News Archive 2006
Welsh Black breeders celebrate competition success
Competition was fierce for the Welsh Black Cattle Society's ultimate accolade Bull and Female of the Year 2006.
The annual NatWest sponsored competition seeks to reward those animals which best typify the characteristics of the Wales ' native cattle and promote the breed as a British beef breed for the future.
With 81 points from eight shows*, where he won eight first prizes and an equal number of Champion breed titles, Seisiog Bedwyr 129th, has been named as the Welsh Black Cattle Society's Bull of the Year.
Bred and exhibited by Goronwy Jones a'i Gwmni, Ty Newydd, Nebo, Llanrwst, Seisiog Bedwyr 129th wins the NatWest Bronze Bull for the highest number of points within the breed during the year.
Established in 1963, the Seisiog herd is noted for quality and prize winning Welsh Black cattle, having won both the Bull and Female of the Year title in previous years.
Born 10/12/02, sired by Mynydd Morgan and out of Seisiog Bet 94th, Seisiog Bedwyr 129th was also placed Overall Breed Champion at the 2006 Royal Welsh Show.
"The Royal Welsh Show must surely be the show which stands out for the Jones family, who also won the Female Championship with Seisiog Awena 54th," said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.
Seisiog Awena 54th, the 3 year-old home-bred heifer, also took the Best Welsh Black Pair award with Seisiog Bedwyr 129th , and together with another heifer - Syfni Gwenno 4th, exhibited by GD & A James, Bernards Well Isaf, Pembrokeshire - won the Marks & Spencer Best Native Group of Three trophy.
If that was not enough then to top a winning week the Seisiog bloodlines won the Queen's Cup and Royal Welsh Agricultural Show special rosette - an award which rotates between the four native livestock classes with the Welsh Blacks from Goronwy Jones this year's winners.
Close on the heels of the winning bull with 77 points from eight shows was the First Reserve, Syfni ap Rhys. Sired by Gwern-Cynyddion Rhys 33rd and out of Hayston Gwenno 6th the 2 ½ year-old bull was bred and exhibited by Gareth, Diane and Aled James of Bernard Well Isaf, Tufton, Clarbeston Road in Pembrokeshire. The family exhibited at both the Royal Shows, winning the Champion Welsh Black Bull title at the Royal Show in Stoneleigh.
Dancoed Cymro13th a young home bred bull from Gwynfryn and Marian Phillips, Dancoed, Cwm Gwaun, Abergwaun, takes the Second Reserve honours. The Dancoed herd was established in 1992, and Dancoed Cymro13th was sired by former Bull of the Year 2003 and 2004, namely Seisiog Cymro 61st.
Taking the First Reserve title was good, but the icing on the show season cake for the James family was the performance of their home-bred maiden heifer, Syfni Gweno 4th, which takes the Welsh Black Cattle Society's Female of the Year Award.
Sired by Syfni Seraff and out of Syfni Gwenno 2nd, the heifer, which was born 7/3/04, collected 72 points from eight shows. During the show season she amassed eight first prizes, and five female championships including Reserve Female at the Royal Welsh Show.
The James' - who established the Syfni herd in 1999 - previously won first reserve in the Female of the Year 2003 competition with Esgob Sarah 36th, a heifer bred by Mrs Gwenfair Jones and Sons, Hafoesgob Isaf, Bala.
There was a close run for the first position in the female section as the First Reserve, Graig Goch Meriel 13th accumulated 68 points from eight shows.
Bred by Emyr Jones, Graig Goch, Nebo, Llanrwst she was exhibited by the mother and daughter team Christine and Heather Carberry, Mapel Crest, New Inn, Llandeilo.
A previous first reserve in the competition (2004) she was sired by Graig Goch Rhys 16th and out of Graig Goch Muriel. In calf with her 5th calf, the 8 year-old cow has now retired from the show circuit.
Second Reserve with 47 points is 4 year-old cow, Medip Camelia 2nd, bred by John and Janet Dimmery-Seek, Higher farm, East Horrington, Wells, Somerset . Exhibited by young WBCS member Ioan Roberts, Tryfil Isaf, Llanerchynedd, Anglesey , who recently took over the farm from his late father.
"The summer show circuit has once again been a great success for the breed, and personally for the Jones and James families whose winning animals have been home bred.
"It has been an exciting competition for members as in the female competition there were six very strong contenders for the title.
"While in the bull section it was pleasing to see proven sires enter the competition after an absence of senior Welsh Black bulls in 2005, and the Society acknowledges the effort and dedication from all its exhibitors during the heat of this summer."
RESULTS
BULLS
Bull of the Year: Seisiog Bedwyr 129th
First Reserve: Syfni ap Rhys
Second Reserve: Dancoed Cymro,13th
FEMALES
Female of the Year: Syfni Gweno 4th
First Reserve: Graig Goch Meriel 13th
Second Reserve: Medip Camelia 2nd
Ends.
NOTES TO EDITORS
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
WBCS Bull of the Year 2006: Seisiog Bedwyr 129th
WBCS Female of the Year 2006: Syfni Gweno 4th
*COMPETITION DETAILS
Seventeen shows are selected as qualifiers, including the two Royals - the Royal Welsh and the Royal of England at Stoneleigh. Also included are the Shropshire and West Midlands Show, and seven shows each in North and South Wales .
Points are awarded as follows:-
Champion Bull & Female - 6 points
Reserve champions - 4 points
First - 3 points
Second - 2 points
Third - 1 point
*NB Royal Show points are double value
While farmers are eligible to attend more than 8 shows, points are only considered for the top 8 shows whose points for an animal give the best overall average.
Judges are chosen by each agricultural show society from a list approved by the WBCS Council. Each judge is only allowed to judge at one of the 17 shows.
The highest placed male and female at the show receives £150 and a silver spoon - sponsored by NatWest.
While an animal may win at more than one show, it will only receive one spoon, the award being made to the next highest placed male or female. Therefore spoons are awarded to up to 17 males and 17 females during the competition.
First reserve winners receive £60, and those in second reserve £40.