Smithfield 1992 Cefn Gwlad

-Here we are at the Smithfield Show.

-This year, before we can get

-into the show...

-..ear-tags have to be checked, and the cattle examined for fleas.

-This is Seisiog Ebrillwr, brother to

- the steer with which we won last year

-The question is, will we get in?

-We'll cross our fingers.

-First, the ear-tag numbers

-are checked.

-These are the numbers

-they have in the show programme.

-They check the ear-tag numbers

-are correct...

-..and that we have the right cattle.

-Then we'll go in, so that the vets

-can give them their medical.

-This is a vital stage -

-satisfying the vets.

-None of them are Welsh.

-They count the teeth

-and make sure they're all right...

-..and that the tongue isn't blistered

-He doesn't like having his mouth

-handled.

-If he swallows that torch,

-they won't get it back for days!

-Fattening a bullock for the show

-is one thing.

-If he has lice, you can treat them

-and take him in later.

-But he won't be allowed in with the

- other animals if he has skin sores.

-The steer has been passed,

-so at least we've got one in.

-If there's anything wrong

-with the cattle...

-..lice, warts, ringworm or anything

- like that, you're not allowed in.

-The animal is quarantined, and has to

- be taken away by lunchtime next day..

-..to an abattoir, or home.

-So I hope the heifer's passed.

-They're both ready now

-to go into the Smithfield Show.

-Off we go, into the building itself.

-We're quite a way down.

-The Welsh Blacks are even further.

-The heifer goes here, number 135.

-She's called Bronwen.

-We bought her from Mr Winston Bowen

- of Llanwern, Brecon, for 800.

-I don't know if we'll sell her here,

- or take her home.

-Ebrillwr goes further down there...

-..with the Welsh Blacks...

-..from Cae'r Berllan and Ty'n y Bryn,

- Tywyn and Ty Newydd, Nebo.

-He's number 50,

-in the junior steers' class.

-His brother won us first prize

-last year.

-He cost 630, and comes from

-Ty Newydd, Nebo, Llanrwst.

-We'll see how he does,

-and whether we get our money back.

-Weighing, washing and grooming

-took up the weekend.

-It's Monday morning,

-after a busy weekend.

-We've weighed the cattle, and Bronwen here weighs 500 kilos...

-..at only 15 months and 14 days old.

-That'll help,

-but she must look her best.

-We've been trying to get her ready

-since 5.30 this morning.

-We've cattle in the cross-breed and

-Welsh black competitions this year.

-Just before Bronwen goes into the

-ring, let's look at the bullock.

-This is Huw Jones of Llanarthne,

-preparing his heifer.

-Seisiog Ebrillwr

-is 14 months and 25 days old.

-He weighs 529 kilos,

-which is also a good weight.

-There are three others in his class..

-..from Ty'n y Bryn,

-Llanfihangel, Tywyn...

-..Ty Newydd, Nebo,

-and Cae'r Berllan, Tywyn.

-Goronwy Jones bred our steer, and he

- has one himself in the competition.

-I must get on with grooming this one.

-The stewards made sure

-we were in place promptly.

-That's vital, to keep things

-running smoothly in the main ring.

-The British cross-bred heifers under 20 months class is a tough one.

-It's being judged by Arfon Jones

-from Anglesey.

-There are ten heifers in this class,

- judged by Arfon Jones.

-His first class of the day.

-I'm up next, so for once in my life..

-..until I've gone past the judge,

-I'll be quiet.

-She'll never look better

-than she does now.

-Evelyn Jones and Richard Jones are

-the other two Welsh competitors.

-Arfon examines Bronwen carefully.

-I've every faith in him

-- he's won here before.

-Two nice heifers, there.

-The judge has examined the heifers

-carefully.

-Now we go around the ring,

-before being called in.

-I don't know what he thinks, but he

- has an idea of the competitors now.

-As I feared, the two black heifers

-were first and second.

-I'm satisfied with third,

-in a very good competition.

-There are heifers from Derbyshire

-and Wales in the competition.

-Mary Jones presents the prize

-to the winner, from Derbyshire.

-Fourth was Evelyn Jones,

-and fifth, Richard Jones.

-So Wales did well

-in the first big competition.

-If you want to age quickly,

-come and compete at Smithfield.

-From the cross-breeds

-to the Welsh Blacks' competition.

-It's looking good, William.

-It's looking good, William.

-

-There are some good cattle here.

-You've had a good show.

-You're teaching your grandson now.

-You're teaching your grandson now.

-

-It's time he learned.

-You weren't quite this young

-when you first came here.

-You weren't quite this young

-when you first came here.

-

-Nowhere near as young.

-Do you think he's ready now, Tudor?

-Do you think he's ready now, Tudor?

-

-Yes.

-Have you seen a tractor you'd like?

-Have you seen a tractor you'd like?

-

-I like them all.

-Grandad will soon be skint,

-in that case!

-Grandad will soon be skint,

-in that case!

-

-Yes, he will!

-Richard Jones must have made a cup

-of tea for everyone at the show!

-The steers' class has started,

-and there are four of us.

-Welsh Black Steers,

-under 15 months

-Ebrillwr is upset

-by the lights and the sand.

-The judge is Jack Bedell,

-from Bishop's Castle, Ludlow.

-He makes sure Ebrillwr is fat enough.

-Once again, a close examination

-by Mr Jack Bedell.

-He's from Shropshire,

-and breeds Limousins.

-I don't know if the fact that some

-of these steers are similar...

-..with long, thin bodies,

-will be an advantage.

-Once he's looked at all of them,

-we parade around the ring.

-Full of anticipation,

-all our eyes are on Jack Bedell!

-My heart leapt when CEFN GWLAD's

-steer was called in first.

-He can still change his mind. I have

- to ensure the steer stands correctly.

-Second is Ty'n Bryn's bullock,

-which was gelded late.

-It's the only horned Welsh Black

-in the show.

-Goronwy Jones, with our bullock's

-half-brother, is third.

-Robert Jones, Cae'r Berllan,

-is fourth.

-Thank you. It's nice to see a Welsh girl presenting the prizes.

-Are you having a good day?

-Are you having a good day?

-

-Yes.

-Is this your only competition?

-Is this your only competition?

-

-No, we've a cross-bred heifer,

-which came third out of ten.

-Are you enjoying the show?

-Are you enjoying the show?

-

-Yes. I'm looking forward

-to a pint tonight!

-Miss Royal Welsh, Olwen Hughes,

-from Ty Croes, Anglesey.

-First prize in a good class,

-and he wants to get back.

-The Welsh Blacks' best of breed

-competition is tomorrow.

-I'll get him back to his place.

-The Welsh Black Society secretary,

-Dafydd Dafis, is delighted.

-You've won the other three classes, and the steer we bought from you won.

-So in tomorrow's competition there are four animals bred at Ty Newydd.

-Good luck tomorrow.

-I think yours has a good chance

-in the best of breed.

-He went for your kind of steer.

-He went for your kind of steer.

-

-He did today. But it was

-a very even competition.

-He said it was close.

-Anyway, good luck tomorrow.

-He said it was close.

-Anyway, good luck tomorrow.

-

-We'll hope for the best.

-It's been a tiring day.

-This concrete's hard on the legs.

-It seems to be a good show.

-It seems to be a good show.

-

-Excellent. One of the best.

-It's amazing how the time has flown,

- from Friday morning to tonight.

-It's amazing how the time has flown,

- from Friday morning to tonight.

-

-There's so much to do.

-It's been so full here. The Scotsmen

- have taken over completely.

-How can they afford all this whisky?

-How can they afford all this whisky?

-

-They're lucky they don't farm

-in Wales!

-Gwilym Jones, when did you come up?

-Gwilym Jones, when did you come up?

-

-Sunday night, to catch the show

-on Monday morning.

-How long have you been coming here?

-How long have you been coming here?

-

-Ten to twelve years, regularly.

-I think, over the years, the Welsh

-Blacks have become more streamlined.

-They used to be huge great

-lumpy animals...

-..but now they're quite handsome.

-We're almost ready for the Welsh

-Blacks' best of breed competition.

-It's now Tuesday afternoon, and we've been grooming and combing him.

-One more go, and that should do!

-Turn this on? Thanks, Goronwy!

-Welsh Blacks Best of Breed

-In this competition, all four are bred at Ty Newydd, Nebo, Llanrwst...

-..by Goronwy Jones and his sons.

-It all depends on the judge,

-John Thomas, from Devon.

-It's so close, he wants to be sure.

-There are three steers and a heifer

- in the competition.

-These four came second

-in their classes.

-Goronwy Jones, Ty Newydd,

-richly deserves first prize.

-Best of breed has been won by Seisiog

- Meriel, Goronwy Jones' heifer.

-Congratulations. Success once again.

-They looked good. They're very alike.

-The standard seems to rise each year

-

-- I don't know where the ceiling is!

-The standard seems to rise each year

-

-- I don't know where the ceiling is!

-

-It's pretty high!

-Come on, next to this skinny creature

-We're still friends,

-although we compete.

-If I were a bit skinnier, I might

-be able to get past more easily!

-Even if it's nothing stronger than a cup of tea, we'll settle for that.

-Evie Jones, anything good enough here

- for Lamia Abattoir?

-Evie Jones, anything good enough here

- for Lamia Abattoir?

-

-Yes, indeed there is.

-This year's Welsh Blacks

-are the best I've ever seen.

-How long have you been buying here?

-It must be twenty years.

-Do you buy every year?

-Almost every year.

-I once bought an animal from you.

-That's the year you made a fortune!

-That's the year you made a fortune!

-

-That time? No!

-You've got a good steer this year.

-Reach deep into your pocket tomorrow!

-Reach deep into your pocket tomorrow!

-

-That's the trouble for us butchers.

-

-We have empty pockets nowadays.

-You're pulling my leg.

-You're pulling my leg.

-

-It's the gospel truth.

-Costs keep going up.

-My friends are complaining, too.

-These Welsh Blacks

-are very attractive.

-If I sold meat by the flavour,

-Welsh Blacks would do well.

-I remember an old butcher

-in Bodedern saying...

-..that nothing tasted

-as good as Welsh Black.

-They take longer to mature,

-but we're going into Europe in 1992.

-Cattle are slaughtered older there,

-

-about three years old.

-Perhaps we should go back

-to the same system.

-It's Wednesday,

-and we'll sell the bullock today.

-I've fallen in love with the heifer,

- so I've decided to keep her...

-..and breed my own animal from her, to show at the Royal Welsh in 1992.

-Goronwy didn't really want to sell

-Seisiog Meriel, his best of breed.

-Still, he'll get a good price.

-She goes for breeding,

-to Mr Peter Dunn.

-Ty'n Bryn's heifer came second

-in her class.

-Richard tries to get

-every possible penny.

-We wait nervously to see

-how much we'll get.

-We paid 630 for the bullock,

-remember.

-The Welsh Blacks are selling well

-under Dafydd Dafis' expert gaze.

-The Scottish auctioneers try to get

- the best price for everyone.

-This heifer is sold to

-Bill Williams, from Machynlleth.

-You bought last year's bullock,

-and now this one.

-He'll go to your shop in Machynlleth.

-He'll go to your shop in Machynlleth.

-

-We have to keep our customers happy.

-Welsh Blacks do have a special taste.

-Welsh Blacks do have a special taste.

-

-Oh, yes.

-Congratulations.

-Come and have a cup of tea.

-So the bullock's going to

-the Williams' shop in Machynlleth.

-Come on! He's getting lazy.

-This is the steer's last competition.

-It's the Norfolk Cup Competition,

-for three of the same breed.

-Norfolk Cup,

-for three pure-breed steers

-The three Welsh Black bullocks

-competing.

-It's important that the three

-are as alike as possible.

-Charolais, Scottish Blacks,

-Aberdeens, Galloways...

-..Devons, South Devons, and Lincoln Reds are all competing.

-The Welsh Blacks are favourites

-with the crowd.

-They're very alike,

-being sired by the same bull.

-I don't know. Anything could happen.

-The ring is full of cattle, and John Thomas can't make his mind up.

-Winning this competition

-means so much to the breeds.

-He himself breeds Devons.

-When it's so close, you can forgive

- him for choosing his own breed.

-They are very good bullocks.

-I was very happy for the Jones family

- who bred these bullocks.

-The Queen Mother, now 90 years old, comes forward to present the prizes.

-I was nervous. Three ordinary

-Welshmen, treading the red carpet!

-It's quite a moment, not only because

- we're meeting the Queen Mother...

-..but because we've won reserve prize

- in this important competition.

-The Queen Mother is astonished that there are so many Jones' here!

-A wonderful show for CEFN GWLAD and for the Jones family, Ty Newydd.

-The Queen Mother's a lovely lady, too

-So, great success for CEFN GWLAD

-and for the Welsh Blacks.