There is a well known saying, 'no pain, no gain' and that will be ringing true in the minds of Milk Link’s 1,600 producers, who are on the brink of reaping just reward for 12 years of loyalty and investment.Clean sweep for Kerry Hills at Pembrokeshire
THERE are not many showgrounds that have not seen Kerry Hill stalwart Dick Powell topping the inter-breed sheep lines - but until this year he had never competed at the Pembrokeshire County Show.
With his 83rd birthday approaching, and fresh claims of a definite ‘retirement’ from the show circuit, he decided to take in the Haverfordwest fixture - and what a day he and his wife, Rosina, had.
With two females and a ram from their Guilsfield, Powys base, they won not only one inter-breed trophy, but all four on offer.
Clean sweep
The ‘clean sweep’ even surprised the judge, former Welsh Agricultural College principal Dr Dai Morris, who these days is a highly respected pedigree Charollais and Lleyn breeder.
He said on the day the Kerry trio could not be beaten, helped no doubt by Mr Powell’s considerable showmanship skills which he intends passing on to younger breeders during retirement.
Top individual billing went to the couple’s two-year-old, multi-award-winning Geraint Roberts-bred ram. Teamed with two home-bred ewes which had taken the pairs rosette, it added the group trophy to the awards haul.
Runner-up for the top title was a superb Dominator-sired Charollais ewe lamb from last year’s championship-takers, Arwyn and Jane Thomas, all set to sell off their Whitland-based flock in October and take a two-year break. Frozen embryos will be used to restart.
Rather than a one-breed domination there was a multi-coloured climax to the inter-breed cattle championships - with the 12 trophies being shared by seven breeds.
Taking the main individual beef title was the three-year-old imported Limousin bull, Cacoa B, being shown by brothers Dylan and Arwel Thomas, who farm with parents Emrys and Eileen at Blaenfoss, Boncath, Pembrokeshire.
Junior bull
The junior bull championship winner was the home-bred Simmental, Penwern Amber, from Newcastle Emlyn’s Wyn Jenkins.
Herefords won the native breed pairs and group awards - all five animals coming from the Glenvale herd George and Ionwy Thorne and daughter, Non, keep at Studdolph Hall, Milford Haven.
The coveted team of five championship put the Simmentals ahead of the British Blues.
Supreme and pairs honours in the dairy ring went to the Holsteins and Elwyn and Cheryl Thomas’s Gatrog herd from Kidwelly.
Jerseys won the team of five line-up, Ayrshires dominated the heifer championships and a trio of Brown Swiss took the group rosette.
Top pig was the two-year-old, home-bred Landrace sow, Lletty Cordelia 7, from Gerallt and Joyce Owens, Llannon.
Results
Dairy
Inter-breed (Judge, K. Hammond, Shrewsbury) Supreme and female, E. and C. Thomas, Riverdane Iron Beauty (Holstein); reserve and res. fem., Future Dreams Partnership, Starlight Remake Daffodil (Jersey). Group of three, Sup., M. Williams (Brown Swiss); res., E. and C. Thomas (Holstein). Heifer, Sup., Glanmor Jerseys, Glanmor Julian Minstral (Jersey); res., P. and S. Williams, Willhome Thorn Flo 2 (Ayrshire). Local heifer, Sup., P. and S. Williams, Willhome Thorn Flo 2 (Ayrshire); res., Future Dreams Partnership, Future Dreams Signatures Veronica (Jersey). Pair, Sup., E. and C. Thomas, Weeton Dark Melissa and Stillbrook Desire 5 (Holsteins); res., Future Dreams Partnership, Starlight Remake Daffodil and Glanmor Jerseys, Glanmor Julian Minstral (Jerseys). Team of five, Sup., Jerseys; res., Holstein. Production-inspection, Sup., A.H. Wilson and Son, Tregibby Geraldine 41 (Holstein); res., J.D. Evans, Gaddesden Tara 2 (Jersey).
Beef
Inter-breed (W. Bedell, Llandrindod Wells) Sup. and male, D. Thomas, Cacoa B (Limousin); res. and fem., G. and M. Bowen, Rosebush 1 Elin (Hereford). Junior bull,
Sup., R.W. Jenkins, Penwern Amber (Simmental); res., J. and H. Phillips, Gronw Esquire (Limousin). British native breed pairs, Sup., T.G. and E.I. Thorne, Glenvale 1 Acorn and Glenvale 1 Molly (Herefords); res., I. and A. Lewis and Son, Mynach Susan 7 and Einon Gwenno (Welsh Blacks). Group of three, Sup., T.G. and E.I. Thorne (Herefords); res., E.D. Griffiths and Co (Limousins).
Team of five, Sup., Simmentals; res., British Blues.
Cattle
Ayrshire (D. Hunter, Berkhamsted) Sup. and fem., P. and S. Williams, Willhome Gold Caroline; res. and res. fem., G. Thomas, Gwynnog Trident Esther.
Holstein (J. Platt, Norwich) Sup. and fem., E. and C. Thomas, Riverdane Iron Beauty; res. and res. fem., Pedran Holsteins, Weeton Oralie Talent.
Jersey (L. Lewis, Wiveliscombe). Sup. and fem., Future Dreams Partnership, Starlight Remake Daffodil; res. and res. fem., J.D. Evans, Gaddesden Tara 2.
Dairy Shorthorn (G. Bell, Tarporley) Sup. and fem., M.S. and E.A.E. Davies, Chicklade Wildeyes 26; res. and res. fem., M.S. and E.A.E. Davies, Elkington Dewdrop 3
Any other dairy breed (M. George, Haverfordwest) Sup. and fem., M. Williams, Quarry Cosmos Heke (Brown Swiss); res. and res. fem., M. Williams, Quarry Luke Lovely (Brown Swiss).
Hereford (J. Williams, Helston) Sup. and fem., G. and M. Bowen, Rosebush 1 Elin; res. and male, Mr and Mrs T. Amery, Gomer Fandango.
Welsh Black (K. Ellis, Tywyn) Sup. and fem., G., D. and A. James, Syfni Gwenno 4; res. and male, N. Birt-Lewellin, Dancoed Cymro 13.
Limousin (R. Bartle, Hereford) Sup. and male, D. Thomas, Cacoa B; res. and fem., E.D. Griffiths and Co, Mynach Dior.
Simmental (C.M. Martindale, Oswestry) Sup. and male, R.W. Jenkins, Penwern Amber; res. and res. fem., B.T. and M.C. Raymond, Bennant Vera.
Longhorn (A. Blockley, Bradford) Sup. and fem., B. and M. Llewellyn, Carreg Damson; res. and fem., B. and M. Llewellyn, Carreg Jovial.
Beef Shorthorn (N.J. Barrett, Kings Lynn) Sup. and male, A. James, Lamboro Yeoman; res. and fem., A. James, Upsall Ury Maid.
Any other British native beef breed (C.G. Ball, Abergavenny) Sup. and male, G.M. and D.A.R. Finch, Crossview Rufus (Belted Galloway); res. and fem., E.G. and C.E. James, Glancollen Uppercut (South Devon).
Any other Continental beef breed (A. Rees, Haverfordwest) Sup. and male, L. Evans, Emlyn El Baneito (British Blue); res. and fem., J. Phillips, Balzer Waterlily (British Blue).
Dexter (P.J. Weaver, Gloucester) Sup. and fem., G. Hamer, Breidden Linnet; res. and male, G. Hamer, Amadeus Buster.
Murray Grey (R. Hartshorn, Telford) Sup. and fem., D.A. and R.A. Kent, Darose Annie; res. and res. fem., K. Davies, Tir Mynach Princess.
British White (A. Lyons, Wells) Sup. and fem., R.G. Hamilton, Dallyashes Tug; res. and male, P. Scholfield, Dadley Margrave.
Commercial beef (A. Rees, Haverfordwest) Sup., G.D. Jenkins and Family (Limousin cross heifer); res. A. Phillips (British Blue cross steer).
Young Handlers (Dairy, M. George, Haverfordwest; Beef, C.G. Ball, Abergavenny) Dairy section champion, Sup., Philip Morgan; res., Rhys Griffiths. Beef section champion, Sup., Sam Bowen.
Sheep
Inter-breed (Dr D.W. Morris, St Clears) Sup. and male, R. and R. Powell (Kerry Hill); res. and fem., A. and J. Thomas (Charollais). British native breeds, Sup., R. and R. Powell (Kerry Hill ram); res., R.G. and H.M. Wells (Lleyn ewe). Group of three. Sup., R. and R. Powell (Kerry Hill); res., I.J. and M.H. Davies (British Bleu du Maine). Pair of ewes, Sup., R. and R. Powell (Kerry Hill); res., T.D. and J.M.L. Rees (Lleyn).
Suffolk (C. Holmes, Worcester) Sup. and fem., I. Morgan; res. and res. male, T.J. and L.S.R. Griffiths.
Texel (P. Houldey, Hasfield) Sup. and male, D.J.J. Watkins and Co; res. and fem., J. and T. Davies.
Charollais (G. Probert, Worcester) Sup. and fem., A. and J. Thomas; res. and male, I. Matthews.
Lleyn (C.M. Evans, Ivybridge) Sup. and fem., R.G. and H.M. Wells; res. and male, R.G. and H.M. Wells.
Hampshire Down (E.J. Cresswell, Diss) Sup. and male, E., B. and S.A. Jones; res. and res. male, M. and R. Evans.
Welsh Mountain (A.J. Morris, Ludlow) Sup. and male, T.R. Davies; res.. and fem., T.R. Davies.
Black Welsh Mountain (D. Rowlands, Gaerwen) Sup. and fem., K. and K. Bowman; res. and male, S.J., D. and G. Jones.
Badgerfaced (M. Parry, St Clears) Sup. and fem., E.A. Eagles; res. and res. fem., T.G. King.
Wiltshire Horn (J. Bradley, Shipston-on-Stour) Sup. and male, R.G. Hamilton; res. and res. male, J.T.J. Stone.
Ryeland (B. McCaul, Hereford) Sup. and male, R.A., A.M. and L.A. Howell; res. and male, D. Lewis.
Jacob (J. Lewis, Shrewsbury) Sup and fem., D.W. and S.L. Harries; res. and male, R. Francis.
Kerry Hill (R. Dutton, Shrewsbury) Sup. and male, R. and R. Powell; res. and fem., A. John.
Beltex (S. Gibbons, Hay-on-Wye) Sup. and fem., D.O. Davies; res. and male, K. and K. Head.
Any other British breed (F. Gwilliam, Clun) Sup. and male, R.G. and R.A. Jones and Son; res. and res. male, D. Lewis.
Any other Continental breed (J. Powell, Churchstoke) Sup. and fem., I.J. and M.H. Davies (British Bleu du Maine); res. and male, I.J. and M.H. Davies (British Bleu du Maine).
Butcher’s lambs (G. Bussell, Llawhaden) Sup. and over 35kg, M. Hughes-Butterfield; res. and res. over 35kg, R.G. and R.A. Jones and Son.
Pigs
Inter-breed (L. Organ, Llandysul) Sup. and fem., G. and J. Owens and Son, Lletty Cordelia 7 (Landrace); res. and male, Mr and Mrs T. Evans and Son, Cranrow James 12 (Welsh).
Modern breeds (L. Organ) Sup. and fem., G. and J. Owens, Lletty Cordelia 7 (Landrace); res. and male, Mr and Mrs T. Evans and Son, Cranrow James 12 (Welsh).
Traditional breeds (L. Organ) Sup. and male, D.B. and L.M. Perkins, Pantysgawen Perfect 4 (British Saddleback); res. and fem., D.B. and L. Perkins, Gwyndy Babble 7 (British Saddleback).
Horses
Shires (N.G. Williams, Newcastle Emlyn) Sup.and fem., E. and L. Davies, Bodafon Rose Marie. Res, and local, J. Thomas, Kirkland Star.
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