ON the day that the first woman bishop was elected in Wales, more history was being made at the Royal Welsh Show ground in Llanelwedd, with Helen Davies from Oswestry becoming the first woman to ever win the prestigious John Gittins Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the Welsh sheep industry.

For the past decade she has been secretary and, then development officer, for NSA Cymru/Wales. Helen is responsible for organising the biennial Sheep Event, a task that she delivered with a level of passion and commitment far beyond what is expected of her.

Helen also attends and represents NSA Cymru/Wales on stakeholder groups and coordinates responses for various consultation on behalf of the organisation, a part of her role which has changed and increased dramatically since devolution.

The continued success of the Sheep Event and her commitment for NSA Cymru/Wales has been recognised by a wider role within the NSA, organising the NSA Malvern Event and taking responsibility for all promotion and sponsorship for the NSA.

Gwynne Davies, representing the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Kevin Parry, from the Welsh Mule Sheepbreeders Association and Llew Thomas, from the National Sheep Association Wales made up the panel of judges for this year’s award.

Helen will be presented with the award on Monday, November 28, at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.