National in Lanark as the Plasucha pen came into the weighbridge and saying to a fellow breeder, ‘We have to buy him!’ He was a March lamb, but he had a serious top and end, a leg in every corner, and carried his head high in the air—just how we like them.”

Folklore quickly proved his quality, securing Best Ram Lamb in the NI Texel Club Flock Competition and making a notable impact through his progeny in the sale ring. Among his standout sons, Lylehill GTR sold for 5000gns at the Ballymena National Sale to Auldhouseburn, Castlecairn and Harestone Flocks; Lylehill Gunshot followed closely achieving 4800gns when purchased by the Alderview, Ballygroogan, Curley and Mullan flocks.

Alan remarks: “It is a great achievement to receive good prices for rams, but there is nothing better than seeing your breeding perform well and breed successfully for others. Gunshot has bred rams to 10k, 4k, and 3k, along with females to 4k and 3k, and many other four-figure sums for both males and females.”

Lylehill’s standout moment came from the private sale of Lylehill Hit & Run for 16000gns to three leading breeders in Southern Ireland. A son of Proctors Chumba Wumba and out of a homebred ewe tracing back to one of the original Braehead foundation females, Hit & Run made an immediate impact, siring the Reserve Female Champion at Blessington in his first season. The influence of the Garngour ewe lamb purchases has also been significant; not only did they produce the 5K Lylehill GTR and 4.8K Lylehill Gunshot, but they bred a ewe lamb sold for 4,400gns this past year.

In addition, a sister to GTR bred a ram lamb that achieved 3.5K in her first debut season, further cementing the strength and consistency of these maternal lines. Other recent sale achievements in male bloodlines include breeding Lylehill In Your Dreams, which sold for 6k to the Bellefield Flock and Tullybranigan Flock, and Lylehill Invincible, which sold for 3.5k to the McKinney Brothers in 2025. Female sales to date include topping the Festive Crackers In-Lamb Sale in 2024 with a gimmer that sold for 3,800gns. Other gimmers have sold to 3k, while ewe lambs have sold to 4.4k in 2025.

Recognition has also come through competition success. Lylehill Texels has secured titles including Medium Flock of the Year in 2024, Large Flock of the Year in 2025, and the prestigious Northern Ireland Champion Flock title. Additional accolades, including success in pen competitions and performance from their junior stock ram, highlight the consistency and quality now present across the flock.

Looking ahead, the family’s ambitions remain firmly focused on continued improvement. Future plans include taking a pen of ram lambs to Lanark and ultimately breeding a champion capable of competing at the highest level. At the core of these ambitions is a clear objective: to produce sheep that combine strong conformation, soundness and carcass traits with the style and presence that define the modern Texel.

The open evening will feature stock judging, trade stands and family activities, while also supporting two charities close to the family’s heart: Chest, Heart & Stroke and Air Ambulance. The event offers an opportunity to celebrate the progress of Lylehill Texels and share their passion for the breed with the wider farming community.