By Meyrick Brown

THE golden jubilee year of Llanddarog and District Agricultural Society celebrated the very best of Carmarthenshire farming and rural life.

Now one of the biggest one-day shows of its kind across West Wales, its popularity grows each year and is a major attraction particularly for horse and pony exhibitors and sheep breeders. Many of the leading pedigree cattle breeders are having to live with movement restrictions and the opportunities to participate are thus limited.

Show president, Mrs Helen Morgan – who also served the society as secretary – remarked on the growing support from such a wide area. It was, she said, with great personal satisfaction that she had been invited to serve in the 50th year which had already been marked with a very well attended concert and a formal celebratory dinner is to be held in the autumn.

In the show rings supreme from the horse and pony entries was given to the 6 year old coloured gelding, Carn Nicholas Tom, ridden by Kimberley Twigg ahead of the winning Hunter, the colt Foxcourt Dewi Sant presented by Orwel and Sarah Davies. With the Cob mares Haydn Hudson scored with Maesyfelin Emma and Sharon Charlton with Joynton Golden Crumble.

With her pretty part bred 10 year old bay pony, Cupidhill Caprice, Anne Prichard Simmons claimed the Children’s Riding Pony trophy and Valmai Thomas was similarly successful in the Riding Pony Breeding class with Mount Pleasant Celtic Queen.

In the beef cattle ring best was given to Cariad, a 14 month old Limousin heifer shown by Megan Jones in the Commercial beef classes while Richard and Alison Tucker’s first time shown 14 month old Charolais bull, Gower Lion King, achieved a top award as did Rob Morgan with his 14month old Hereford heifer. The winning dairy entry was the home bred Gatrog Montague Culture, the January calved Holstein fourth calver from Elwyn, Cheryl and Anwen Thomas.

Julie Earle headed the sheep entries with her three year old North Country Cheviot ewe and the best group of three were entered by Gethin Davies. Carol Gillan was awarded best in the dog show with the puppy prize going to Gina Davies.

Main winners:

HORSES

Supreme – K Twigg., res – Orwel and Sarah Davies.

Hunter – Orwel and Sarah Davies, res – Jodey Colley.

Welsh Cob, Section D – N Davies, res – D A Green., yearling – P Dening., brood mare – Haydn Hudson.

Welsh Pony (Cob type), Section C – Jade Phillips, res – Wyn and Ann Thomas., mare – Sharon Charlton.

Welsh Mountain Pony, Section A – John and Tracey Wilson, res – D Grimshaw.

Welsh Pony, Section B – Debbie Jones, res – Peter de Rade.

Welsh part bred – Anne Prichard Simmonds, res – Helen Jones.

Arab – J J Hackley., part bred – Helen Jones.

Palomino – P A Jones, res – Joanne Mount.

Coloured – K Twigg, res – J Williamson.

Mountain and Moorland – Hannah Parr, res – D George.

Shetland – S Davies, res – Dawn Hawker.

Show Hunter Pony – Holly Nelmes, res – Angela Hopkins.

Riding Pony Breeding – Valmai Thomas, res – Heather Strelley.

Children’s Riding Pony – Anne Prichard Simmons, res – Angela Hopkins, mini championship – Hannah Parr, res – Ioan and Ffion Thomas.

Private Driving – M R Dix.

Young handler – Lucy Courtney – Roberts, res – Oliver Thomas.

BEEF CATTLE

Supreme and Commercial – Megan Jones.

Welsh Black – Eloe James.

Hereford – Rob Morgan.

Limousin – Terry and Dawn Griffiths.

Simmental – Angharad Jones.

Other Continental – Jones & Davies, bull – Richard and Alison Tucker.

DAIRY CATTLE

Supreme and Holstein – Elwyn and Cheryl Thomas.

Jersey – Anwen Thomas.

Calf – Anwen Thomas

Novice Calf – Rhys Jones.

INTER BREED

Young handler – Anwen Thomas, res – Emily Butting.

SHEEP

Supreme and Other Hill Breed – Julie Earle (Cheviot).

Reserve supreme and other Lowland Breed – Gethin Davies.

Welsh Mountain – T E Price.

Badger face – Eirian and Jasmine Jones.

Balwen – Gwyneth Evans.

Jacob – Owain and Sewan Jenkins.

Suffolk – Gavin Rees.

Texel – Tomos Evans.

Beltex – Ioan Jones.

Commercial – Srefan Thomas.

Butchers Lambs – Ioan Jones.

Young handler – Owain Gibbin.

DOGS

Best in Show – Carol Gillan, res – Leesa Exelby, Puppy – Gina Davies.

SCHEDULE COVER

Best design – Iago Williams.