Record attendance as Llanfyllin Show returns in style

Sun-kissed Llanfyllin and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show returned in style on Saturday with a record attendance and fantastic feedback from the thousands of people that attended the popular event.

The spectacular Atkinson Action Horses stunt and display team from East Yorkshire was a huge hit, attracting many new visitors to the showground for two performances in the main ring.

A new Montgomery Young Farmers Clubs speed shearing competition, which attracted 60 shearers in four categories, was another big success, providing entertainment well into the evening. One of the shearers was world champion Richard Jones from Llangollen.

Show chairman Dyfrig Jones said: “The general feeling is that we had a record attendance at the show which was described by Ben Atkinson and some others as a “mini Royal Welsh Show” which was lovely to hear.

“The entertainment was exceptional and helped to attract many visitors from outside the local area and I was very pleased with a variety and quality of the trade stands. I think the young farmers’ speed shearing competition, which attracted a younger audience, finished the day off nicely.

“All in all, it was a very successful show and my thanks to go out to everyone who supported the event in any way and to all the people who attended on the day.”

He praised Sian Lewis for her work as show secretary for the first time and said he was delighted to see many new faces amongst the supporters this year, which was important for the event’s future.

Sian said: “It was a very successful day and great to see people coming together again after a two-year absence. The feedback was very positive, especially from people who had trade stands.”

Show president Ianto Jones, who has been supporting the event for 50 years, was delighted that the sun shone on the show. “I think it was a very good show and I hope everybody enjoyed it,” he said.

Held in a heatwave, the ‘friendly show’, as it is widely known, made special arrangements for the horses and sheep on display, which worked well. The horses section was brought forward to earlier in the day and the sheep had a small marquee and hessian covers to reduce the heat.

Entries in the horticulture, floral art and cookery and crafts sections equalled 2019, despite the dry weather impacting on some gardens. Llanfyllin High School also had an art display at the show.

The shearing and sheepdog trials sections were also well supported but the hot weather reduced entries in the dog show. The sheepdog trials were held on Friday and Saturday.

Held on land owned by Christopher and Laura Acton, new owners of Bodfach Hall and Janet Jones, Parc, the show celebrates the countryside and community. Main sponsor for the first time was Ridgway Rentals from St Martins, near Oswestry. Section sponsors are W Jones & Son, I. Jackson & Son, Roger Parry & Partners and James Pickstock.

A Village Green area with a range of activities for children was popular and the crowd enjoyed music from Porthywaen Silver Band and a parade by a good turnout of vintage vehicles.

Cup winners:

Horses: Shires, highest in the heavy horse section, best exhibit of open heavy horses, highest number of points in open heavy horses, F. B. Davies. Welsh Cobs: best local mare or gelding, Claire Brook; best exhibit, Sally Roberts. Children’s riding class: best lead rein, Phoebe Jones. Hunters: best exhibit, Crawford; best working hunter, Mared Price. Children’s riding class: overall winner, Cari Roberts. Veteran: champion, Joanne Greive. Local novice pony, mare or gelding, Jasmine Roscoe. Child who tried the hardest in the young handlers classes, Teleri Watkins. Shetlands: Champion miniature Shetland, Heather Morris. Show jumping: class 62,  Bobby Acton.

Sheep: Best exhibit, Ellis Davies. Best group, Kevin Jones. Best Border Leicester exhibit, Mike Rowland.Blue faced Leicester: Most points and best exhibit, Clive and Helen Roberts. Lleyn: best exhibit, Sioned Bebb. Suffolk: Best group and best exhibit, John Pryce. Texel: Best exhibit, Ellis Davies. Welsh Mountain Sheep: Best exhibit, GL & C & AL Jones. Welsh Hill Speckled face: Best group, Myrddin Jones. Best exhibit in Speckled Sheep classes, Myrddin Jones. Mules: Best exhibit, Mike Rowlands. Welsh half breed: Best exhibit, Mike Rowlands. Blue Texel: Best exhibit,  Kevin Jones. Best pen butcher’s lambs, Mark Lockier. Any other British breed: Best exhibit, R. L. Whitticase. Any other Continental: Best exhibit, Ellis Davies. Native coloured breed: Best exhibit, R. L. Whitticase. Kerry Hill: Best exhibit, Sam Harper. YFC: Most points, Rachel Lockier and Howells sisters. Champion overall in butcher’s lambs, Rachel Lockier. Young handler 10 Years and under, Griff Watkins. Young handler 11-16 years old, Ella Roberts.

Cooking: Highest points in section, Ceri Griffiths. Rich fruit cake, Jean Gittins. Most points in yeast classes, Les Parkes. Best exhibit in open section, Jean Gittins. Most points in preserves section, Les Parkes. Children’s cookery: Most points four years and under, Efan Edwards. Most points in five to eight years, Teleri Jones. Most points nine to 12 years, William Owen. Most points 13 to 17 years, Seren Cunningham. YFC: Most points, Jessica Andrews.

Handicrafts: Most points in open sections, Vera Griffiths. Local children: Highest points, Teleri Jones. Best exhibit in children’s section, Darcy Lloyd. Best exhibit under four, George Breese. Best exhibit five to nine years, Teleri Jones. Agricultural produce: Best bale of hay, Howells sisters. Photography: Best exhibit, Grace Evans.

Horticultural: Most points in sections B and C, M. W. Jones. Most points in section A, M. W. Jones. Best onion exhibit, M. W. Jones. Best carrot exhibit, Will Denne. Best exhibit in garden section, Samantha Williams. Children: Best exhibit, Harley Griffiths. Best collection of wild flowers and grasses, Eira Thompson. Best exhibit in classes 670 – 676, Sion Morris. Most points classes 670 – 676, Joyce Lewis. Best exhibit class 677, Massi Jones.

Sheep dog trials: Local class, Henry Hughes. Open class, Aled Owen. Novice, Huw Francis. Agriculture Cup: Local who gains highest points in agricultural classes, Ellis Davies. Vintage: Callum Jones. Best commercial trade stand, Trebor Jones & Son.