PEMBROKESHIRE did itself proud at the Royal Welsh Show last week, with championships galore from a range of livestock classes heading back to west Wales.

Leading the way once again in the dairy classes, cows from west Wales made up all five finalists in the line up for the interbreed supreme title.

Taking the top honours was the Holstein from the Wilson family, of Tregibby Farm, Gwbert Road, Cardigan, with second calver Willsbro Goldwyn Kitty 5. Currently producing 45kg a day after calving in October, judge Colin Jones, of Kidwelly, tapped out the Holstein for her ‘tremendous’ udder and veination and hailed her as one of the best cows in the country. The champion cow also picked up armfuls of other trophies, including best udder and the Fitzhugh championship, providing the icing on the cake for Jimmy Wilson, who is currently the president of Holstein UK.

Standing in reserve was Stuart Williams, of Home Farm, Leweston, Camrose, with senior Ayrshire Pam Ayrs Dream Hawaii, from his Williams and Coryn partnership. Fresh from picking up reserve champion at last month’s Livestock Event in Birmingham, the fifth calver is currently giving 34kg a day and will no doubt feature prominently at the Pembrokeshire County Show in a fortnight’s time.

The Wilson family also provided the champion Jersey in the interbreed championship, with the Dairy Shorthorn from S.V.B and E.A Thomas, of Drisgolgoch, Llwyndrain, Llanfyrnach completing the line-up alongside the Brown Swiss of M. Williams, of Llangain, Carmarthen, in what was the breed’s first outing at the Royal Welsh Show.

The positions remained the same for the team of five competition, with the Holsteins taking the honours ahead of the Ayrshires in reserve.

While local beef breeders did not achieve the same level of interbreed championship success, the Murray Grey cattle of Otter and Company, from Pencoed Farm, Hebron, Whitland, swept the board, winning every class, including the group of three, before Ashrose Beverly 20th took the breed championship. There was also a brace of wins for Welsh Black breeders Gareth, Diane and Aled James, of Bernards Well Isaf, Tufton, with their bull Syfni Dewin Du 2nd, while well-known Hereford breeders George and Ionwy Thorne, of Studdolph Hall, Steynton, Milford Haven, saw Glenvale 1 Miss Milly 399 top her heifer class and near neighbour Delana Davies, of Tierston Farm, Steynton, won a Limousin cow class with Greenwell Favorn. In the Simmental classes, Aled Davies, of Ponthirwaun, Cardigan, won a trio of classes with his bull Hirwaun Dazzler, and Mrs A. James, of Lamborough Farm, Clarbeston Road took one of the female classes in the Beef Shorthorn section with Lamboro Ury Yarrow.

More top honours heading back to Pembrokeshire included a clean sweep in the pig competitions, with David Perkins and his daughter Lucy Georgiou, of Gwyndy, Llanddewi Velfrey, bringing home a trio of championships. The interbreed male championship went to their Saddleback boar Gwyndy Stockbroker 9, while the interbreed female and supreme championship was awarded to Pantysgawen Rosette 14.

There was also success for Mr and Mrs J.Taylor, of Hideaway Farm, Ludchurch, in the Welsh pig classes, including winning best female exhibit, and they took a class in the any other modern breed section. The champion in the any other modern breed classes was the sow Cerios Marilyn, from Aeron and Iwan Owens, of St Clears, while Sharron Nicholas, of Cold Blow, Narberth, took a class in the Tamworth section.

In the sheep section, the champion of champions title headed to Scotland for the second year running, while other noteable results included a clean sweep of the group wins in the pedigree Welsh Mountain sheep classes for Russell Davies, of Rhydymerydd, Efailwen, along with best female exhibit and reserve champion. Huw Evans, of Alltgoch, Cwrtnewydd, Llanybydder swept the board in the Llanwenog section, winning every class, while the ram from D. Lewis, of Llangwathen, Narberth was the champion Dorset Poll/Poll Dorset. The champion Oxford Down came from J. W. And M. F. S. Brown, of Redberth, Tenby, while the best female Hampshire Down came from E. and B. Jones, of Maesglas, Wolfscastle.

The Angora goats competitions meanwhile, proved to be a successful hunting ground for C. and D. Tyler, of Penyrallt Uchaf, Crymych, winning four classes and both the male and female championships, before taking the overall championship with their maiden doe. There was also a win for D. And V. Lockton, of Dolau Isaf Farm, Mynachlogddu with their buck.