News Archive 2008
Welsh Black honours go north and south
The results of the Welsh Black Cattle Society 's Bull and Female of the Year Competition 2008 see the top honours go to breeders in North and South Wales.
The annual competition, which is sponsored by the National Westminster Bank, is always a popular activity for both established and new breeders to the showring circuit.
The £1,000 cash prize money is split with £500 being paid to the 6 top winners in both bull and female classes and the other £500 for glass trophies which are presented to the highest placed bull and female at the qualifying shows.
After a two year break, Seisiog Bedwyr 129 th has come back to re-claim the Bull of the Year title.
The 5 ½ year-old bull first took the title in 2006, and following a breeding break has come back to win the 2008 title.
Bred by Mr G Jones a 'i Gwmni , Ty Newydd , Nebo, Llanrwst , Denbighshire, the bull has won many interbreed championships during the season including Reserve Supreme Champion and Breed Champion and was 'Champion Male' in all six shows he exhibited this season.
The Seisiog Herd was established in 1963 and has produced endless champion bulls and females at pedigree Welsh Black sales, summer shows and fat stock sales over the last 45 years.
A close runner-up at just three points behind is Gwarcwm Max 10 th ; a 2½ year old home bred bull from D Huw Jones, Lletty Cynnes , Bow Street , Ceredigion .
Of the eight shows attended this year Gwarcwm Max 10 th won four Championships and four Reserve Championships.
The Gwarcwm Herd, established in 1990, has had numerous awards at shows and sales and a young Gwarcwm bull was exported to Germany in May 2007.
Third prize winning bull is Cwmbyr Major a young bull born which only started showing in the 2008 season at 13½ months of age.
Bred by Messrs JG & DC Davies, Cwmbyr , Lledrod , Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cwmbyr Major was exhibited by one of the Society 's younger members namely Carwyn Lewis, Gwarcoed Einon , Llanwenog , Llanydydder , Carmarthenshire.
The family herd, with the Einon prefix, was established in 1958 and are renowned for their showing success over a 50 year period.
The bull attended five qualifying shows and received five 1 st prizes and four Reserve Championships.
At only 13 years old Carwyn , and the Welsh Black Cattle Society, look forward to a promising future.
Female of the Year is Dancoed Ceridwen 3 rd . At 3 years of age the home bred in-calf heifer is the progeny of a former Bull of the Year, Seisiog Cymro 61 st which won the title in 2003 and 2004.
Her owners Gwynfryn and Marian Phillips of Dancoed , Cwm Gwaun , Abergwaun in Pembrokeshire won Bull of the Year in 2007 with a half brother to Dancoed Ceridwen , namely Dancoed Cymro 13 th .
From seven shows Dancoed Ceridwen won seven 1 st prizes and six Champion Female awards, including at the Royal Welsh, and a Reserve Female award which gave the heifer a clear lead of 30 points on the runners up.
Runners up were Hafren Cerys , a maiden heifer, and Gwarcwm Meinir 14 th , an in-calf heifer, which shared joint 2 nd position with 42 points each.
Hafren Cerys was bred and exhibited by Emily Evans, Tynshettin , Llanwrddyn , Oswestry , and attended six shows winning four 1 st prizes, two 2 nd prizes, three Champion awards and two Reserve awards.
The Hafren Herd was established in 1983 and has won numerous awards at Society shows and sales including the Small Herd of the Year on several occasions.
Gwarcwm Meinir 14 th was joint 2 nd position. A home bred heifer from Huw Jones, who travelled to eight shows winning six 1 st prizes, two 2 nd prizes, one champion female and three reserve champion female awards.
Mr Jones of Lletty Cynnes , Bow Street , Ceredigion travelled the length of Wales to support the show circuit and promote the breed.
Said Welsh Black Cattle Society Chief Executive, Andrew James, 'Once again we have had tremendous support during the show season, and our judges have had a difficult task'. 'I'd like to thank all those who have taken the time and effort to exhibit their cattle, and providing an important showcase for Wales ' native breed.'
Results of Bull & Female of the Year Award for 2008
Bull of the Year:
1st Seisiog Bedwyr 129 th
Mr G Jones a 'i Gwmni , Ty Newydd , Nebo, Llanrwst , Denbighshire
(63 points after 6 shows)
2nd Gwarcwm Max 10th
Mr D Huw Jones, Llety Cynnes , Bow Street , Ceredigion
(60 points after 8 shows)
3rd Cwmbyr Major
Carwyn Lewis, Gwarcoed Einon , Llanwenog , Llanybydder ,Ceredigion
(34 points after 5 shows)
Female of the Year:
1st Dancoed Ceridwen 3rd
Gwynfryn & Marian Phillips, Dancoed , Cwm Gwaun , Abergwaun , Pembrokeshire
(70 points after 7 shows)
Joint 2nd Hafren Cerys Ms Emily Evans
Tynshettin , Llanwrddyn , Oswestry
(42 points after 6 shows)
Joint 2nd Gwarcwm Meinir 14th
Mr D Huw Jones, Llety Cynnes , Bow Street , Ceredigion
(42 points after 8 shows)