Wales Farmer 18 PREVIEW July 2012 In atwo-page special, WalesFarmer reporter AnwenHumfrey takes alook at wh


Chance fornew cham to join RoyalWelsh ra


■ Six major prizes added to honours


SIX new championships have been listed in the livestock schedule for this year’s Royal Welsh Show from July 23-26, one for sheep, two for horses and three for cat- tle.


The RoyalWelsh stages the largest displayofsheep breeds in


the worldand anew interbreed ramlamb championship will aim to find the best ramlamb at the show. The winner will receive anew


awardinmemory of George Hughes whowas aleading figure in the sheep industry in Wales and aformer chairman of the RoyalWelsh Winter Fair. The newhorse championships


include the introduction of arid- den championship and to addto the excitement all the champions in the horse section will compete forthe title of Supreme Champion Horse of the Royal Welsh. The winner will be awarded the Dillwyn Thomas Trophy,


£500 and the Dimneth Sion Annual Crystal Award. The newcattle championships


featuretwo forbeef animals and one fordairy cattle. In the beef section anew jun-


ior heifer interbreed champi- onship will be awarded to the best heifer born after January 1st 2010 and the best pair of heifers under twoyears of agewill become the RWAS Females of the Futurepairs champions. Asimilar Females of the


Futurepairs championship will be awarded to the best pair of heifers under 18 months old in the dairy section. Livestock schedules forthe four-dayshow, which takes place


at Llanelwedd,Builth Wells, have gone out to 4,500 potential exhibitors. It lists nearly 1,300 classes and


special awards with 318 forcattle including 257 for17beef breeds and 60 fordairy animals. Prizes of £500 arebeing


offered this year to the supreme champion dairy cowand the supreme champion dairy heifer with £250 going to the reserves. Therewill be aspecial compe-


tition foryoung handlers in both the beef and dairy sections with prizes of £100 to the winners. Forty-three sheep breeds have


been scheduled forthe show together with alamb carcass competition and abutcher’s


prime lamb pairs championship. Therewill also be ashepherd’s competition in which contest- ants will be assessed on anum- ber of criteria including the preparation of the sheep and their handling techniques in the showring, questions on sheep husbandry and the neatness of the animals,pens and equip- ment. The schedule lists 57 classes


and special awards forpigs including those forWelsh, British saddleback and other tra- ditional and modern breeds. The goatsection has 48 class-


es and specials fordairy breeds and Angoraand therewill also be an angorafleece competition.


ANIMAL ATTRACTION: New championships have been introduced in anumber of livestock sections. Powys takes presidency


ATTRACTIONSatthe 2012 Royal Welsh Show include:


● Ukrainian Cossacks


● Brecknock Harvesting Display


● Steve Colley Stunt Show


● John Parker and the The Royal Mail Coach ● Titan the Robot


● There will also be performances by the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Welsh.


POWYSfarmer John Rhys Davies of Pentre, Merthyr Cynog, Brecon, is the 2012 president of the RoyalWelsh Agricultural Society,when Brecknock is the featurecoun- ty at the RoyalWelsh Show. Mr Davies,45, afellowof


the RoyalAgricultural Societies,isaformer chairman of Wales YFC and apast


chairman of the Brecon and Radnor branch of


the


National Farmers Union. He has also served on a


number of government adviso- ry committees including the Young Entrants Task and Finish group.Hehas travelled extensively as an MLCCymru NewZealand scholar and visit- ed the USA to studythe beef


supplychain from production to plate. Mr Davies’ familyfarmcar-


ries 100 suckler cows and 1,000 ewesand he also runs acon- tracting business specialising in grass silage and wholecrop which harvested around 3000 acres last year. The farmhas hosted anum- ber of events foragricultural


organisations and next June, John, wife Menna and family, look forwardtowelcoming people to Pentrefor amajor national grassland event. It will focus on howfarmers


in the western half of Britain, and Wales in particular,can meet the challenges of food production change.


and climate SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: Forestry sk Gamefairfinds roomtoexpand at new sho


THE Welsh Game Fair,June 16th and 17th, boasts ahost of country- side attractions and displays. The annual two-dayevent will


be held at Nantyci Showground Carmarthen, and includes clay


pigeon shooting, stunt shows,fal- conry,vintage show, children’s cor- ner and afreefall parachuting team. Joint organiser Elvin Thomas said: “Wehaveenjoyedyears of


success at Gelli AurinLlandeilo, however despite the scenic sur- roundings,the continued success of the event meant we outgrew the venue, and had no further space for expansion.”


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk The site at Nantyci Carmarthen


offers huge advantages including the infrastructureprovided by a permanent showground, easy access forGame Fair traffic, and moreopportunities forexpansion.


He added: “Weare very excited


with the opportunities thatthis change of venuepresents,which will enableustohost the biggest and best game fair yet. “The main ring events will pro-


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