DRAYS returned to the Gower Agricultural Show after 55 years and helped make the event at Penrice Castle Park, Reynoldston, the most successful in the history of the event.

The move was sparked by this year's president, Mr Ellis Davies, the third generation of his family to have been involved with the Show including his grandfather, John Davies pre-war, and his father, William Davies, who showed Hereford cattle in the 40s.

Horse enthusiast Ellis Davies said: “The show is very dear to me having been involved all my life with generations of my family also taking a very active part.

“We have never really been without horses and my grandfather bred what were known as Colliers –a strong working Cob. However, for me, the Shire horse as a breed has a fascinating history being tall, gentle, noble and immensely strong.

“This year, thanks to generous sponsorship, we have been able to provide a wonderful spectacle for the public as fellow heavy horse enthusiasts brought teams of Dray (Tradesmen’s) horses with their wagons from Cardigan, Cheshire and Somerset to present the first display of this kind with Shires, Clydesdales and the Suffolk Punch at Gower since 1961 –unfortunately a fourth team, of Percherons from Hereford, were unable to be present due to a family illness”.

It was particular pleasing that the supreme award from the horse and pony classes should be won by a young Shire, the handsome 3 year old colt, Meundwr Glas y Dorlas, from Kerry Tanner’s Catwg stud.

Kerry Tanner has been involved with Shire horses all his life, from working with them in the 60’s and 70’s to successfully showing these special animals over the past decade.

The showing aspect has really taken off over recent years as Kerry's partner, Cheryl, works tirelessly preparing the horses and is now the backbone of the showing side of the stud

Kerry says “I would like to stress that, essentially, we are farmers working a 300 acre Beef and Sheep farm. Most of our horses are home bred and we annually buy in some foals from which we try to concentrate on the original type of Shire retaining the draft character which was what this type of horse was bred for”.

Placed in reserve was the Cob shown under saddle, Alcapone II, from the Lewis & Isaac partnership and splendidly ridden by Tracey Bertorelli.

Heading the beef cattle entries and taking the overall cattle championship were local exhibitors Richard and Alison Tucker with their 17 month old home-bred Charolais heifer, Gower J20, but, not to be outdone their son, William, claimed the dairy prize with another home- bred animal, Clifftops Mr Monarch Jes, from his own 80 strong Holstein herd.

Ken and Julie Earle run several breeds of award winning sheep flocks including Black Welsh Mountain, Balwen, Texel, Beltex and commercial but it was their 3 year old North Country Cheviot ewe that stood supreme on this occasion.

The Lletty Modern strain of pigs owned by Gerallt and Joyce Owen were again given the championship and short and long term leys grown by Christopher Beynon won for him the Field Crop shield.

Trophy winners

HORSES

Shire: Kerry and Cheryl Tanner.

Hunter, under saddle: E Hollingsworth.

Working Hunter: Jo Llewellyn.

Working Hunter Pony: Helen Merrett.

Riding Horse, Hack or Arab: Philippa Hughes.

Welsh Cob, Section D: Byron Preston; under saddle: Tracey Bertorelli.

Welsh Pony (Cob type), Section C and Welsh, in hand: R J Davies..

Welsh Mountain Pony, Section A: C Jones.

Welsh Pony, Section B: E Williams.

Welsh, under saddle: Amy Smith

Palomino: Tegan Niblo.

Skewbald or Piebald: Hannah Bromham.

Mountain and Moorland, in hand: Claire Pearce- Morgan; under saddle: Daisy Allen.

Show Hunter Pony: Tori Thomas.

First ridden and leading rein: Anna Wharton.

Shetland: Stevens & Joslin.

Private Driving: Lewis & Isaac.

CATTLE

Hereford: Anthony John.

Other British Breeds and Continental: Richard and Alison Tucker.

Welsh Black and Suckler herd: Penrice Farms.

Commercial: Stuart and Linda Evans.

Dairy: William Tucker.

Young handler: Megan Jones.

SHEEP

Suffolk and Welsh half- bred: Eifion Hughes.

Ryeland: Ivan Lloyd.

Welsh Mountain: R W Lloyd.

Coloured: Gareth Thomas.

Other Hill Breed: Ken and Julie Earle.

Texel: Emrys and Keith Evans.

Charollais: N Sheldon.

Other Breed or Crosses bred: David Davies.

Butcher’s lambs: Geoff Griffiths.

Young handler: Stefan Thomas.

PIGS

Breeding and commercial: Gerallt and Joyce Owen.

FIELD CROPS

Winter Oats and Spring Barley: Albert Parry.

Spring Oats: Colin Gordon.

Winter Wheat: Vivian Tucker.

Winter Barley: Christopher Thomas.

Triticale: Christopher Beynon.

TRADE STAND

Winner: Zoar Stores.