THE 2009 ROYAL WELSH SHOW

Despite the depressed economic conditions, record entries were recorded in all animal groupings and the attendance once again exceeded 220 000 over the four days.

This year was the year of the mud. It rained every day of the show and by Thursday the ridden classes were held in the most atrocious conditions. The main arena was far worse than that of 2007 because the reseeded grass had not taken hold properly. Many of the ponies and their handlers struggled with the mud but it was very noticeable that those cobs which were harness fit managed the poor underfoot conditions far better. On the Thursday we had to be towed out of the car park by tractor, this service having been contracted at short notice by the RWAS; surprisingly it was the father of our B&B hosts!

On the website of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society it is reported that the committee is considering either a full or partial replacement of the arena with an artificial surface.

SECTION A

The judge was Eifion Williams of the Bethel Stud in Caernarfon who had as his champion, the gray barren mare Springlane Pebbles by Taliaris Granite out of Springlane Evensong

SECTION B

The Welsh Ponies were judged by Mrs Gail Thomson of Gayfields Welsh Ponies in the United States of America. As Gail is a judge but not on the judges panel of the WPCS (UK), this show for B's was not a medal show but she nevertheless drew a record number of entries. Her champion was the Belgian bred chestnut senior stallion Liezelshof Macho by Dubbel LL'S Swiftly out of Liezelshof Sunny

SECTION C

The Welsh Ponies of Cob Type were judged by Mrs Fran Jackson-Edwards of the Ashgrove Stud in North Wales who had as her champion the bay stallion Fronarth Robben by Parvadean Reaction out of Minafon Sioned. This is the third year running that Robben has won the Section C Championship.

                                                              Photo: Arthur D Thomson

SECTION D

The Cobs were judged by John Batt of the Abergavenny Stud. On the Tuesday his Youngstock Champion was Pennal Brynmor, a three year old bay colt by Gwenllan Brynmor out of Pennal Lively Maid.

                                                                Photo: Arthur D Thomson

On the Wednesday he selected the Belgian bred bay senior broodmare Ring Danielle by Nebo Daniel out of Cascob Delight as his female champion with the bay junior broodmare Dyffryngwy Briallen by Thorneyside the Terminator out of Abercippyn Black Bess as his reserve.

This is followed by the stallion classes and he selected the bay Gwenllan Brynmor by Gwenllan Sam out of Gwenllan Blodwen as his champion with the bay Pentrepiod Welsh Flyer by Fronarth King Flyer out of Trefaes Seren Goch as his reserve. Welsh Flyer was the George Prince of Wales Cup winner in 2005.

The Male Championship, however, was won by the Youngstock Champion from the previous day Pennal Brynmor with his sire Gwenllan Brynmor as reserve

Male Champion Pennal Brynmor Photo: Arthur D Thomson

Then on to the highlight of the Cob Calendar, the awarding of the George Prince of Wales Cup which this year was the 85th time that it has been awarded. Despite the poor underfoot conditions, the atmosphere was electric when John Batt indicated the 60th Cob to have its name engraved on the Cup in the 101 years of its existence. The three year old colt, Pennal Brynmor was awarded this ultimate accolade with the female champion Ring Danielle as reserve. According to the post war records of the Cup, this is the first time that a Youngstock Champion has gone on to win the George Prince of Wales Cup. See the history of the cup by visiting the webpage George Prince Of Wales Cup

To get an indication of what the conditions were like, see this picture of George Mitchell and Pennal Brynmor, the Cup winner, mud up to his shoulders!!

But Pennal Brynmor never once faltered in the poor underfoot conditions. He is driven 10 miles every other day; could this be the reason for his stamina.

COB STALLION DRIVING

This was won again by Ciffig Cymro Du shown here is full flight

ARENA ENTERTAINMENT

In varied arena entertainment, we saw as part of the Le Pardon Display, the eight in hand shown below

GK 2009