THE Christmas Fatstock Mart in Newcastle Emlyn attracted a large crowd.

The sheep and cattle were judged by renowned butcher Robert Rattray, of Aberystwyth, and he was highly complimentary of the stock brought forward.

A keen competition ensued in the prime lamb classes, with the supreme championship going to the pen of four averaging 51.7kg from mart regular Aled Evans, of Coedperthi, Beulah, in the heavyweight section and selling for £110/head to Ross Beynon, of Dryslwyn, Carmarthen.

The top-priced commercial pen of lambs sold for 166p/kg by Frances Tomkinson, Brynyrefail, Oakford, Llanarth to Dewi James Butchers, Newcastle Emlyn.

The best pen of store lambs, averaging 39.5kg, sold for £55.80/head by Ieuan Williams, Iscoed, Cwmpengraig, and the best pen of cull ewes sold for £94 by Gareth Davies, Glanwern, Felinfach.

There was a quality entry of cattle, with keen competition between three exhibitors.

The champion heifer was a 19- month-old black Limousin cross, weighing 635kg, from David Thomas, of Dolcoed, Llanwne, and selling for 275p/kg to Thomas, Golwg y Môr Farm Meats, Tanygroes.

The champion steer was a 17- month-old British Blue cross, weighing 590kg and jointly owned by David Thomas and Ifan Phillips, of Newcastle Emlyn. It sold for 255p/kg to Dewi James. The best homebred beast was a 16-month-old black Limousin cross steer, owned by Cerdin and Fiona Jones, of Rhydyfallen, Llanarth. He weighed 600kg and sold for 238p/kg to Thomas, Golwg y Môr Meats.

The novice exhibitor award went toOwain Morgan, of Bryngwyn, and the best handler award was given to Ifan Phillips, of Castellan, Newcastle Emlyn.

RESULTS:

Sheep: Champion Evans, Coedperthi; reserve Thomas family, Cwmdyllest. Lightweight lambs: 1st and 2nd Davies, Panteryrod, Llwyncelyn; 3rd Jones, Blaenbowi, Capel Iwan. Medium weight lambs: 1st Thomas Family, Cwmdyllest, Pontsian; 2nd Jones, Trenewydd, Trawsmawr; 3rd Rogers, Berthyfedwen, Llandyfriog. Heavyweight lambs: 1st Evans, Coedperthi, Beulah; 2nd Griffiths, Abergwrog, Cwmcou; 3rd Jones, Pantycetris, Talgarreg. Top priced pen commercial section: 166p/kg, Tomkinson, Brynyrefail, Oakford. Store lambs: Williams, Iscoed, Cwmpengraig Cull ewes: Davies, Glanwern, Felinfach Cattle: Champion Thomas, Dolcoed (heavy heifer); reserve Thomas, Dolcoed (heavy steer).

Novice class: Morgan, Pantyrhaidd, Bryngwyn. Light heifer: 1st Phillips, Castellan, Newcastle Emlyn; 2nd James, Rhydyfallen, Llanarth; 3rd Thomas, Dolcoed, Llanwnen. Heavy heifer: 1st and 2nd Thomas, Dolcoed, Llanwnen. Light steer: Morgan, Pantyrhaidd.

Heavy steer: 1st Thomas, Dolcoed, 2nd Jones, Rhydyfallen.

Best pair: 1st Phillips, Castellan; 2nd Thomas, Dolcoed; 3rd Jones, Rhydyfallen. Homebred beast: 1st and 2nd Jones, Rhydyfallen. British Blue sired beast: 1st and 2nd Thomas, Dolcoed.

Best handler: Ifan Phillips, Castellan, Newcastle Emlyn.

*This article was published in the January issue of Pembrokeshire Farmer.