THE 2008 ROYAL WELSH SHOW

With near perfect weather, the Royal Welsh this year was a spectacle not to be missed. Ponies and Cobs obviously gave of their best and the competition was particularly strong. Attendance was also at an all-time high with more than 68 000 people attending the show on the Wednesday, known as "Cob day" because the Cob stallions are shown in the afternoon followed immediately by the George Prince of Wales Competition. Once again the Sections were split over the three days giving the opportunity of seeing more classes. As with last year, the organisers have also ensured that the purebred driving championships are held in the main arena on the Tuesday afternoon.

Section A

The Section A's were judged by Phillipa Owens of the Cascob Stud. Her Champion Welsh Mountain Pony was the Senior Stallion Vervale Gabbana by Springbourne Caraway out of Blanche Glimmer

                                                                                                    Photo: Arthur D Thomson

Section B

Judged by Christine Jones, she had as her Champion the Barren Mare Millcroft Dahlia by Millcroft Royal Lustre out of Millcroft Penny Lane. She went on to take the Tom and Sprightly Perpetual Cup which is the Champion Purebred on Show.

                                                                                                        Photo: Arthur D Thomson

Section C

The Welsh Ponies of Cob Type were judged by Geraint Davies of the Rhyd-Ddu Stud and he had as his Champion the Stallion Fronarth Robben by Parvadean Reaction out of Minafon Sioned. Robben has just entered the stallion class as he was the Youngstock Champion last year . This is the second year in a row that he has won this Championship. Robben was also Reserve to Millcroft Dahlia in the Tom and Sprightly Perpetual Cup.

Section D

This section was judged by Doreen Jones. There is no doubt that the Cobs are the draw card of the Royal Welsh and considerable interest is shown in all classes. On the Tuesday morning the young stock classes are judged and this year the Young stock Champion was the two year old colt Danaway Scrumpy Jack by Danaway Flashjack out of Danaway Laina-Marie.

                                                                                                            Photo: Arthur D Thomson

Scrumpy Jack is by that splendid stallion Danaway Flashjack, a Dun, by Trevallion Flashjack out of Trevallion April. At this year's show Danaway Flashjack was 4th in the Senior Stallion class but he won the George Prince of Wales Cup in 2000.

The Stallion Champion was the Senior Stallion, Drogeda Stormy Tempest by Trevallion Valentino out of Trefaes Golden Pearl but Danaway Scrumpy Jack won the Male Championship with Stormy Tempest as Reserve.

                                                                        Photo: Arthur D Thomson

George Prince of Wales Cup

This class is judged after lunch on Cob Day and the main arena is surrounded by standing spectators ten deep at places with the Grandstand and the grass embankment filled to over-capacity. People queue for a few hours to get into the grandstand for this championship, so much is the interest in the awarding of this Cup. The Cup was first presented in 1908 and this is therefore the centenary of the awarding of this Cup. Including this year it has been awarded on 84 times to 59 Cobs. The war years, petrol rationing and Foot and Mouth limited the awarding of the Cup and it has been won by several Cobs more than once, five of them four times.

There are only four Cobs in the ring. The Male Champion and Reserve and the Female Champion and Reserve contest the Cup. This year it was won by the Junior Broodmare with foal at foot Trevallion Racheal's Miracle by Trevallion Hooch out of Tapton Rachael. The Reserve was the two year old Colt Danaway Scrumpy Jack, the Young Stock and also the Male Champion. He is the youngest Reserve to this Cup in the 100 years of its existence.

                                                                                        Photos: Arthur D Thomson

The Joys of Winning - There was a sudden outburst of applause in the Section A ring when the Youngstock Champion for that section was announced. Henk Leeuwenhaag could not contain his excitement at being the Champion that he jumped in the air much to the surprise of his Pony, Shamrocklake Lord Caernarfon by Friars Osbek out of Shamrocklake Sweetlife Cordelia. It is noticed that in the Show Catalogue this three year old colt is for sale; I wonder if that was still the case after the championship.

                                                                                Photo: Arthur D Thomson

The Cossacks

There is so much to see and do at the Royal Welsh over all four days. But one of the highlights of the arena entertainment was the return this year of the Cossacks from Ukraine. Their horsemanship can only be admired and all their riding takes place at a full-out gallop, Here we see the only lady of their troupe picking up articles off the ground.

                                                                                Photo: Arthur D Thomson

Readers cannot but notice that most of the photographs on this page have been taken by Arthur Thomson of the Gayfields Welsh Pony Stud of the USA. Arthur has now for the 5th year allowed us to use his photographs in not only this website but also for the Journal. Our thanks go to him for the use of his excellent photographs. Gail, his wife is on the Council of the American Welsh Pony and Cob Society and she has been invited to judge the Section B's at the Royal Welsh in 2009. Our congratulations to Gail on this honour.

We encourage as many people as possible to visit the Royal Welsh at least once. It will be an experience that you will never forget and will treasure forever. It will give you a new dimension on the breeding and showing of the Welsh breeds. The 2009 Royal Welsh will be held from Monday to Thursday July 20 to 23. See you there.

GK

Modified: August 31, 2008