Royal Welsh video: Familiar faces return to triumph in dairy show rings

Many show stalwarts returned to the rings of the Royal Welsh Show in style this year (24-27 July) to claim the coveted silverware. 

The Wilson familiy’s Tregibby herd from Ceredigion scooped the dairy double for the second time to make it their seventh interbreed win since 2000.

Taking the champion sash was their five times All Britain nominee Willsbro Goldwyn Kitty 5, out of Ridgefield Allwin Kitty and bought by Hefin Wilson as a yearling for 2,000gns.

See also: Video: 7 weird and wonderful caravans at the Royal Welsh Show

She won interbreed at the show as a second calver and returned to the Royal Welsh ring to reclaim the title, having calved with her sixth in May and giving 60 litres daily.

Pipped to the post by Kitty was the reigning breed champion Jersey and 2015 maiden heifer winner, Tregibby Panama Tequlia.

Exhibited by Hefins’ 19-year-old son Ifan, she is sired by Tower Vue Prime Tequila and is out of Tregibby Comercia Panama. She calved in October and is due with her third calf in September, currently giving 25 litres.

Beef

It was a female affair in the beef interbreed ring, with two show stalwarts returning to claim the silverware.

Claiming the top spot and retaining her Great Yorkshire interbreed title was the Simmental Popes Princess Cleo, from Jimmy and Vikki Wood, Preston.

The home-bred six-year-old cow went one better than last year’s Royal Welsh when she took reserve in the interbreed finale.

Sired by Banwy Wonderboy, she is out of Popes Nellys Princess and was shown alongside her two-month-old heifer calf, Immie, by the 20,000gns Kilbride Farm Comber, purchased at Stirling in 2011.

Led by their 20-year-old daughter Hannah Wood, Cleo has earned the family their third breed champion at the Welsh to date.

In reserve was Beef Shorthorn Westhide Zoe, owned in partnership between Mary Cormack, Richard Bartle and Paul Dawes of Dinmore, Hereford.

Sired by Chapelton Waverley and out of Grafton Zoe, she was shown by Mary and Richard with her eight-week-old heifer calf, by Meonhill Firefox, at foot.

It was the second year on the bounce she won breed champion, but her first interbreed title.

Pigs

In the pig ring, the red ticket went to Gwynys Daffodil 1843 R004710WE. It was third time lucky for Huw and Ela Roberts, after coming second in the Royal Welsh Show pig interbreed competition for the last two years.

The 23-month-old champion, sired by Braemor Victor 2, who was bred by Phil Fowlie of Anglesey, has had two litters and is currently in-pig, due to farrow in October.

Mr and Mrs Roberts have 35 sows at home in Pwllheli, Gwynedd, where they also farm beef and sheep. All pigs are sold under their own brand Oinc Oink, largely to farm shops and restaurants.

Daffodil is now off to Anglesey Show, starting on 15 August.

In reserve was Knighton Queen 24284 owned by Julian Collings and shown by his daughter Emma.

Born in July 2014 and purchased privately, Queen was bred by Messrs Tippett and Schofield from Cornwall. She has raised 49 pigs from four litters and is currently in-pig, due to farrow in September. 

Mr Collings has 10 British Lop sows at home in Cornwall and has shown seven pigs at the Royal Welsh Show this year.

Sheep

The interbreed champion in the sheep ring was given to a Texel ewe shown by Robert Bennett of DN Bennett and Son, Meifod, Powys.

The five-month-old home-bred ewe is sired by Eden Valley Wiz Kid and this is her first red ticket, having only previously been shown at the Shropshire and Borders Texel Club Progeny Show. Mr Bennett runs his own flock of 35 Texel ewes.

The reserve went to a Beulah Speckled Face sheep owned by Alun and Eirwyn Richards from Cwmcelynen Farm, Pumpsaint.

It was the first time out for the home-bred yearling ewe sired by a ram bought from Mervyn and Jackie Price of Llanafan.