By Meyrick Brown

THERE was a poignant note to a unique agricultural show that brings together livestock exhibitors from three very distinct farming areas: north, south and east Wales.

Organisers of Aberystwyth and Ceredigion County Show reflected with great sadness that the elected president for the day, local garage owner Mr David Stewart, Parc y Llyn, had dies three months previously.

Winning at Aberystwyth is a major accolade for horse and pony exhibitors and this year’s supreme Champion of the show was Parry's Lad, the 18-year-old bay gelding elegantly ridden side saddle by his owner Rachel Forkings of Cwm Derw, Llanafan Fawr and with whom she had, not surprisingly, also won the Veterans championship.

Reserve in the side saddle class was the riding horse champion, the 10-year-old grey mare Summertime Lady Too, splendidly ridden by Helen Thomas of Trefaes Ganol, Cardigan.

Taking reserve supreme were the Jones family, Frongoy with their yearling section C filly, Fronarth Jade Jones.

Heading the shire entries was Sladbrook Gem from Edward and Caryl Tudor Jones and a new introduction, for a heavy horse shown under saddle saw Wayne Williams take best with the fine mare, Ddrydwy Lady Anastasia, ridden by Hannah Williams.

Cathrin Roberts produced the best ridden hunter, Carndale Huntsman; the winning show pony was Neu Valley Mondana beautifully ridden by Heather Ellis Jones and topping the mountain and moorland entries was Vennebos Pearly King, a section A Welsh mountain pony ridden by Soffia Cynwyl, 11, of Plas Pedol, Ponthirwaun.

Among the beef cattle entries the male championship went to the winning Welsh Black, the home-bred Gerddi Bluog Rhinog 5th from Jessica Evans-Williams of Llanfair, Harlech, while the female award went to Simmental heifer Hirwaun Alice bred by Aled Davies of Ponthirwaun, Cardigan.

Commercial beef exhibits, Black Magic and Lucy, won the interbreed pairs prize for Dai Thomas of Llanwnnen, Lampeter.

Taking the inter breed dairy championship was an impressive home bred Holstein milker Walliswood Topshot Blomke shown by Paul and Eirlys Williams of Cwrtnewydd, Llanybydder.

Excellent sheep entries saw the yearling Charollais ram from Gethin Davies, Moelfryn Mawr, Bethania take supreme and it was a trio of yearling Suffolks from Dafydd Jones of Frongoy that took the group award.