THE 2007 ROYAL WELSH SHOW

Before we arrived in Wales we had heard of an 8 year old Cob stallion that had been shown for the first time this year winning the stallion classes at both Lampeter and Glanusk. His name Gwenllan Deio. The excitement for the Cob classes was growing!

A visit to the show grounds on Sunday afternoon is becoming a ritual not only to meet old friends but also to hear the latest about the favourites to win "the Cup". It had already become obvious at that stage that the mud would dominate the show, The roads were grid-locked on the Monday morning; some judges arrived 4 hours late; some competitors unloaded their ponies along the road and walked to the show grounds. Cars were pushed into the adjacent fields used for parking, and towed out with tractors at the end of the day.

The Royal  Welsh Agricultural Society had obviously listened to concerns of visitors and have extended the in-hand classes over 3 days. We were therefore able to see the Youngstock classes (1, 2 and 3y-o) of Section C on Monday morning, Youngstock Section D on Tuesday morning, Section C stallions and the Section C Championship on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday being the traditional "Cob Day" we had mares in the morning followed by the Junior stallions and after lunch the Senior stallion class with the George Prince of Wales Cup Championship completing the in-hand classes.

The results of all the sections were:

Section A - judged by Mrs J Evans of the Westonpark Stud, Australia. The Champion was the grey senior brood mare Glyncoch Hyfryd (Rookery Sombrero x Candlestone Heidi). with the reserve being Frongoch Cardi (Scafton Pepe x Carregcennen Swynol), the Senior Stallion.

Hyfryd, a 14 year old mare went on to win not only the Tom & Sprightly but also the WPCS in-hand Championship and the RWAS championship for all horses on show.

Section B - judged by Mr E G Prosser of West Glamorgan had as his Champion the grey Senior Brood mare Paddock Northern Lustre (Paddock Camargue x Paddock Silver Lustre) with the reserve going to 2y-0 filly Mynach Miss Prim (Eyarth Beau Geste x Mynach Mimosa). Northern Lustre was reserve to Hyfryd in the Tom & Sprightly.

Section C - judged by Mr Daniel Morgan of the Parc Stud, Lampeter had as his Champion Welsh Pony of Cob Type the three year old colt Fronarth Robben (Parvadean Reaction x Minafon Sioned) whilst the 3 year old filly Hafodyrynys Rosette (Bryncarreg Lightning Jack x Hafodyrynys Ceinwen) was reserve.

Section D - judged by Mr Idris James of the Hendrewen Stud, Pembrokeshire. He had Gwenllan Deio (Gwenllan Sam x Gwenllan Blodwen) as his Senior Stallion but his Champion Stallion and Male Cob Champion was the Chestnut Junior Stallion Tyngwndwn Daniel (Nebo Daniel x Osborne Morwena) with Deio as reserve.

And onto the Cob Championship. 2007 was the year of the ladies. Fronarth Model Lady (Derwen Desert Express x Fronarth Welsh Model), the Senior Brood Mare was Female Champion and George Prince of Wales Cup winner with Abergavenny Morning Queen (Trevallion Harry x Felinmore Morning Magic), the Junior Brood Mare as reserve.

Here is seen Fronarth Model Lady on the left and Abergavenny Morning Queen taken at home on the right

It was the first time that the George Prince of Wales Cup was presented in the arena, and Gwyn Jones was obviously very pleased with the result

We were particularly pleased with this result because Fronarth Model Lady is the dam of our mare Fronarth Georgette while Model Lady's sire, Derwen Desert Express is the sire of our Stallion Trofarth Llysgennad. In addition Morning Queen's sire, Trevallion Harry is the sire of Danaway The Sting

History was also made because it was only the second time in the 103 years of the Royal Welsh that the Champion Section C and Section D was bred and owned by the same stud. In 1988 Nebo Stud was the first to achieve this feat with Nebo Bouncer (C) and Nebo Daniel (D) and this year the Fronarth Stud has done it with Robben and Model Lady. Our Congratulations.

Here you see the Championship Cups for both Sections C (lower shelf) & D (top shelf) at home at Fronarth Stud for the next 12 months

The condition of the main arena on Thursday with the Cob riding was a mud bath. It rained continuously and the riding judge, after the second ride was soaked through, yet she persevered through the morning.

The Conformation judge did not fare very much better

But the conditions were terrible

A highlight of the arena entertainment was the Cossacks from Ukraine, a unique show and unforgettable performance. Horsemen in Cossack costume performed complicated tricks at unbelievable speed and there seems to be no limit to human dexterity and courage and no end to horse endurance. Many of the tricks had practical meaning associated with battle horse riding; simulating rider's death; evading the spear or sabre; sitting backwards on a horse's neck to shoot at pursuers.

Our thanks go once again to Arthur and Gail Thomson of Gayfields Welsh Pony Stud in the USA for the use of so many of their photographs, not only on this website but also in the Journals of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of South Africa. See their website on www.gayfieldswelshponies.com

We had a thoroughly enjoyable time, despite the heavy rains. and visited many studs after the show. Short reports of these visits are in the 2007 Journal of the SA Society.

There were a number of South Africans at this year's show and members of the South African Society are encouraged to visit the Royal Welsh Show at least once. It will be an experience you will never forget.

Modified: August 14, 2007