HRH The price of Wales, patron to the society, hosting society members at Highgrove during June 2004
Centenary Year 2004
Looking back over 2004, the Welsh Black Cattle Society can reflect on a centenary year which took them from lunching at the home of the Prince of Wales, to record breaking show and sale successes.
In June at the invitation of the Prince some 107 WBCS members traveled to Highgrove to visit the farm and garden, as well as to meet their Royal Patron.
“It was a most memorable day for all with an opportunity to meet His Royal Highness on a one to one basis,” said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.
Success followed in the Best Native Beef Pair championship at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh and marked the beginning of the Welsh Black’s show ring dominance of 2004.
“It was the start of our winning streak of show success and was much sweeter being over the Welsh border!” said Andrew.
“Welsh is the new Black” proclaimed the Western Mail, when the breed took to the Royal Welsh Show ring, virtually sweeping the trophies board at Llanelwedd.
Three year-old heifer Eirianfa Ebrill was chosen from 900 cattle on show as the Supreme Beef Champion, while Welsh Blacks went on to take the Reserve Champion spot in the Team of Five Beef Cattle, and the Native Group of Three title. The icing on the cake was the prestigious FitzHugh Perpetual Championship Trophy for the best beef pair by the team consisting of Seisiog Cymro 61st and Eirianfa Ebrill.
The Show also saw the launch of “The Best of Breed. A History of the Welsh Blacks” by Jenny Buckton, and the Society’s special Centenary Dinner, which was held at the showground and saw more than 300 members dine on Welsh Black beef.
Meanwhile a Drovers Parade in Llandovery was a reminder of the special link between Welsh Black cattle, Llandovery and the banking world as it was a local drover, David Jones, who founded the ‘Black Ox Bank’ in 1799, a fore-runner of Lloyds TSB in Wales.
This was followed by an international conference where 27 WBCS members from across the globe spoke of their experiences of the breed.
While the Society’s Centenary Autumn sales at Abergavenny, Llandovery, Dolgellau and Carlisle exceeded all expectations.
“What a sale season we had, 367 female sold this autumn, compared to 300 females sold in all the 2003 sales. I am absolutely delighted at the performance of the pedigree sales which resulted in all members obtaining good prices for their cattle.”
A good show at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Winter Fair, and Reserve Champion in the Duke of Norfolk Cup at the Royal Smithfield Show brought 2004 to a close for the Welsh Blacks.
The new year’s activities opened on January 14th with the 49th Annual Welsh Black Cattle Society Winter Show & Sale at Dolgellau, with the spring sale season starting in April.
The Society’s centenary celebrations come to a rousing close on May 13th with a presidential farm open day and special concert.