IT’S taken two years since the local strangles outbreak for the Tivyside Agricultural Show’s equine section to get back on its feet and 2018 did not disappoint with a great number of entries in many classes and a super line-up of quality ponies in the Supreme.

Held on the glorious fields of Caeau Glan-llyn with thanks to the Evans family, the show was sponsored yet again this year by M E General Factors of Betws Ifan.

Supreme Horse, judged by Jan Pearce of St Clears, was awarded to 11 year old junior jockey Elin Harries of Pontantwn near Carmarthen with her 10 year old bay gelding Chasecroft Tip Toe who was previously awarded Show Hunter Pony Champion during the day.

Reserve Supreme was awarded to local rider Richard Jones of Rhydowen, Llandysul with his section D homebred Menai Cosmopolitan.

Elin and her mother Julie were delighted with the result.

“This is the first time ever that Elin has been awarded Supreme of Show. She’s had a few reserve supreme titles, but this is the icing on the cake,” said Julie who has been taking her daughter to British Dressage Youth Inter Regional competitions this year where Elin has represented Wales.

Peter Russell of the Bryngwennol Stud near St Dogmaels had a Tivyside Show to remember with his daughter Sarah showing the ponies and wife Julie being top groom.

“The Tivyside is one of my favourite shows. We had lovely weather and it’s a fantastic show ground. Bryngwennol Fair Treasure was first in the two/three year old then going youngstock champion,” he said.

“Her brother Bryngwennol Royal Tribune won the Stallion class and went Champion Section B winning his WPCS medal. Then in the section A’s Stewart and Anne Franklin's Sarum Rosamund won the barren mare class and was Reserve Champion A.

“In the Supreme Welsh Championship, Treasure was Youngstock Champion and Tribune was Supreme Welsh Champion in hand with Rosamund going Reserve to him. I’m so so proud of them and Sarah –what an incredible day, we are still in shock!”

The novelty section proved to be very popular and saw six-year-old Ffion Jones of Plwmp, led by her mum Jade Phillips riding Everhaze Kalistah taking Supreme Champion in the Novelty Ring followed by the Championship in the SHP lead rein/first ridden section open to plaited and mountain and moorland ponies.

Entries on the day were up from previous years. The weather was spot on and members of the show committee are eagerly looking forward to next year as Show Chairman Rhian Evans said.

“We were delighted with the entries. It wasn’t too warm here and we had a gentle breeze. We also had extra trade stands here and the thrashing display proved popular.”

Over in the handicraft tent, entries were also up from last year with Glenys Rees of Cwmhiraeth near Newcastle Emlyn winning yet again in the cookery section. Glenys has competed in the cookery classes at Tivyside since 1984, winning nearly every year.

As cook at Ysgol Brynsaron, Llandysul, Glenys competes across the country and has won the Cookery Section at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show four times.

Glenys, who bakes anything from cup cakes to cookies, as well as making her own jam and chutneys said: “I must admit it’s a bit hot for any cooking in the kitchen in this weather but it gives me such pleasure, I wouldn’t do it otherwise.

“I don’t do it for the money, I just enjoying cooking for the judges and hopefully cooking what they like.”

Andrew Davies of Llandysul was the overall winner in the flower section, with Evelyn Evans of Adpar winning the handicrafts.

“Entries were great this year, maybe it’s the weather. The flowers have really grown and entries were definitely up on last year,” said Janet Jones, one of the tent helpers.

The cattle section saw Hannah Evans, Coedperthi, a Bro Teifi Secondary School pupil from Betws Ifan wiping the board taking Overall Champion Dairy, with Overall Beef being awarded to Ifan Phillips of Newcastle Emlyn.

Ifan had a 2018 Show to remember and followed on from his success at St Clears last month being awarded Champion Commercial.

“We had a real good show! We had eight cattle and four fat lambs. We won Champion Commercial with Cocktails at Dawn, and Reserve Champion commercial with Dilly Dilly, and the Best Pair and Group of Three.

“We were Interbreed Individual Champion, Interbreed Champion Pair and Reserve Interbreed Group of Three. We also had first prize in the Butchers Lambs too,” said a delighted Ifan who was helped on show day by his father John and stockman Emyr Davies.

The Group of Five was awarded to the Limousin Cattle and Pairs went to Ifan Phillips and Dai Thomas of Gorsgoch. Group of three went to Dylan and Carol James of Bryn Iwan.

Overall pig winners were Kevin and Kay Bellinger of Rhydlewis and the Overall Sheep award was presented to Lynda Richards winning the Any Other Lowland Breed.

Sunday evening, the popular sheep racing and it’s a knock out event was held at the show field with teams ranging from local school children to members of the Tivyside Riding Club.