By Anwen Francis

Cardigan County Show committee members and supporters worked tirelessly on Wednesday to ensure that the rain didn’t dampen spirits for exhibitors and spectators.

The rain during the morning of the show, held at Briscwm Fields on the outskirts of Cardigan, was pretty horrendous but improved during the day to offer blue skies and warm weather.

Equine entries were sadly down in all classes this year. Many competitors who usually support the show had travelled to the National Pony Society Championship in Malvern, and some had attended Pembroke Show.

“Entries were down in the horse section especially in the lorry park rings where the working hunter and show pony rings are held. It was also wet under foot and weren’t brilliant conditions for the jumping. We know that several shows were clashing, but there’s nothing we can do about it. The entries for the cattle however were up on show day and the sheep something similar,” explained show secretary, Delyth Williams.

This was Delyth’s second year as show secretary and despite the weather, she is confident the day went well.

“The show went okay. Some entries didn’t turn up because of the weather, but those who did enjoyed the day. Several tradestands gave positive feedback and reported they’d had a good day of business and a high number of food stalls had sold all of their products. Thinking that the weather was awful, all in all, we did have a good day.”

The show committee decided that 2017 would see cups and trophies remaining the property of the show and no exhibitors would be allowed to take them home. And as Delyth explains, the reaction was rather mixed.

“Many winners had their pictures taken with their cups and were happy. Some had their pictures taken with their cups in the lorry parks or the main ring, but others were very disappointed that they couldn’t take their cups home. As a committee, it was decided that because three quarters of competitors decided not to collect their cups last year, and only wanted a picture with it, that the cups would not be given out.”

The 2017 Chairman is Aled Davies of Ponthirwaun. A well known Simmental cattle breeder and exhibitor across the UK, Aled took time away from showing his cattle this year and concentrated his efforts on being Chair.

Aled said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my day and it was nice to see the sun shining during the afternoon. It was nice to see so many young people and children showing their cattle, sheep and horses which is very encouraging for the future of our show and the agricultural industry. As chairman I would like to thank our President Kevin and Anne Davies for their continued support, and to the entire show committee and all volunteers for their hard work as without them there would be no show.”

The Inter Hunt Relay in the main ring saw the Vale of Clettwr Hunt winning the £100 first prize with the Carmarthenshire Hunt in second, the South Pembrokeshire in third and the Tivyside in last position. The Supreme Horse Championship, judged by Dewi Lewis of Efailwen saw side saddle rider Gemma Rees of Pembrokeshire riding Banjo 11 taking top spot.

“Banjo is now the grand old age of 19 and we only do about four shows a year. He won HOYS (Horse of the Year Show) and RI (Royal International) when he was in his prime when I rode him at Ron and Debbie Thomas’s yard.

"He then became the hunt masters horse for the Fitzwilliam Hunt and also had a successful eventing career. He then was given to me as a present by his owner/breeder Margot Harwich five years ago who then sadly died. I then brought him back showing to do side saddle and this year we have been unbeaten taking supreme at St Clears and winning at the Royal Welsh two weeks ago,” explained Gemma.

Reserve supreme went to the 12 year old Shire mare property of Elfed and Louise Davies of Betws Ifan with Bodafon Rose Marie who stands at nearly 18hh. The mare has won 46 championships to date and seven supreme of shows and takes part in young handler classes with local equestrian Melissa Fletcher. The Davies family is having a successful year having taken reserve supreme at the Tivyside Show beginning of July.

The beef section saw Jade Phillips of Plwmp gaining yet another Supreme of Show – the fourth Supreme of Show for the family this year having been awarded supreme at Cothi Bridge, Tivyside and St Clears earlier in the year.

Balzer Elegant won her cow with calf at foot class (calf Balzer Lady Ladasha) then went section champion and was then awarded Supreme Interbreed Champion of Show.

Delyth concluded: “We hope that the show will be bigger and better in 2018. The movement licence may have an effect but we have several meetings in the pipeline to discuss this matter further.”