Home advantage shows through in busiest period

They have not had it all to themselves, however, as many home competitors, obviously fired up before and following the National, have faired well.

Aled Owen took firsts at Llanbrynmair with Mac and at Machynlleth with Roy, as did Meirion Jones, at Crosswell with Glen and at Llanwrda with Joe.

National winner, Nigel Watkins took first at Llanwrtyd Wells with Jody following his success at Bryneglwys with Floss. Eirian Morgan won at Cwmsychpant with Glyn, Ken Powell at Llangurig with Sally.

Many others have also taken their fair share of placings. The South Wales Style competitions, while having no driving discipline, have awoken the talents in many good handlers.

It was all hands on deck by the Davies family of Goyallt Farm, Llangeitho, where they staged a second charity event. The trial course was on a flat 6.5ha (16-acre) field and was just short of a full National course.

The winners from last year had been invited to judge the two sessions this year. The drives were to the right in the morning, and the left in the afternoon.

Following the shed, the pen was more an offset chute to assist penning the sheep, which were from a mixed flock in the first session and Welsh ewes in the second session.

Most of the problems were experienced on the drives, the sheep slipping past the gates at the last moment. They proved difficult when they had been unnecessarily handled at the lift.

Oldest

Competitors had come from all over South Wales to support the midweek trial. The oldest competitor was Will Watkins, now 84, a notable handler from Llanddeusant, who was timed out at the pen.

Gerald Lewis of Gwynfe, bettered his second place at Cwmsychpant by winning with Flash. The sale of raffle tickets and a ‘name the toy’ competition raised in the order of £3,000 for Diabetes UK, Wales.

It was by the kind invitation of Glyn Evans that Robert Ellis and family arranged another charity event at Red Farm, St. Mary Hill, Bridgend.

On a good sized field, which sloped slightly uphill, the Suffolk-cross Glamorgan Welsh ewes worked consistently well throughout the day.

In packets of four, the sheep were driven away to the left following the turn around the handler. There followed a shed and pen. Robert was repaid for all his hard work with the winning run, losing only six points.

A donation of £525 will go to Abertawe Bro Morganwg NHS Trust to be used to develop a diagnostic and treatment centre for breast and prostate cancer at Llandough Hospital.

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