Day 4 Royal Welsh Show

It has been another great day here at the Royal Welsh Show. In the

Main Ring least got the horse classes reach their climax with the

judging of the Supreme Championship. This morning I thought I was seeing

double with a pair of extremely rare Shire twins. And as well as

the Cattle Ring I have also been meeting some of the smaller animals

in the show at the pet section. finished off my perfect we care in

the sheep section. And Wednesday was the perfect day for the

shearers. Rachel was in the thick of it all. Vet is terrific as

everyone gets behind the Welsh shearers as they try to clinch top

honours. Speed, skill and stamina decide who wins. She ring is not

just a competition, it is a way of life and a vital part of the age

old agricultural cycle. We met with two young Swansea shearers who are

competing here in the open competition against old sheering

stalwarts for the very first time this year. They have quite an act

to follow. This part of the world is where we have been getting the

sheep in off the cliffs. I am sheering this here in the open

competition of the Royal Welch and I hope to get through to the

championship as well. I am taking part in the open. I have won the

championship of Wales and nine times and I have been lucky enough

to travel all over the world. It is good to see these young boys coming

in. There are 100 boys in it for the same reason you are. It is

tough. It is not just on speed, it is about the quality of the job. We

work together every day. There is a good battle going on in work. We

have got the same speed. It is more fun working with someone who is the

same speed or better because you try to compete more. It is good do

come to work here because you can see what you are doing wrong. My

boss has a lot of standing in Wales. He is known worldwide. If you are

keen to win the competition you have got to be doing the job every

day. Now, guys, you are both old friends but when it gets to

competing, is it serious business? It can be. I Shia against them

every day in the shed so it is a bit of a competition every day.

When there is an audience you have to try to please the crowd.

atmosphere is amazing but do the nerves get to you? Yes. When all

eyes are on you up there it is a little bit nerve-racking. Thank you

for your time and good luck with Both boys made it to the quarter

final of the Champion Shearer of Wales. Matthew made it to the semi-

final of the open competition. His uncle is still in the running to be

crowned champion for the second year running. My nerves are in

shreds just watching will stop the boys have been working hard for the

last 11 minutes, sheering 20 lambs in this final, it looks like Gareth

Ann Daniels might just have the edge. It is hard to tell. The sweat

is pouring of these guys. It is a lot of pressure will stop you have

the crowd cheering for you will stop they are working hard. Garras,

you are at this year's Welsh sheering champion, how does that

feel? Pretty awesome. It was close I gather. I am chuffed to be on top.

You get a ticket to New Zealand and you are going to represent Wales in

the world champions. Best of luck and congratulations. Thank you.

wheels Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs is the largest organisation

for young people in rural Wales. I caught up with the chair man at the

end of a very busy week. How did you get into this position? I was

roped into it! I was president of one Young Farmers' Club many years

ago and I was asked if I would like to takeover. It was a great

opportunity and an honour to be able to put something back in. I

was pleased and privilege to do so when I was asked. It has been going

for 75 years. What is important now is that we build on it for the next

75 years. It is all about giving people opportunities within a safe

environment and keeping countryside Ballet's alive. Getting more

members involved in this great movement. Do you think it is

important that you are getting those young members in now? It is

vitally important. You look at some of the members at 13 years of age

and I did not start until I was 16, you look at them and think I'd be

getting younger on am I getting older. Good luck with refereeing in

the World Cup! His mind you, I will read it! Another well-known Rugby

international was this man playing for the Cardiff Blues. I would have

liked to be supporting the All Blacks playing but I am thoroughly

enjoying my time over here. Your background is an agricultural one,

so this must be of interest? That's right. It takes me back to the time

when mum and dad used to take me around the shore in my pram and

feed me hot tips to keep me out of trouble. There is something I have

got to show you. These are our prize Welsh Blacks, what do you

think? The look pretty impressive. I have seen one of the fellas doing

the here like a Rugby players. Hopefully they will do all right on

the field. The quality of the stock and these similar breeds, is this

similar to what you would see in Christ Church? Definitely, the all

of the same to me! Do you think you will go back? I might do. It could

be me going back to the farm. The Shires are of the graceful

gentle giants of the horse world. Very few Shire's provide the power

on the farms as they used to but they are still popular with

breeders and a great draw for spectators of the shore. Today

there were a pair of extremely rare Many congratulations first of all

to have double joy with these Shire twins, how dare is it to have Horst

wins at all? It is very rare and it is not advised. Normally if twins

are picked up on the scan something is done to rectify that. At the

time we did not know she was carrying twins. She had a scan and

it just said one? Yes. Then there were two sets of eyes. If you had

known she was carrying twins you would have kept her in and cosseted

her but you did not? No, she did a full series of shows, we carried on

as normal. And blooming all the way through? Yes. You must have been

really pleased to see the twins taking the ring and the Royal Show.

Absolutely. How much attention have they had? They have had a lot of

attention, they have been in lots of papers and been on the

television. Not only have the developed beautifully but they

performed magnificently today. How well did they do? Very well indeed.

Their mother became second in her class and the falls came in joint

first. -- foals. It is important to cut the stem at an angle to double

the surface for water intake. always carry a tape measure to

check for height. They will grow in height overnight sometimes. Make

sure you're Oasis is not showing. If you are doing a basket

presentation you must make sure there is plastic stopping water

leaking through. You only need a few flowers to make a maximum

impact which is not as expensive. If you are out on a wall can do see

a nice bit of wit which is a little bit strange, pick it up. Still to

come in the programme, the best things come in threes with the

Sheep Interbreed competition. We need some of the young gardeners of

the future. And the champion of the Our pets are part of the family and

there is a special section in the show which celebrate the animals

which are part of our daily lives are. From rats to cats to tour

places. But how to judge such a selection?

Leighton Evans from a Three Crosses is the man with the difficult task

this year. The owners must leave their beloved animals behind and

step out of the Pavilion before he On to the cats next and you are not

going to get them out of the cage, are you? There are so many people

here, they could frighten them. This is a young kitten, very

playful as you can see. It has obviously been handled by its owner

already, because they have been playing with it. What kind of

animals have you had this year? biggest class has been guinea-pigs.

We have also had rabbits, hamsters, cats and a tortoise this year. This

is the pet section so we are looking at pets. How they handle,

how they are looked after, cleanliness, the breed goes out

through the window. We don't look at the standard they are, but

You have made your decision. Can you reveal to us who is best in

show this year? It was quite a difficult choice but my two best in

show were this little guinea-pig. And My Best in Show this year is

this rabbit. It has been wonderfully looked after. You can

see how soft the fairies. Beautiful condition. I don't know who it is

owned by, I will need to find out after. I have now found the owner.

Who is the rabbit and why you? Megan. I have had a rabbit for

three years. We give her a nice fresh every day, some carrots and

she is pretty much pampered. But Texel is the most popular breed

of sheep at the Royal Welsh. It is a continental breed and it tends to

do quite well in the Sheep Interbreed class. I am here with

Heulwen from Anglesey to learn a little bit more about the

How does this competition work? judge will have to look for

something-that they have got to match well. You have got to have a

new lamb in the competition so that will be slightly smaller. The tax

will tend to do quite well. Why is that? -- Texel. You can't train

them. You are not allowed to touch their will at all. Only wash their

faces and their legs. We are going to be ringside watching you today.

Best of luck. Thank you very much. After almost an hour in the ring,

Ian Jones from Builth Wells, whittled them down to two groups.

And the champion goes to the Congratulations. The breed won the

pairs yesterday. Yes, we had a good day yesterday as well. And he won

the Sheep Interbreed today. It is excellent. It is the first time I

have won this competition. It is a great honour to win both in the

same year. You must be exhausted. You were in the ring for an hour.

Yes, and I had to get up very early to get them ready. Many

congratulations. There is something about the

Horticultural Tent which makes you want to start digging. From

fragrant sprays of flowers to juicy vegetables. It is quite in

inspiration. But this year a new competition has been introduced to

find the best Schools Garden. We went along to a primary school to

find out how pupils are tending to their garden and learning from the

We have been coming here for the last four years. We make sure they

put the seeds in, they do all the pottery, the planting. No child

should miss the chance to do some gardening. We have got everything

here. We have been growing potatoes, onions, lettuce, caddied -- cabbage,

beetroot. Lettuce, cabbage, radish, you name it we grow it. They

develop a range of skills from geography to the social and care

for the environment. It started small and it has expanded more and

more. Lots of the vegetables are used in the canteen and when we

have a good harvest, we sell it off to the parents. And then the money

goes into the garden entity. My wife and I really love etc.. It

gives us a lot of satisfaction. They grow their own produce so they

are more eager to try the different things. I like doing it because I

get my hands dirty. How did the Prime is called get on?

Unfortunately, we did not win but we will be back next year.

The first prize went to Cowbridge. Could you come forward?

Congratulations. We are absolutely delighted. It is a great honour.

How much difference has the garden made to your school? It has really

enhanced the learning environment. We try to utilise all outdoor areas.

All the children have been totally involved in the creation of this

garden. It did not happen overnight. It has been a five-year programme

which has developed and developed. This year, every child within the

school has had an opportunity to go out and work alongside me, creating

the garden for this year. Congratulations again and happy

gardening. John, you're not just here with the

school, you are competing as an individual as well. What sort of

show Have you had? I have had four firsts, three seconds and three

thirds. And you are inspiring the next generation of gardeners.

is what I am trying to do. I am trying to teach them to grow

vegetables and hopefully in years to come they will be at the Royal

Still to come on the programme, the stars of the future. The Young

Handlers. And the Supreme Champion Sports --

champion horse is chosen. The Royal Welsh has a real

tradition of bringing families together and some get their hands

dirtier than others. That is true Have you got your breath back? It

looked a bit energetic. It is really energetic. This is the Jack

and Jill demonstration we do. just do down here today? No, I am

here with my whole family. My dad got me into doing the sewing. I

even competed against my mum as well. Do you have to do a lot of

training for this? We do train with the sort itself but not really.

Best of luck with the exhibition. The parents of most teenagers would

argue that getting them out of bed in the morning can be a painful

process. But not the parents of Ifan Phillips. This teenager gets

up voluntarily at 3:30am every weekend to go milking on a nearby

farm. That is what you call dedication.

It is 3:30am. I have just got up. I am a little bit tired.

I have been milking for about an hour. I will take the camera into

The Royal Welsh will be with us in a week's time. They have resulted

and ready to go. This is the first time for me to the exhibits

something of my own at the Royal Welsh and I am very excited.

You are competing in the Young Handlers competitions. What is that

all about? It is a chance for young competitors to shop their handling

skills. In a way, the bigger the animal you have got, it shows you

can handle power and it is a chance to go around the ring and have some

experience. What have you brought with you to compete? I have brought

a commercial heifer. She is about 15 months old. She is a little bit

more because they will be a lot of big cattle out there. How many

people are rented into this class? I think about 58 people today. They

will be split up according to age. There were probably be about 10 or

You have just stepped out of the ring, how did it go? Not too well.

She was a little bit stubborn. was a good experience though?

it was a great experience to be in a class that size. Well done.

The for Welsh horse and pony breed champions come forward on a

Thursday afternoon to fight it out for the, a sprightly Cup. This

award recognises the combination of a unique man and a pony. Mr Tom

Jones Evans and Grove Sprightly. She was mountain pony champion at

the Royal Welsh from 1930-1939, with the exception of 1937, when Mr

Evans was asked to judge in order to give the others a chance. I

caught up with the man judging the competition this year, Mr William

Lloyd of the Geler Stud. It is an honour but also exciting,

to judge the best Welsh in show. The best of the best.

responsibility lies on your shoulders, whereas in the past it

was up to the crowd. Absolutely. It was an exciting event then on a

Thursday. The machine would measure the applause and the winner would

come through. But now it is down to me. You are known very much as a

Welsh Cob breeder. How tricky is it for you not to let your I'd be

drawn towards the Welsh Cob? have got to consider that. One

would like to think it would be a level playing field so you have got

to be fair between the four and hopefully ended with the best on

And today, he awarded the Cup to Abergavenny morning Queen and her

owner, Jonathan back. It is the icing on the Cape -- Kate after

being Welsh Cob Champion yesterday. Congratulations.

While the Welsh Cob Champion might have rained, it was a different

story in the Supreme Championship. The judge, Mr Thomas John Jones

chose the Welsh Mountain ponies as his top horse.

Brilliant running. Well handled. What was the experience like?

on cloud nine. It has been a fantastic show with

so many lovely moments but a highlight for me was the sight of

that Lancaster bomber over the Main Ring on Tuesday afternoon. I will

never forget it. Also the heightened emotions in the Main

Ring on Wednesday for the cob Championships.

For me it had to be the chance to exhibit an animal for the very

first time at the Royal Welsh. And for me, the tears of joy from

the winners of the dairy Supreme cabbage it in the Cattle Ring. That

emotion is what this show is all about. Don't forget our programme

next week on BBC Two Wales which will include some unseen snippets.