0:00:21 > 0:00:26It has been another great day here at the Royal Welsh Show. In the
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Main Ring least got the horse classes reach their climax with the
0:00:30 > 0:00:37judging of the Supreme Championship. This morning I thought I was seeing
0:00:37 > 0:00:41double with a pair of extremely rare Shire twins. And as well as
0:00:41 > 0:00:48the Cattle Ring I have also been meeting some of the smaller animals
0:00:48 > 0:00:55in the show at the pet section. finished off my perfect we care in
0:00:55 > 0:01:02the sheep section. And Wednesday was the perfect day for the
0:01:02 > 0:01:07shearers. Rachel was in the thick of it all. Vet is terrific as
0:01:07 > 0:01:16everyone gets behind the Welsh shearers as they try to clinch top
0:01:16 > 0:01:22honours. Speed, skill and stamina decide who wins. She ring is not
0:01:22 > 0:01:27just a competition, it is a way of life and a vital part of the age
0:01:27 > 0:01:33old agricultural cycle. We met with two young Swansea shearers who are
0:01:33 > 0:01:39competing here in the open competition against old sheering
0:01:39 > 0:01:49stalwarts for the very first time this year. They have quite an act
0:01:49 > 0:01:52
0:01:52 > 0:02:02to follow. This part of the world is where we have been getting the
0:02:02 > 0:02:05
0:02:05 > 0:02:09sheep in off the cliffs. I am sheering this here in the open
0:02:09 > 0:02:17competition of the Royal Welch and I hope to get through to the
0:02:17 > 0:02:20championship as well. I am taking part in the open. I have won the
0:02:20 > 0:02:27championship of Wales and nine times and I have been lucky enough
0:02:27 > 0:02:33to travel all over the world. It is good to see these young boys coming
0:02:33 > 0:02:42in. There are 100 boys in it for the same reason you are. It is
0:02:42 > 0:02:48tough. It is not just on speed, it is about the quality of the job. We
0:02:48 > 0:02:53work together every day. There is a good battle going on in work. We
0:02:53 > 0:02:59have got the same speed. It is more fun working with someone who is the
0:02:59 > 0:03:08same speed or better because you try to compete more. It is good do
0:03:08 > 0:03:18come to work here because you can see what you are doing wrong. My
0:03:18 > 0:03:22boss has a lot of standing in Wales. He is known worldwide. If you are
0:03:22 > 0:03:32keen to win the competition you have got to be doing the job every
0:03:32 > 0:03:34
0:03:35 > 0:03:41day. Now, guys, you are both old friends but when it gets to
0:03:41 > 0:03:46competing, is it serious business? It can be. I Shia against them
0:03:46 > 0:03:51every day in the shed so it is a bit of a competition every day.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56When there is an audience you have to try to please the crowd.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02atmosphere is amazing but do the nerves get to you? Yes. When all
0:04:02 > 0:04:12eyes are on you up there it is a little bit nerve-racking. Thank you
0:04:12 > 0:04:17
0:04:17 > 0:04:22for your time and good luck with Both boys made it to the quarter
0:04:22 > 0:04:29final of the Champion Shearer of Wales. Matthew made it to the semi-
0:04:29 > 0:04:37final of the open competition. His uncle is still in the running to be
0:04:37 > 0:04:43crowned champion for the second year running. My nerves are in
0:04:43 > 0:04:49shreds just watching will stop the boys have been working hard for the
0:04:49 > 0:04:58last 11 minutes, sheering 20 lambs in this final, it looks like Gareth
0:04:58 > 0:05:03Ann Daniels might just have the edge. It is hard to tell. The sweat
0:05:03 > 0:05:12is pouring of these guys. It is a lot of pressure will stop you have
0:05:12 > 0:05:20the crowd cheering for you will stop they are working hard. Garras,
0:05:20 > 0:05:26you are at this year's Welsh sheering champion, how does that
0:05:26 > 0:05:30feel? Pretty awesome. It was close I gather. I am chuffed to be on top.
0:05:30 > 0:05:40You get a ticket to New Zealand and you are going to represent Wales in
0:05:40 > 0:05:42
0:05:42 > 0:05:47the world champions. Best of luck and congratulations. Thank you.
0:05:47 > 0:05:52wheels Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs is the largest organisation
0:05:52 > 0:06:00for young people in rural Wales. I caught up with the chair man at the
0:06:00 > 0:06:06end of a very busy week. How did you get into this position? I was
0:06:06 > 0:06:12roped into it! I was president of one Young Farmers' Club many years
0:06:12 > 0:06:16ago and I was asked if I would like to takeover. It was a great
0:06:16 > 0:06:25opportunity and an honour to be able to put something back in. I
0:06:25 > 0:06:31was pleased and privilege to do so when I was asked. It has been going
0:06:31 > 0:06:36for 75 years. What is important now is that we build on it for the next
0:06:36 > 0:06:4375 years. It is all about giving people opportunities within a safe
0:06:43 > 0:06:47environment and keeping countryside Ballet's alive. Getting more
0:06:47 > 0:06:52members involved in this great movement. Do you think it is
0:06:52 > 0:06:58important that you are getting those young members in now? It is
0:06:58 > 0:07:02vitally important. You look at some of the members at 13 years of age
0:07:02 > 0:07:10and I did not start until I was 16, you look at them and think I'd be
0:07:10 > 0:07:20getting younger on am I getting older. Good luck with refereeing in
0:07:20 > 0:07:23
0:07:23 > 0:07:33the World Cup! His mind you, I will read it! Another well-known Rugby
0:07:33 > 0:07:37international was this man playing for the Cardiff Blues. I would have
0:07:37 > 0:07:42liked to be supporting the All Blacks playing but I am thoroughly
0:07:42 > 0:07:48enjoying my time over here. Your background is an agricultural one,
0:07:48 > 0:07:53so this must be of interest? That's right. It takes me back to the time
0:07:53 > 0:08:03when mum and dad used to take me around the shore in my pram and
0:08:03 > 0:08:08feed me hot tips to keep me out of trouble. There is something I have
0:08:08 > 0:08:16got to show you. These are our prize Welsh Blacks, what do you
0:08:16 > 0:08:20think? The look pretty impressive. I have seen one of the fellas doing
0:08:20 > 0:08:29the here like a Rugby players. Hopefully they will do all right on
0:08:29 > 0:08:36the field. The quality of the stock and these similar breeds, is this
0:08:36 > 0:08:44similar to what you would see in Christ Church? Definitely, the all
0:08:44 > 0:08:54of the same to me! Do you think you will go back? I might do. It could
0:08:54 > 0:09:15
0:09:15 > 0:09:20be me going back to the farm. The Shires are of the graceful
0:09:20 > 0:09:25gentle giants of the horse world. Very few Shire's provide the power
0:09:25 > 0:09:30on the farms as they used to but they are still popular with
0:09:30 > 0:09:40breeders and a great draw for spectators of the shore. Today
0:09:40 > 0:09:46
0:09:46 > 0:09:52there were a pair of extremely rare Many congratulations first of all
0:09:52 > 0:10:00to have double joy with these Shire twins, how dare is it to have Horst
0:10:00 > 0:10:05wins at all? It is very rare and it is not advised. Normally if twins
0:10:05 > 0:10:10are picked up on the scan something is done to rectify that. At the
0:10:10 > 0:10:20time we did not know she was carrying twins. She had a scan and
0:10:20 > 0:10:24it just said one? Yes. Then there were two sets of eyes. If you had
0:10:24 > 0:10:31known she was carrying twins you would have kept her in and cosseted
0:10:31 > 0:10:38her but you did not? No, she did a full series of shows, we carried on
0:10:38 > 0:10:45as normal. And blooming all the way through? Yes. You must have been
0:10:45 > 0:10:52really pleased to see the twins taking the ring and the Royal Show.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Absolutely. How much attention have they had? They have had a lot of
0:10:56 > 0:11:04attention, they have been in lots of papers and been on the
0:11:04 > 0:11:09television. Not only have the developed beautifully but they
0:11:09 > 0:11:17performed magnificently today. How well did they do? Very well indeed.
0:11:17 > 0:11:27Their mother became second in her class and the falls came in joint
0:11:27 > 0:11:31
0:11:31 > 0:11:38first. -- foals. It is important to cut the stem at an angle to double
0:11:38 > 0:11:45the surface for water intake. always carry a tape measure to
0:11:45 > 0:11:53check for height. They will grow in height overnight sometimes. Make
0:11:53 > 0:11:57sure you're Oasis is not showing. If you are doing a basket
0:11:57 > 0:12:06presentation you must make sure there is plastic stopping water
0:12:06 > 0:12:13leaking through. You only need a few flowers to make a maximum
0:12:13 > 0:12:20impact which is not as expensive. If you are out on a wall can do see
0:12:20 > 0:12:24a nice bit of wit which is a little bit strange, pick it up. Still to
0:12:24 > 0:12:29come in the programme, the best things come in threes with the
0:12:29 > 0:12:39Sheep Interbreed competition. We need some of the young gardeners of
0:12:39 > 0:12:41
0:12:42 > 0:12:45the future. And the champion of the Our pets are part of the family and
0:12:45 > 0:12:50there is a special section in the show which celebrate the animals
0:12:50 > 0:12:57which are part of our daily lives are. From rats to cats to tour
0:12:57 > 0:13:01places. But how to judge such a selection?
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Leighton Evans from a Three Crosses is the man with the difficult task
0:13:05 > 0:13:15this year. The owners must leave their beloved animals behind and
0:13:15 > 0:13:15
0:13:15 > 0:13:20step out of the Pavilion before he On to the cats next and you are not
0:13:20 > 0:13:25going to get them out of the cage, are you? There are so many people
0:13:25 > 0:13:30here, they could frighten them. This is a young kitten, very
0:13:30 > 0:13:36playful as you can see. It has obviously been handled by its owner
0:13:36 > 0:13:41already, because they have been playing with it. What kind of
0:13:41 > 0:13:49animals have you had this year? biggest class has been guinea-pigs.
0:13:49 > 0:13:55We have also had rabbits, hamsters, cats and a tortoise this year. This
0:13:55 > 0:14:02is the pet section so we are looking at pets. How they handle,
0:14:02 > 0:14:07how they are looked after, cleanliness, the breed goes out
0:14:07 > 0:14:17through the window. We don't look at the standard they are, but
0:14:17 > 0:14:24
0:14:24 > 0:14:31You have made your decision. Can you reveal to us who is best in
0:14:31 > 0:14:39show this year? It was quite a difficult choice but my two best in
0:14:39 > 0:14:45show were this little guinea-pig. And My Best in Show this year is
0:14:45 > 0:14:51this rabbit. It has been wonderfully looked after. You can
0:14:51 > 0:14:59see how soft the fairies. Beautiful condition. I don't know who it is
0:14:59 > 0:15:06owned by, I will need to find out after. I have now found the owner.
0:15:06 > 0:15:15Who is the rabbit and why you? Megan. I have had a rabbit for
0:15:15 > 0:15:23three years. We give her a nice fresh every day, some carrots and
0:15:23 > 0:15:27she is pretty much pampered. But Texel is the most popular breed
0:15:27 > 0:15:37of sheep at the Royal Welsh. It is a continental breed and it tends to
0:15:37 > 0:15:39do quite well in the Sheep Interbreed class. I am here with
0:15:39 > 0:15:49Heulwen from Anglesey to learn a little bit more about the
0:15:49 > 0:16:04
0:16:04 > 0:16:10How does this competition work? judge will have to look for
0:16:10 > 0:16:15something-that they have got to match well. You have got to have a
0:16:15 > 0:16:23new lamb in the competition so that will be slightly smaller. The tax
0:16:23 > 0:16:30will tend to do quite well. Why is that? -- Texel. You can't train
0:16:30 > 0:16:36them. You are not allowed to touch their will at all. Only wash their
0:16:36 > 0:16:46faces and their legs. We are going to be ringside watching you today.
0:16:46 > 0:16:46
0:16:46 > 0:16:52Best of luck. Thank you very much. After almost an hour in the ring,
0:16:52 > 0:17:02Ian Jones from Builth Wells, whittled them down to two groups.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07
0:17:07 > 0:17:15And the champion goes to the Congratulations. The breed won the
0:17:15 > 0:17:21pairs yesterday. Yes, we had a good day yesterday as well. And he won
0:17:21 > 0:17:25the Sheep Interbreed today. It is excellent. It is the first time I
0:17:25 > 0:17:32have won this competition. It is a great honour to win both in the
0:17:32 > 0:17:37same year. You must be exhausted. You were in the ring for an hour.
0:17:37 > 0:17:44Yes, and I had to get up very early to get them ready. Many
0:17:44 > 0:17:48congratulations. There is something about the
0:17:48 > 0:17:53Horticultural Tent which makes you want to start digging. From
0:17:53 > 0:17:56fragrant sprays of flowers to juicy vegetables. It is quite in
0:17:56 > 0:18:00inspiration. But this year a new competition has been introduced to
0:18:00 > 0:18:04find the best Schools Garden. We went along to a primary school to
0:18:04 > 0:18:14find out how pupils are tending to their garden and learning from the
0:18:14 > 0:18:18
0:18:18 > 0:18:25We have been coming here for the last four years. We make sure they
0:18:25 > 0:18:29put the seeds in, they do all the pottery, the planting. No child
0:18:29 > 0:18:37should miss the chance to do some gardening. We have got everything
0:18:37 > 0:18:45here. We have been growing potatoes, onions, lettuce, caddied -- cabbage,
0:18:45 > 0:18:50beetroot. Lettuce, cabbage, radish, you name it we grow it. They
0:18:50 > 0:18:53develop a range of skills from geography to the social and care
0:18:53 > 0:19:00for the environment. It started small and it has expanded more and
0:19:00 > 0:19:05more. Lots of the vegetables are used in the canteen and when we
0:19:05 > 0:19:10have a good harvest, we sell it off to the parents. And then the money
0:19:10 > 0:19:17goes into the garden entity. My wife and I really love etc.. It
0:19:17 > 0:19:24gives us a lot of satisfaction. They grow their own produce so they
0:19:24 > 0:19:30are more eager to try the different things. I like doing it because I
0:19:30 > 0:19:40get my hands dirty. How did the Prime is called get on?
0:19:40 > 0:19:48Unfortunately, we did not win but we will be back next year.
0:19:48 > 0:19:56The first prize went to Cowbridge. Could you come forward?
0:19:56 > 0:20:02Congratulations. We are absolutely delighted. It is a great honour.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07How much difference has the garden made to your school? It has really
0:20:07 > 0:20:10enhanced the learning environment. We try to utilise all outdoor areas.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15All the children have been totally involved in the creation of this
0:20:15 > 0:20:19garden. It did not happen overnight. It has been a five-year programme
0:20:19 > 0:20:23which has developed and developed. This year, every child within the
0:20:23 > 0:20:28school has had an opportunity to go out and work alongside me, creating
0:20:28 > 0:20:32the garden for this year. Congratulations again and happy
0:20:32 > 0:20:37gardening. John, you're not just here with the
0:20:37 > 0:20:43school, you are competing as an individual as well. What sort of
0:20:43 > 0:20:50show Have you had? I have had four firsts, three seconds and three
0:20:50 > 0:20:54thirds. And you are inspiring the next generation of gardeners.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58is what I am trying to do. I am trying to teach them to grow
0:20:58 > 0:21:08vegetables and hopefully in years to come they will be at the Royal
0:21:08 > 0:21:16
0:21:16 > 0:21:24Still to come on the programme, the stars of the future. The Young
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Handlers. And the Supreme Champion Sports --
0:21:28 > 0:21:30champion horse is chosen. The Royal Welsh has a real
0:21:30 > 0:21:40tradition of bringing families together and some get their hands
0:21:40 > 0:21:55
0:21:55 > 0:22:01dirtier than others. That is true Have you got your breath back? It
0:22:01 > 0:22:10looked a bit energetic. It is really energetic. This is the Jack
0:22:10 > 0:22:14and Jill demonstration we do. just do down here today? No, I am
0:22:14 > 0:22:21here with my whole family. My dad got me into doing the sewing. I
0:22:21 > 0:22:28even competed against my mum as well. Do you have to do a lot of
0:22:28 > 0:22:34training for this? We do train with the sort itself but not really.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Best of luck with the exhibition. The parents of most teenagers would
0:22:38 > 0:22:45argue that getting them out of bed in the morning can be a painful
0:22:45 > 0:22:49process. But not the parents of Ifan Phillips. This teenager gets
0:22:49 > 0:22:56up voluntarily at 3:30am every weekend to go milking on a nearby
0:22:57 > 0:23:03farm. That is what you call dedication.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09It is 3:30am. I have just got up. I am a little bit tired.
0:23:09 > 0:23:19I have been milking for about an hour. I will take the camera into
0:23:19 > 0:23:26
0:23:26 > 0:23:29The Royal Welsh will be with us in a week's time. They have resulted
0:23:29 > 0:23:34and ready to go. This is the first time for me to the exhibits
0:23:34 > 0:23:38something of my own at the Royal Welsh and I am very excited.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44You are competing in the Young Handlers competitions. What is that
0:23:44 > 0:23:49all about? It is a chance for young competitors to shop their handling
0:23:49 > 0:23:54skills. In a way, the bigger the animal you have got, it shows you
0:23:54 > 0:24:01can handle power and it is a chance to go around the ring and have some
0:24:01 > 0:24:08experience. What have you brought with you to compete? I have brought
0:24:08 > 0:24:13a commercial heifer. She is about 15 months old. She is a little bit
0:24:13 > 0:24:19more because they will be a lot of big cattle out there. How many
0:24:19 > 0:24:25people are rented into this class? I think about 58 people today. They
0:24:25 > 0:24:35will be split up according to age. There were probably be about 10 or
0:24:35 > 0:24:46
0:24:46 > 0:24:55You have just stepped out of the ring, how did it go? Not too well.
0:24:55 > 0:25:04She was a little bit stubborn. was a good experience though?
0:25:04 > 0:25:08it was a great experience to be in a class that size. Well done.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13The for Welsh horse and pony breed champions come forward on a
0:25:13 > 0:25:19Thursday afternoon to fight it out for the, a sprightly Cup. This
0:25:19 > 0:25:24award recognises the combination of a unique man and a pony. Mr Tom
0:25:24 > 0:25:31Jones Evans and Grove Sprightly. She was mountain pony champion at
0:25:31 > 0:25:36the Royal Welsh from 1930-1939, with the exception of 1937, when Mr
0:25:36 > 0:25:41Evans was asked to judge in order to give the others a chance. I
0:25:41 > 0:25:46caught up with the man judging the competition this year, Mr William
0:25:46 > 0:25:53Lloyd of the Geler Stud. It is an honour but also exciting,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57to judge the best Welsh in show. The best of the best.
0:25:57 > 0:26:04responsibility lies on your shoulders, whereas in the past it
0:26:04 > 0:26:07was up to the crowd. Absolutely. It was an exciting event then on a
0:26:07 > 0:26:14Thursday. The machine would measure the applause and the winner would
0:26:14 > 0:26:17come through. But now it is down to me. You are known very much as a
0:26:17 > 0:26:23Welsh Cob breeder. How tricky is it for you not to let your I'd be
0:26:23 > 0:26:27drawn towards the Welsh Cob? have got to consider that. One
0:26:27 > 0:26:30would like to think it would be a level playing field so you have got
0:26:30 > 0:26:40to be fair between the four and hopefully ended with the best on
0:26:40 > 0:26:45
0:26:45 > 0:26:55And today, he awarded the Cup to Abergavenny morning Queen and her
0:26:55 > 0:26:56
0:26:56 > 0:27:05owner, Jonathan back. It is the icing on the Cape -- Kate after
0:27:05 > 0:27:09being Welsh Cob Champion yesterday. Congratulations.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13While the Welsh Cob Champion might have rained, it was a different
0:27:13 > 0:27:23story in the Supreme Championship. The judge, Mr Thomas John Jones
0:27:23 > 0:27:24
0:27:24 > 0:27:30chose the Welsh Mountain ponies as his top horse.
0:27:30 > 0:27:36Brilliant running. Well handled. What was the experience like?
0:27:36 > 0:27:40on cloud nine. It has been a fantastic show with
0:27:40 > 0:27:44so many lovely moments but a highlight for me was the sight of
0:27:44 > 0:27:48that Lancaster bomber over the Main Ring on Tuesday afternoon. I will
0:27:48 > 0:27:52never forget it. Also the heightened emotions in the Main
0:27:52 > 0:27:56Ring on Wednesday for the cob Championships.
0:27:56 > 0:28:01For me it had to be the chance to exhibit an animal for the very
0:28:01 > 0:28:05first time at the Royal Welsh. And for me, the tears of joy from
0:28:05 > 0:28:13the winners of the dairy Supreme cabbage it in the Cattle Ring. That
0:28:14 > 0:28:20emotion is what this show is all about. Don't forget our programme
0:28:20 > 0:28:24next week on BBC Two Wales which will include some unseen snippets.