Ymryson Aredig Cymru Cefn Gwlad

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-# Now if you would enquire

-the craft that mine I call

-# I studied with my sire

-the earliest craft of all

-# To lift and shift the moor

-to one green, fruitful plain

-# To turn and till the shore

-to garths of glowing grain #

-What a fine day,

-and what a place to be!

-It's nearly the end of September...

-..and we're at the Welsh

-Ploughing Championships.

-It's taking place at Red Barn farm,

-Shirenewton, Monmouthshire.

-We're not far

-from the Severn Bridge.

-There are competitors

-from all parts of Wales.

-The Royal Welsh Show is important,

-of course...

-..as are the Winter Fair

-and the Spring Festival.

-But this is one

-of the most important shows.

-It's a showcase

-for mankind's earliest craft...

-..ploughing.

-As well as ploughing...

-..there are also hedging

-and fencing competitions.

-I'm looking forward to it!

-September 2011

-# I lay me down at dusk,

-at dawn I've slept enow

-# I lay me down at dusk,

-at dawn I've slept enow

-# And o'er the hillside

-the harrow I guide

-# Or steer the old red plough

-# Along the ling-field brow #

-It's very interesting.

-Each class is in place now.

-There are many tractors here,

-and there are different classes.

-The fields are all stubble.

-It's not grassland.

-Competitors are using pitchforks...

-..to ensure there aren't any lumps

-of old straw or roots.

-They want to create ridges

-and furrows as neatly as possible.

-It amazes me that there are

-competitors of all ages...

-..from the very young

-to the very old.

-But they all find it enjoyable,

-and that's the important thing.

-The first furrow

-is the most crucial one.

-It must be perfectly straight

-and even along its whole length.

-I'm old enough by now

-to know what nostalgia is.

-The smell of TVO wafts past -

-it's gratifying!

-Emrys Owen,

-aren't you competing today?

-No, I'm not.

-I haven't competed since I was

-in New Zealand two years ago.

-That's two competitions ago.

-I see.

-What's your job today?

-I measure the depth.

-I'll be measuring the depth

-for five competitors.

-I take nine measurements in all.

-Furrows must be between six and

-seven inches deep, 150mm to 180mm.

-That would be a suitable depth

-for barley and oats.

-Oh, yes.

-In general, the farmer decides

-how deep he wants the furrows to be.

-This depth is ideal

-for large ploughs.

-But the small ploughs will have

-to work hard to achieve that depth.

-They're working on stubble today.

-It's quite good land.

-Would it be easier

-if it was grassland?

-No.

-Grassland makes faults more evident.

-Stubble can hide faults

-that would show up in grassland.

-With stubble, you take more

-off the top...

-..so that all the stubble is buried.

-On grassland, if you skim too much,

-it changes the type of furrow.

-The soil doesn't turn squarely.

-Everything has to be done

-more precisely on grassland.

-The opening split is judged

-before the ploughing continues.

-The judge has 30 minutes

-in which to judge the split.

-At 11.05, they'll start ploughing

-again, finishing around 2.00.

-The last furrow is important too.

-Yes, it carries a lot of points.

-They have their work cut out.

-This group has to work faster

-than the others.

-They get the same amount of time

-as in the world championships.

-It's a chance for them to get used

-to world championship conditions.

-It's an important moment

-for the competitors.

-They're opening the first furrow

-and raising the first ridge.

-The ridge mustn't be too high.

-When sowing seeds, you don't want

-the ground to be too bumpy...

-..like the dodgems in Rhyl!

-You want flat ground.

-Aled Morgan of Coedmor farm,

-Newcastle Emlyn...

-..has been following

-a family tradition...

-..of taking part in ploughing

-matches over the past 20 years.

-Did your father compete?

-No, but my father-in-law did.

-He started me off.

-I regret taking it up.

-I regret taking it up, sometimes!

-I regret taking it up, sometimes!

-

-No, it's a pleasure!

-Yes, it's a pleasure.

-This is an important match today.

-At local contests,

-there's less pressure.

-You've made a neat opening.

-It looks better now.

-The ground is mixed - clay here

-and drier soil at the top.

-Ploughs have changed.

-When I left school,

-I only had one screw.

-Nowadays, there's a screw

-or lever for everything.

-You can see that in this class.

-More things to remember

-and more things to go wrong!

-Why have you got a pitchfork?

-Why have you got a pitchfork?

-

-I've come across a stone.

-Do you have to lift it out?

-Yes, in case

-it gets in the way later.

-The best of luck to you.

-Opening up behind me

-is Evan Watkin.

-He runs the Red Lion in Cefn Coch

-in Montgomeryshire.

-He has been Welsh champion

-nine times.

-He's going for the tenth win today.

-As you can see,

-he has made a very fine start.

-The ends of the furrows

-must be clean.

-I'm sure Evan knows all about it -

-he has won nine times, after all!

-There are eleven tractor classes

-in today's competition.

-Some of the tractors date back

-to the middle of the last century.

-Gwynfor Parry

-from Llangernyw, Abergele...

-..is proud to be sitting

-on a little Fergie.

-That's quite deep.

-Yes. It has to be fairly deep

-because there are stones.

-If I ploughed lightly,

-the plough would become dislodged.

-You're driving a little Fergie.

-The Fergie was responsible

-for supplanting horses.

-Mostly.

-It's a pity, in one respect.

-The most popular tractor of all.

-Yes, it is.

-Yes, it is.

-

-It can do everything.

-Most of us learnt to drive

-on a Fergie.

-You could use it to spread muck...

-..and also to take

-the missus to chapel!

-Yes!

-Yes!

-

-It could do both jobs!

-You could also carry milk churns

-in the box.

-When you consider the state

-of the country these days...

-..the milk stand

-helped a lot of farmers.

-Yes, indeed. Farmers waited

-eagerly for the milk cheque.

-Sometimes, a month

-felt like a very long time.

-You've come all the way

-from Llangernyw.

-Do you come every year?

-Do you come every year?

-

-Yes.

-Do you have many ploughing matches

-in North Wales?

-The numbers have increased recently.

-I've been competing for 25 years.

-Six of us started a little club

-in the area.

-We all had a keen interest

-in ploughing.

-We set up a club, and membership

-has increased rapidly.

-The club has 150 members by now.

-The club has 150 members by now.

-

-Really?

-Including young people?

-Not so many young people.

-Not so many young people.

-

-That's who you want to attract.

-It's difficult.

-It's difficult.

-

-I shan't keep you any longer.

-You have to finish by a set time.

-You have to finish by a set time.

-

-Yes, I have to finish by 2.00.

-Are you returning

-to Llangernyw tonight?

-No, I'll be spending another night

-here on the field.

-I'll go home tomorrow.

-Yes, indeed.

-Well done!

-The best of luck to you.

-It's good to see you.

-Take care. Ta-ra!

-I've met someone I know.

-Phyllis Harries of Meillionen,

-Llanddeiniol, near Aberystwyth.

-You've done some ploughing,

-haven't you?

-I began 20 years ago,

-and I last ploughed two years ago.

-Your Uncle Jack taught you.

-He was a keen ploughman.

-He was a keen ploughman.

-

-He enjoyed it.

-I enjoyed it too.

-Do any other family members plough?

-My three sons can plough.

-You have three sons?

-Yes. All three of them plough,

-though not at the same time.

-Next year, the competition

-comes to Llan-non.

-Yes, to Morfa Mawr in Llan-non.

-I remember attending a match there

-when I was a boy.

-We have the Five Nations

-next year too.

-And you're the secretary.

-The viewers can see

-how pretty you are!

-Just write or phone,

-and they'll come!

-You're doing as well as anyone.

-It's not too bad.

-What's your name?

-Euron Griffith.

-Euron Griffith.

-

-And where are you from?

-Rhydyclafdy.

-Rhydyclafdy.

-

-How is everyone at Gallt y Beren?

-They're well.

-They're well.

-

-Do you know where it is?

-May I ask how old you are?

-Fourteen.

-Fourteen?!

-And you can plough like this?

-How long have you been ploughing?

-A year to October.

-Have you won any prizes?

-Yes.

-I've won 11 out of 14 competitions.

-How did you start?

-Were you taught

-by a member of your family?

-Dad has been ploughing

-for about six years.

-I spent most of my weekends

-going with him to matches.

-Have you ever beaten him?

-A few times.

-Have you?!

-But you didn't say how many times!

-Is the Fergie

-your favourite tractor?

-Yes, and the David Brown.

-Congratulations,

-it's an honour to meet you.

-You seem to be a keen worker.

-Work never killed anyone!

-Though it's given some people

-a hard time!

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-This field has classes

-for vintage tractors and ploughs...

-..and most importantly, horses.

-It's good to see

-these competitions continuing.

-There are seven pairs of horses

-ploughing here today.

-They're doing well.

-Lots of people

-have come to watch them.

-Dafydd Roberts of Conwy.

-Near Betws-y-coed.

-Near Betws-y-coed.

-It's a lovely part of the country.

-This is a lovely place too.

-You've come a long way

-to southern Monmouthshire.

-The journey took six hours.

-Have the children come along

-to help?

-This is my son,

-and that's the minder over there.

-She's the one who feeds me.

-Working with these horses

-must give you a lot of pleasure.

-Yes - I wouldn't do it, otherwise.

-Do you use them at home?

-I did try, but the ground

-is too stony where I live.

-Where do you practise?

-We used to practise on the beach,

-but we were sent away.

-A bucket and spade is fine,

-but not horses and a plough!

-We compete, and we practise

-as we go along.

-It's not the best way of doing it.

-Your horses are somewhat unusual.

-What breed are they?

-They're called Comtois.

-They're called Comtois.

-

-Comtois?

-They're from France,

-not far from the Swiss border.

-They're a particular breed

-from that country?

-Was there any special reason

-for choosing this breed?

-I had two small cobs,

-but they were rather wild.

-You couldn't do a tidy job

-with them.

-So I went to France

-and I bought these.

-It took me over a year

-to get them working.

-They're not stallions any more.

-They have a slow, steady pace.

-It's nice to see you.

-Have a safe journey home.

-The future is safe!

-Let's hope it is.

-I hope he'll follow my lead.

-I'm joined by the judges

-for the horse ploughing classes.

-The man next to me

-is a very familiar figure.

-William Gwyn Davies

-of Gelli farm, Hirwaun.

-He taught me to plough with horses.

-Do you remember,

-at the national competition?

-My muscles still ache

-when I see you!

-Ploughing is one

-of your favourite activities.

-It's nice to see seven pairs

-of horses here today.

-Yes, indeed - it's very encouraging.

-One person leads

-and another guides the plough.

-There's one ploughman here

-working alone.

-Does that mean he's better?

-Does that mean he's better?

-

-Yes.

-It's good to see a man

-controlling the horses...

-..with his hands on the plough,

-the way you learnt.

-I had no choice!

-There's a link between the horse,

-the plough and the man.

-It's a live connection.

-They're an important part

-of the overall competition.

-We're here, looking across

-at the Severn Bridge and Somerset...

-..watching the old art

-of horse ploughing.

-It completes the picture,

-doesn't it?

-The fencing competition

-has increased in popularity.

-It's a very good idea

-to have barbed wire at the bottom.

-There's no point in having a fence

-that animals can creep under.

-A wire fence looks very neat.

-But nothing beats

-the traditional art of hedging.

-This is another craft

-that attracts lots of spectators.

-Gwynfor Harding, how are you?

-Gwynfor Harding, how are you?

-

-Fine.

-Have you been hard at work?

-Yes, I have.

-There are some thorns in here.

-Yes, or brambles, or something.

-They're mostly hazel, are they?

-Yes, and they've grown big.

-What's the best tree

-for hedge laying?

-Thorn, hazel or a mix?

-Thorn, hazel or a mix?

-

-There's no difference.

-A mix, I'd say.

-Cutting is the important thing.

-Cutting is the important thing.

-

-That's right.

-Hedges have to be a certain height.

-A hedge that isn't high enough...

-..is as bad as a fence

-that animals can creep under.

-No good at all.

-No good at all.

-

-This hedge is a decent height.

-It provides shelter too.

-Yes, against the wind.

-Branches are woven on top.

-Ploughing, hedging and fencing

-are vitally important in farming.

-Exactly.

-Nowadays, machines are used

-to cut hedges.

-But they go bare at the bottom.

-Traditional hedges provide shelter.

-Add a fence

-and it'll stand for ever.

-Are there lots of young people

-taking part?

-I think there's just one.

-Some of these look young.

-They're old, really,

-but they're looking well!

-All the best!

-All the best!

-Elfed Jones

-from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr...

-..I think you've done

-a very good job.

-Thank you very much.

-I've tried my best.

-As far as anything can be straight,

-those furrows are straight.

-The lie of the land

-gives you a better perspective...

-..than a flat field.

-The ground in this part of the field

-seems heavier.

-I wouldn't be surprised.

-There's nicer soil down the bottom.

-It's wetter

-and it holds together better.

-When the soil is a bit wet,

-you get a better finish.

-Yes, the finish that you want.

-I must say, Elfed,

-I like your plough.

-What make is it?

-Is it something special?

-Yes, I built this plough myself.

-You built it yourself?

-Yes, but a plough must have been

-built by a plough manufacturer...

-..if you want to compete

-in the world championships.

-So I've called it a Dowdeswell...

-..because a lot of the parts

-are made by Dowdeswell.

-Good gracious.

-I built it myself,

-to all intents and purposes.

-How long did it take?

-How long did it take?

-

-It took a year.

-It looks excellent.

-The event is almost over.

-We're waiting for the results.

-I'm joined

-by two very important people.

-I caught a glimpse

-of Dic this morning.

-They're Gwenda and Dic Jones,

-the president of this year's show.

-Caernarfon is the feature county

-this year.

-I'm sure you've had a superb year.

-I'm sure you've had a superb year.

-

-An excellent year.

-I'm very glad

-to have had this opportunity.

-We've had the Spring Festival,

-the main show...

-..the ploughing championships,

-and we have the Winter Fair to come.

-Gwenda, do you feel

-the year has flown by?

-Yes, it has.

-Terribly quickly.

-When Dic was chosen

-to be the president...

-..it seemed a long way away.

-But it's almost over.

-But it's almost over.

-

-That's right.

-After a full day

-of keen competition...

-..the results and the prize-giving

-provided a pinnacle.

-APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

-One of the first to receive a prize

-was Euron Griffith...

-..who came second

-in the novices' class.

-The first prize is Cliff Hamer.

-Dafydd Roberts from Trefriw...

-..came second

-in the horse ploughing competition.

-First prize, Kim Williams.

-Evan Watkin had been Welsh

-champion nine times previously.

-Today, he had to settle for second.

-And the main prize, the 2011

-Champion Welsh Ploughman...

-..was won by Elfed Jones,

-Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Corwen.

-Many congratulations.

-Many congratulations.

-

-Thank you very much.

-Well done.

-And you built your own plough too.

-You made a lovely finish.

-It was as straight as it could be

-and the furrows were well-formed.

-This is the icing on the cake.

-You and Evan Watkin

-are two excellent ploughmen.

-You'll be representing Wales,

-won't you?

-Yes, in Croatia

-in September next year.

-Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr

-will be proud of you!

-Very well done.

-Very well done.

-

-Thank you very much.

-Next year, the Welsh championships

-take place in Llan-non, Ceredigion.

-All the best for next year!

-Many congratulations.

-Come on, boys.

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.