AT the Royal Welsh Winter Fair Helen Davies from Oswestry became the first woman to ever win the prestigious John Gittins Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the Welsh sheep industry.

Helen has always been an indefatigable and enthusiastic promoter of 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.

The judges remarked that the quality of all the candidates was, as always, very impressive and the task of drawing a shortlist very difficult. “Having interviewed all of the exceptional candidates we came to the unanimous conclusion that the winner this year should be Helen Davies.

“We were in complete agreement that Helen, the first female recipient of the John Gittins Memorial Award, has made, and continues to make a tremendous contribution to the Welsh sheep industry.

“It was evident that Helen gives her all to the industry and is always enthusiastic about whatever task is thrown her way. She recognises that the sector will continue to have a vital part to play in the future of agriculture within our country, especially in light of the current changing political landscape and always and goes the extra mile to promote and be the voice of the Welsh sheep industry at a national level.