PIGS AND PONIES

fiance Caryl Howells, from Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire, and all three collected red cards.

They duly made up three-quarters of the supreme championship and to no one’s great surprise they dominated the silverware. Their champions were a brace of pure Beltex, while his reserves were two Dutch Texels. All were April-born ewe lambs.

Dafydd was lured to Anglesey after county pal Hywel Williams made a similar trek north last year, with similar results. His interest was also piqued after one of his steers, bought by Llyr Taylor at Ruthin in 2017, went on to win Anglesey’s supreme fatstock title that year.

“Hywel came here last year and said it was a good show, so I thought I’d give it a go,” said Dafydd, who fielded the reserve supreme pair at this month’s Agri Expo.

Of the four pairs contesting Anglesey’s title, only one was from the island – a brace of a Blue Texel ewe lambs from Sally Myatt’s Two Saints flock, Llanddeusant.

With partner Paul Barnsley, she brought a total of nine lamb pairs to the show and the commitment paid off with victory for Paul in the native breeds championship.

His March-born Coloured Mule ewe lambs got the nod from judge Iwan Jones, Aberdaron.

Standing reserve were two Torwen ewe lambs bought privately by Brian Roberts, Corwen. PIG numbers at the show were on a par with last year – six pairs – and best of the lot were a duo of Welsh x Pietran gilts from perennial winner Gwenno Pugh, who runs a 24-sow Welsh pig herd at Tyn Llan, Penmynydd.

The show’s second day put young horses and ponies in the spotlight. Topping the pile was Melau Sky, a grey Section B yearling from Eirian Wyn Williams, Gaerwen, who secured both the Welsh and Supreme championship sashes.

Best supported sections, as ever, were the produce, cookery and crafts sections, bringing an early splash of Christmas to an otherwise dreary November day.

Show administrator Aled Hughes said it had been an encouraging day for all involved. “There was plenty of quality on view,” he said.