THE annual awards presentations for Coleg Sirgar students of agriculture, horticulture and floristry together with other land based courses including the agricultural engineering, equine and animal care sections took place this year at the Ffos Las Racecourse facility.

In welcoming a large gathering of parents, employers and friends to the ceremony Mr David Davies, Curriculum Head, remarked that all courses were currently being very well supported with young people, and a number of mature students, from across the three West Wales counties together with several from the Swansea, Glamorgan and Powys areas.

Principal Mr Barry Liles spoke in similar vein and the guest speaker was Welsh Assembly Government member, Mrs Angela Burns.

Mrs Burns was hugely congratulatory of the modern facilities that were provided at the campus so well supported by a dedicated team of lecturers, trainers and technical support staff and the excellent record of achievement by students at all levels.

She recalled aspects of her own farm upbringing and how her own father had worked with horses. She marveled at how so many young people still had their roots in the land based sector, which had progressed almost out of all recognition, and was quite amazed to learn that girls were achieving great things, even in the field of agricultural engineering.

This years winner of the annual prize given in memory the late E O James – founder of the facilities at the Gelli Aur campus – was Angharad Harries of Carmarthen who has achieved her level 3 diploma studying the Horse Management course. Daniel Jones of Cardigan received the Tony Richards award as the best student with Coleg Sirgar Training services.

Each year the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society recognises and pays tribute to the enthusiasm and dedication of promising agricultural students and rising stars with awards and study scholarships.

It was announced that one of the Society’s awards for 2015, sponsored by Sainsburys, has been won by ColegSirgar student Martha Jane Sauro of Graig, Burry Port who is presently studying for an Extended Diploma in Agriculture.

Academic awards:

AGRICULTURAL/ RURAL STUDIES

Students of the Year, 2015 – Emma Powell and Sara Roberts (Credit Diplomas), Jack Jones and Martha Jane Sauro (Extended Diplomas), Baden Davies (Practical), Wayne Thomas, Steffan Edwards and James Annison (Countryside Management), Ifan Lewis, Ffion Hopkin and Mark Harries (Agriculture), Luke Duggins, Ben Cross, Gwen Price, Sara Bennett and Laura Howells (Foundation Degrees).

Learners of the Year, 2015 – Harry Gray (Foundation). Robbie Thomas. Gwilym Williams and Daniel Roblin (Apprenticeships).

Special awards – Oliver Dodson (Forestry), William Davies (British Dairy Farmers), Joseph Twose (Cattle Breeding), Ben Reynolds and Arwel Thomas (Stockmanship).

School group awards – Elliott Jenkins, Rhydian Davies and Iwan Evans (Extended Certificates).

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

Cennydd Hughes (Student of the Year), Max Wiseman (Best Agricultural Project), Griffith Morgan (Rural Engineering), Daniel Martin (Practical Achievement), Tom Heard (Agricultural Engineering), Sion Phillips (Practical Engineering), Jac Griffiths and Hefin Jones (Land based technologies), Cameron Hendrie (Technician), Helen Webster (Overall Achievement).

EQUINE STUDIES

Horse Management – Deanna Griffiths (Level 3 Extended Diploma), Angharad Harries (Level 3 Diploma), Paige Jones (Level 2 Diploma), David Morgan Rowlands (Level 2 Practical Student).

Special awards – Shannon Larkin, Hannah Griffiths, Samantha Aue, Nicola Williams, Francess Currel and Ellie Ryan.

ANIMAL STUDIES

BSc (Hons) – Neil Walters and Charlotte Jones.

City & Guilds – Daniel Lewis Jones (Level 3 Credit Diploma), Andrea Jones (Level 3 Extended Diploma), Luke Blake (Level 2 Diploma), Carly Harrison (Landbased Diploma).

Foundation Degrees – Rhiannon Lewis (Year 1), Samantha West (Year 2), Jenna Phillips (Year 3).

Special awards – Tom Cox (Training), Owain Rees (Exotic animals), Ashleigh Salisbury (Practical), Ffion Hughes (Animal Nursing and Vets award), Stephanie Ryan (Horse Care), Zoe McCraig (Progress and Development), Lacey Ryan (Anatomy and Physiology), Josh Davies (Animal Care).

HORTICULTURAL STUDIES

Royal Horticultural Society – Gillian Jackson (Theory), Anne Wyman (Practical).

City & Guilds – Lyn Powell (Floral).