:00:27. > :00:31.Welcome it to the best of the Royal Welsh Show 2012. We had a fantastic
:00:31. > :00:36.four days, the sun was shining, the animals were on top form at the
:00:36. > :00:42.crowds came in record numbers. This year it was an all-time record with
:00:42. > :00:47.the overt 240,000 people visiting. This year there were a number of
:00:47. > :00:57.new attractions including the first part of the Royal Welsh world
:00:57. > :01:08.
:01:08. > :01:14.This is one of the most energetic and competitive events here. In a
:01:14. > :01:21.brand new competition, 17 countries have been whittled down to 8-
:01:21. > :01:26.competes in the Royal Welsh world mounted games here.Chairman of the
:01:26. > :01:36.Games Association, which are the eight countries left in? England,
:01:36. > :01:37.
:01:37. > :01:42.France, Ireland, Wales, America, Northern Ireland and Germany.
:01:42. > :01:50.you have had the qualifying event in Chepstow, do they start afresh
:01:50. > :01:54.from here? Yes, I all start on 0 Points for fresh competition.
:01:54. > :02:00.extra exciting because this is the first time the final has been held
:02:00. > :02:05.at the Royal Welsh. Yes, it goes all over the world. Our aim was to
:02:05. > :02:15.bring the finals to this fantastic venue and give the right is
:02:15. > :02:18.
:02:18. > :02:22.something to remember. -- the You are a vet in Swansea, you are
:02:22. > :02:28.being the England team but you are not taking part because your pony
:02:28. > :02:35.has a knee injury. There are 20 individual games and each one Tests
:02:35. > :02:40.something different, speed, stamina, your skill, high you shake your
:02:40. > :02:45.hands when you are nervous. It is basically a relay race. Four riders
:02:45. > :02:51.go out, the first across the line picks up eight points. The Welsh
:02:51. > :02:59.team captain is with me. How did it go? Not as well as we would have
:02:59. > :03:06.liked. The crowd is fantastic. I have goose pimples. The competition
:03:06. > :03:12.is great, there are some nerves, it is so close. It is really brilliant.
:03:12. > :03:20.It could go either way it the moment. We have 20 games so
:03:20. > :03:26.anything can happen. I am a very proud Welshman. You look like you
:03:26. > :03:31.need a bucket of water, I will let you go. Good luck. We will be back
:03:31. > :03:41.tomorrow for a chat with the Welsh team and find out who comes out on
:03:41. > :03:44.
:03:44. > :03:50.Last year I had the honour of showing a chic on behalf of the
:03:50. > :03:53.family. I will not be doing that again this year. I do have a huge
:03:53. > :03:59.responsibility of helping to prepare one of Wales' best known
:04:00. > :04:04.dairy cows. She won the Supreme Championship here last year they
:04:04. > :04:12.don't worry, I'll not be doing this on my own. I am under the gaze of
:04:12. > :04:20.my adopted family. The Davies family and their team of helpers.
:04:20. > :04:26.Hello. Good to see. We have 420 cows in the milking herd. How why
:04:26. > :04:30.you selecting which animals? know quite a long time before which
:04:30. > :04:36.ones are good enough to go. A couple of weeks before we put them
:04:36. > :04:46.all on a different diet and on straw. They are in the other shed
:04:46. > :04:46.
:04:46. > :04:51.on the other side. Hello. Everybody is getting ready. What exactly do
:04:51. > :04:57.you have to do to get a cow ready? There is a lot of work involved
:04:57. > :05:02.beforehand, she is cared for and fed appropriately but the washing
:05:02. > :05:08.and clipping is important. You want them to look their best. What you
:05:08. > :05:12.need me to do? It is really important to keep it house clean
:05:12. > :05:21.and part of that is looking after the rear end. You will be on the
:05:21. > :05:29.bucket. Typical. Is this will champion? No, she is out of the
:05:29. > :05:35.same family but she is in the other should. She looks absolutely
:05:35. > :05:44.magnificent and huge. When she is in the show ring, she thinks she is
:05:44. > :05:47.something! You have arrived and brought a team with you. It is
:05:47. > :05:53.important we have good numbers because you can never have enough
:05:53. > :06:01.hands. Who have you got? My nephews and nieces and my friend and his
:06:01. > :06:11.son. They all have their jobs. bet you have remembered my buckets!
:06:11. > :06:11.
:06:11. > :06:21.Es. Fantastic. Beautiful. When do you want me to start? Now. I need a
:06:21. > :06:24.
:06:24. > :06:29.bit of practice before you start This is the week when the town
:06:29. > :06:33.really comes to life. A quarter of a million people visit the Royal
:06:33. > :06:37.Welsh every year and many stay in the area so you can imagine it
:06:37. > :06:44.needs the hotels and caravan parks are full to capacity. However, that
:06:44. > :06:51.is not stopping one hotelier competing in the shade.
:06:51. > :06:56.-- in the show. Alan Ryan's a hotel with his father and show week is
:06:56. > :07:06.the biggest week of the year. Even so, at and makes sure he has time
:07:06. > :07:12.to show his horses. Brought up in at Lambeth, the Welsh cobs go back
:07:12. > :07:18.several generations. This is a bit of excitement and adrenalin.
:07:18. > :07:23.are very busy in the hotel but explain what has what Welsh mean
:07:23. > :07:28.for the business? Royal Welsh week for the hotel is amazing. It is
:07:28. > :07:34.absolutely great, boosting trade and we get international visitors
:07:34. > :07:39.and locals and it is everything because without the show there is
:07:39. > :07:49.not a lot here apart from the walking. But you are really
:07:49. > :07:50.
:07:50. > :07:57.involved this year, you're showing this course. Tell us about it.
:07:57. > :08:03.is going back to network prince. is a special connection with one of
:08:03. > :08:13.the first -- famous Welsh cobs. great grandad bred him just 30
:08:13. > :08:21.
:08:21. > :08:31.miles down the road. Enjoy the show. And the results? A 5th place for
:08:31. > :08:31.
:08:31. > :08:40.Adam Patterson. In first place,... Congratulations, you must be
:08:40. > :08:45.pleased. Very pleased and proud. He is a home-bred animal. Thank you.
:08:45. > :08:51.Well done both of you. On Tuesday on his visit to the horticultural
:08:51. > :08:57.per billion, we met up with one of the best known names in vegetable
:08:57. > :09:01.growing and showing making his first appearance for many years.
:09:01. > :09:08.Not many competitors can claim to be at the top of their game but
:09:08. > :09:13.after 11 consecutive gold the champion Vij Griller Medwyn
:09:13. > :09:18.Williams can claim to be. He is back where it all began at the
:09:18. > :09:23.Horticultural marquee. Medwyn Williams has a massive display of
:09:23. > :09:29.40 varieties of vegetables, peppers, radishes, carrots, lettuce, leeks
:09:29. > :09:37.and more. A lot of time and preparation goes into making it
:09:37. > :09:41.look tantalising. And of course, tasty. You are back after a 26 year
:09:41. > :09:48.absence at the Royal Welsh Show. What brought you back? I came back
:09:48. > :09:53.to give a vote of thanks because that ticked me off into the
:09:53. > :09:57.exhibition and they had a gold medal on my first attempt. Without
:09:57. > :10:04.that I would never have achieved Hampton Court and Chelsea and the
:10:04. > :10:11.other shows I have done in America. I heard you have won 11 gold at
:10:11. > :10:17.Chelsea. That is correct. 11 consecutive gold medals. Today we
:10:17. > :10:24.got a large gold medal and the Silver Cup for the best display in
:10:24. > :10:30.the marquee. And we got there first Olympic medal. This is to be kept,
:10:30. > :10:36.I can keep that one. Talking of looking beautiful, do you get this
:10:36. > :10:42.right to buy yourself? No, I would be here for a four-night! We used
:10:42. > :10:48.2000 cocktail sticks, it takes two 14 Alun Davies and that is my real
:10:48. > :10:55.love when I come here, empty tables and a star painting a picture. You
:10:55. > :10:59.can see it on the faces of the public. That makes it for me.
:10:59. > :11:04.has to be the highlight of the week for me. I am always enthralled by
:11:04. > :11:14.the size, power and character of these animals representing each of
:11:14. > :11:14.
:11:15. > :11:18.the beef breeds in the team of five competition. Five animals they
:11:18. > :11:22.complement each other in appearance are selected by the judge of the
:11:22. > :11:27.two breeds to compete as a team, the winners are the team of
:11:27. > :11:31.individuals the best match each other on the day. I am delighted to
:11:31. > :11:36.be joined by the lady president and chair woman who share my passion
:11:36. > :11:42.for the competition. The present of the Welsh Blacks Society and the
:11:42. > :11:48.Highland cattle president. You admit to being a townie who has
:11:48. > :11:52.converted to farming. Why the Welsh Blacks? When we decided to start
:11:52. > :12:01.farming we only had a small farm and wanted something with a lot of
:12:01. > :12:10.interest. What better than the native breed? We have seen numbers
:12:10. > :12:14.drop at the show, why? There were a lot of factors this year, the
:12:14. > :12:21.majority of the reason was the tuberculosis problem. What about
:12:21. > :12:25.the Highlands? They are down, TB is affecting numbers. But we do our
:12:25. > :12:33.best and come in as best we can. The cattle are extremely good, the
:12:33. > :12:38.judge in was tied. We have two teams of native Celtic roots,
:12:38. > :12:44.Elizabeth's, wouldn't it be great to see her native breed win?
:12:44. > :12:50.would. And I would love it to be the Welsh Blacks. We have five
:12:50. > :12:57.fabulous animals. We keep our fingers crossed. We would go with
:12:57. > :13:04.what the judge says. As the Gedge Archie MacGregor draws his first
:13:05. > :13:09.short list I will ask you both, what is catching your eyes?
:13:09. > :13:14.thought the long-ball team of five was extremely good. A nice size and
:13:14. > :13:19.a walk well. I hope the native breed wings. It would be a great
:13:19. > :13:26.fillip for the native farmers. Continental breeds have done well
:13:26. > :13:35.always, especially recently. I'll say the Welsh Blacks but another
:13:35. > :13:45.black breed is the Aberdeen Angus. They are really good. Ladies and
:13:45. > :13:50.gentlemen, I give you the champions. The Limousin. It was the Limousin
:13:50. > :13:56.bitter Cup. The Welsh Blacks where reserve. Wonderful. They are next
:13:56. > :14:01.in group. Reserves at the Royal Welsh, you cannot ask for better.
:14:02. > :14:05.Congratulations. A great team effort. Time to celebrate? There
:14:05. > :14:12.will be a little celebration, it happens every night at the Royal
:14:12. > :14:16.Welsh Show. You all deserve a drink. Thank you. It goes without saying
:14:16. > :14:21.Welsh cobs at the Royal Welsh have a massive following. Many
:14:21. > :14:25.exhibitors give up their day jobs for the week to compete. One man
:14:25. > :14:30.who is competing for the first time this year and to has almost
:14:31. > :14:35.certainly it switched his day duties is Sergeant Matthew Howells.
:14:35. > :14:42.Matthew is a wildlife and environment officer with a Dyfed
:14:42. > :14:51.Powys police by day and looks after farmers. Today he is looking after
:14:51. > :14:56.You have been to the Royal Welsh before but this is the first time
:14:56. > :15:00.you have competed here isn't it? Yes. How are you finding it? I know
:15:00. > :15:06.where to go now. There is so much to do, isn't there? Yes, obviously
:15:06. > :15:16.not just today but the preparation. Tell me about your new purchase?
:15:16. > :15:18.
:15:18. > :15:22.She's a foal we bought last October in the Cob sales. She's bred by Mr
:15:22. > :15:27.and Mrs Evans. You were interested in Welsh Cobs some time ago then
:15:27. > :15:31.got out of it then came back to it. How did that come about?. I was
:15:31. > :15:34.interested as a young kid and rode years ago. Living on the farm at
:15:34. > :15:38.the time, it was a farm and there wasn't any room for horses because
:15:38. > :15:42.it was a dairy farm. Dad's retired from farming and wanted something
:15:42. > :15:48.to do and fancied a couple of cobs so we decided to start three years
:15:48. > :15:53.ago, so we've gone from nothing to having five breeding mares. Listen,
:15:53. > :16:03.you and your horse, best of luck. Thank you very much. Hope you enjoy
:16:03. > :16:10.
:16:10. > :16:18.There's nothing like being in that main ring for the first time.
:16:18. > :16:28.Valuable experience indeed for Matthew and his horse. The winner
:16:28. > :16:32.
:16:32. > :16:37.this time was not this horse. How was that? It was enjoyable. She did
:16:37. > :16:40.very well. Are you going to be back next year? Yes, we'll be back next
:16:40. > :16:45.year. Now we've started, we probably won't stop, as long as I
:16:45. > :16:48.get time off work that is! Book the day off now. Yeah. Thank you very
:16:48. > :16:52.much. Thank you. The Royal Welsh show has more
:16:52. > :16:57.breeds of sheep on display than any other agriculture l show in the
:16:57. > :17:03.world. They come in all shapes and sizes but these are perhaps some of
:17:03. > :17:06.the most unusual, the Blue-face Leicesters. This year sees the
:17:06. > :17:15.society's 50th anniversary. Michael James, the vice chairman, is hoping
:17:15. > :17:20.this is the year his sheep shine in the show.
:17:20. > :17:24.Michael and his wife Ella and three children, Jack, Henry and Lily have
:17:24. > :17:30.brought eight of their Blue-face Leicesters to the show. I wondered
:17:30. > :17:33.why they chose such unusual looking sheep? A Blue-face Leicester is a
:17:33. > :17:39.native breed, a lowland breed but it's a big long sheep, it's a very
:17:39. > :17:44.big sheep and hasn't got big wool like other sheep in this country.
:17:44. > :17:48.They are usually used to cross on a hill ewe to make a mill. That's
:17:48. > :17:53.their sort of job in the industry. Michael and his family are
:17:53. > :17:58.competing in all three of the yew classes and judging is under way.
:17:58. > :18:01.Ella, this is unusual for me. I expected the sheep to be harnessed
:18:01. > :18:06.and they are running free within the pen aren't they? Yes, and it's
:18:06. > :18:11.the best way to get to judge the sheep. They're free, they can walk
:18:11. > :18:19.around. You can get the full effect of the sheep, rather than being led
:18:19. > :18:23.around. It starts well with the two sheer orover class.
:18:23. > :18:28.Ella, what is different about this particular class? This differs to
:18:28. > :18:34.the other class. The last class we watched was for age ewes and this
:18:34. > :18:39.is for yearling yews which just means they're younger. Again it's
:18:39. > :18:46.still a female class and once again, the judge has tapped on Michael's
:18:46. > :18:51.first. Goodness me! The next class was the lamb class.
:18:51. > :19:01.You will never believe it. But... No, surely not. You are absolutely
:19:01. > :19:03.
:19:03. > :19:08.joking me?! This is unbelievable. Hold on Ella. Three out of three!
:19:08. > :19:12.Amazing. Amazing. That is absolutely amazing.
:19:12. > :19:17.So we've just seen three red tickets there. Yes. What is next?
:19:17. > :19:23.What's next for us is our three winning female sheep will go head-
:19:23. > :19:27.to-head against each other for the best female and then that will go
:19:27. > :19:32.against the best male for the overall breed champion.
:19:32. > :19:39.And the sheerling ewe was crowned the female champion with one final
:19:39. > :19:44.competition to go. The overall Championship expectations were high
:19:44. > :19:49.and yes, you've guessed it. What a day for the vice chairman of the
:19:49. > :19:54.Society of The Blue-faceed Leicesters. It's been unbelievable.
:19:54. > :20:00.Every class we have been out in we've won. Then to go on and have
:20:00. > :20:04.reserve female and champion female and then overall Blue-face
:20:04. > :20:08.Leicester champion and reserve is unbelievable. Amazing. Never
:20:08. > :20:12.thought we'd ever do this. Amazing. Ever so plezed. If you were with us
:20:12. > :20:16.yesterday, you would have seen the initial heats of the semi-final of
:20:16. > :20:19.the Royal Welsh world mounted games where teams of five riders from
:20:20. > :20:25.eight countries were battling it out for a place many the final. The
:20:25. > :20:29.big day has arrived and very soon, we'll find out which team is to be
:20:30. > :20:35.crowned champions of the tournament. Let's find out who is in the Welsh
:20:35. > :20:42.team. Captain Hugh, tell us who everyone is? On my left, Jack
:20:42. > :20:46.Edwards, a mechanic from Aberdare. Gemma is a social worker. Aaron
:20:46. > :20:51.Jones in the pink top, he's from Merthyr and also a mechanic. Jordan
:20:51. > :20:57.Evans is the baby of the team, still in school. Jack, have you
:20:57. > :21:01.competed at the Royal Welsh before? Yes, about four times I think.
:21:01. > :21:07.Competitive? Gets harder every year. Gemma, do you have to train very
:21:07. > :21:10.hard? Yes. How often? Three months before, twice a week. You build up
:21:10. > :21:16.a close relationship with your horse don't you, especially when
:21:16. > :21:19.you are doing things that are so athletic? It's all about the trust
:21:19. > :21:22.and bond between the horse and yourself. You've got to have faith
:21:23. > :21:29.that the horse will go in the right direction and not throw you off.
:21:29. > :21:34.Looks as though you have a great team here so fingers crossed. Good
:21:35. > :21:38.luck Wales - we are trying to be very fair here!
:21:38. > :21:44.So while the team went off to prepare, I made my way to the main
:21:44. > :21:47.ring to be sure of a good spot to the competition. Who better to
:21:47. > :21:52.explain the event than Alex Franklin, previous runner-up in
:21:52. > :21:55.individual world mounted games Championships. It's getting really
:21:55. > :22:00.exciting here in the main ring. What does it mean being world
:22:00. > :22:04.champion in this sport? Being a world champion in mounted games is
:22:04. > :22:08.the best accolade you can get. It means everything. I'm lucky enough
:22:08. > :22:12.that I've managed to win three world titles. Unfortunately, never
:22:12. > :22:16.made the individual one yet. Come second twice but I'm still working
:22:16. > :22:19.on that. So where is everybody placed now? We came into this
:22:19. > :22:23.session this second part of the final with England two points
:22:23. > :22:33.behind France who were taking the lead. France have continued to
:22:33. > :22:46.
:22:46. > :22:50.build a lead through this session Is this getting more popular do you
:22:50. > :22:54.think as an event, becoming more well-known? It is. I mean, we were
:22:54. > :22:58.always looked down upon because we ride one handed, don't ride with
:22:58. > :23:04.our stirrups all the time and people sort of look down upon us,
:23:04. > :23:14.but now they realise actually it's great skill to pick something up
:23:14. > :23:24.
:23:24. > :23:30.off of the floor while you are England and Ireland are in a Lune.
:23:30. > :23:34.France have it basically? France are the new world team champions.
:23:34. > :23:41.It was fast and furious but in the end, a well deserved win. France
:23:41. > :23:45.are world mounted games champions. England second, Ireland third and
:23:45. > :23:48.Wales fourth. Fourth in the world, absolutely
:23:48. > :23:52.amazing. As you can see, it's really hard out there, we've had to
:23:52. > :23:55.fight hard, I'm so proud of everyone. The way we rode today, if
:23:55. > :24:01.we could have done it yesterday we'd be world champions. You made
:24:01. > :24:06.us really proud of you. Well done Wales. Thank you very much.
:24:06. > :24:09.Wednesday was the second busiest day ever at the show. We had
:24:09. > :24:13.supreme Championships and the climax of many keenly fought
:24:13. > :24:19.competitions. It's a day full of Welsh cubs and daurry cows, but
:24:19. > :24:25.Rachel also caught up with some old friends at the pig ring -- dairy
:24:25. > :24:30.cows. I'm at the pig ring to catch up with a mother and daughter I
:24:30. > :24:37.first met here three years ago, Rachel and Catherine Nicholas from
:24:37. > :24:40.Raglan. In 2009, Catherine was three and very ill with leukaemia.
:24:40. > :24:44.But that didn't stop her preparing the pig for the show and taking top
:24:44. > :24:48.honours in the pig ring. I was delighted to see her back at the
:24:48. > :24:52.show again with her pigs and a new little helper.
:24:52. > :24:59.Well, it's lovely to see you here at the show again with a new
:24:59. > :25:02.addition? Yes, little Lily. How old is she? 11 weeks now. This is her
:25:02. > :25:06.fifth show so she's well into it. Talk about starting young.
:25:06. > :25:14.Catherine, tell me about the pigs that you've got here this year? How
:25:14. > :25:20.many did you bring? Four. What breed are they?... You had a big
:25:20. > :25:26.called Harmony, is she still with you? Yes. How old is she now?
:25:26. > :25:32.six... Six. The same age as you? Yes. Are you going to into the show
:25:32. > :25:37.ring today? Yes. What do you have to do? Show my pig. How to you do
:25:37. > :25:42.that? Walk her with a stick. Rachel, it's so lovely to see Catherine
:25:42. > :25:46.looking so well? Yes, she's a lot better now. She's growing and
:25:46. > :25:51.filling out and just having a normal life now. She's a really
:25:51. > :25:54.determined little girl isn't she? Very much, yes. And without showing,
:25:54. > :25:58.I think the story would have been a lot different really because with
:25:58. > :26:05.the thought of being able to go out to the shows and do what she enjoys
:26:05. > :26:08.has helped bring her on and get her better e to be honest with you.
:26:08. > :26:12.Even throughout the treatment she was determined to get into the
:26:12. > :26:19.ring? Yes, three years ago we went back for chemo and travelled every
:26:19. > :26:26.day so she could do a show. She had her chemo and it worked, that's the
:26:26. > :26:36.main thing. Fantastic. The pigs got her through, didn't they? Yes.
:26:36. > :26:45.
:26:45. > :26:49.MUSIC Here comes the sun by the And the judge William Gregory
:26:49. > :26:52.awarded reserve champion in the male interpreed competition to the
:26:52. > :26:59.Nicholass and they took champion female with Harmony, the first pig
:26:59. > :27:03.that Catherine ever owned and still her firm favourite -- interbreed.
:27:03. > :27:07.Then it was on to the supreme Championship with Harmony, the
:27:07. > :27:15.British lock took the top title, the first time the Nicholass have
:27:15. > :27:21.ever won supreme at the Royal Welsh. Rachel, congratulations. Thank you
:27:21. > :27:25.very much. Supreme pig?! Yes. a fantastic result. First time you
:27:25. > :27:31.have ever won here isn't it? Overall, yes. It's amazing. And it
:27:31. > :27:36.all started with Harmony? Yes. Her mother, yes, she's done us well,
:27:36. > :27:41.thrown us some good offspring. Really well. Catherine, well done!
:27:41. > :27:48.What do you think? Are you happy? Yes. Where are you going to put the
:27:48. > :27:58.Rosette now, in your bedroom? Look at Harmony!. It's all been too
:27:58. > :28:02.much for her. Yes, she's hot now. On a Wednesday, the main ring here
:28:02. > :28:06.is full to the brim with horses. Everywhere you look, there are
:28:06. > :28:11.Welsh ponies and cubs. While the horses may be Welsh, the breeders,
:28:11. > :28:18.some of them, have come from far and wide, drawn to Wales by the
:28:18. > :28:25.irresistible charm of the Welsh ponies.
:28:25. > :28:28.Peter owns this stud in Carmarthenshire. He's from the
:28:29. > :28:34.Netherlands and breeds ponies on his property in the Netherlands and
:28:34. > :28:42.here. He's competing with section A and B Welsh ponies. Peter, how did
:28:42. > :28:46.you, as a Dutchman, get involved with Welsh ponies? Well, in Holland
:28:46. > :28:53.a lot of ponies have always been imported for children riding them.
:28:53. > :28:57.My brother started riding on a section with gelding and that's how
:28:57. > :29:00.the interest start and we ended up on holiday to the Royal well tosh
:29:00. > :29:03.see what it was all about. Tell us about the ponies you are showing
:29:03. > :29:13.today? Today is a very hectic day. All the
:29:13. > :29:14.
:29:14. > :29:24.pressure is on the Wednesday. We've got six up here. What we have got
:29:24. > :29:25.
:29:25. > :29:30.here is the Zonawida Max Factor, what are you hoping for from him?
:29:30. > :29:35.He only had one try out as a yearling and he won. He should be,
:29:35. > :29:45.I hope he'll be in the top ten. Which one do you think will be a
:29:45. > :29:47.
:29:47. > :29:51.star today? I got really high hopes on Macenroe but I think Max Factor
:29:51. > :30:01.shouldn't be far out. We wish you the best of luck and we'll watch
:30:01. > :30:13.
:30:14. > :30:20.And the results, the winner was owned by Mrs Hughes. Max factor
:30:20. > :30:30.came in 5th position. And in the competition for the Colts, today it
:30:30. > :30:33.
:30:33. > :30:39.was not McEnroe's day. The class was won from a farmer in Denbigh.
:30:39. > :30:47.You cannot ask for more than that. He does and shows what he is able
:30:47. > :30:55.to do. There are more judges Al said the ring than inside. Peter
:30:55. > :31:03.and McEnroe, thank you. See you next year. My pleasure. Like
:31:03. > :31:08.everything else, staging the wood chopping it takes months to plan.
:31:08. > :31:13.This year, the event is celebrating its 40th anniversary. As you can
:31:13. > :31:21.imagine, they have preparation down to 80. We stopped by to see how
:31:21. > :31:28.they do it. We are but the timber yard starting to press the moulds
:31:28. > :31:35.ready for the show. We make them into 12 inch locks, 13 inch and we
:31:35. > :31:40.push them through the press. It makes them all the same size so
:31:40. > :31:50.nobody is fighting, you have a bigger or smaller Loch. They are
:31:50. > :31:51.
:31:51. > :31:59.all the right size. It is fair on It is one of the biggest shows for
:31:59. > :32:02.wood chopping in Europe. We have not got time to go to the tree,
:32:03. > :32:12.chopped a York and we have to have it right in the stack and go with
:32:13. > :32:17.
:32:17. > :32:21.it. We will cut 600 yacht -- logs. That is the usual. John and myself
:32:21. > :32:31.started on the Wednesday of the Royal Welsh 40 years since he
:32:31. > :32:31.
:32:32. > :32:36.started. Myself and Paul take some credit to Hallett is. Without
:32:36. > :32:45.John's drive and Shirley as well it would not be with topping as we
:32:45. > :32:52.know it today. John and myself have been friends for 45 years. We do it
:32:52. > :32:59.because we love it. We saw in the film have you started all of this
:32:59. > :33:06.off at the Royal Welsh, I believe 40 years ago. Yes. What influenced
:33:06. > :33:14.you to start? Basically, it was a team of Australians they came over
:33:14. > :33:18.in 1966. I did not see them but the other guys did. And then after the
:33:18. > :33:28.Royal Welsh in 1972 on the Thursday night we met at the local pub and
:33:28. > :33:35.
:33:35. > :33:41.thought we would start a team and And 40 years on, the competition is
:33:41. > :33:50.still going from strength to strength. One of the new men is
:33:50. > :33:56.Ashley. No relation to John. What you think of the competition?
:33:56. > :34:05.good. High-standard chopping. Some of it is pretty hard but could
:34:05. > :34:09.overrule. Enjoying it. For one farmer the Six Nations was extra
:34:09. > :34:17.special, he was on the winning side and voted top player of the
:34:17. > :34:21.tournament. Dan Lydiate is the top tackler taking out the biggest and
:34:21. > :34:25.fastest from opposing teams. When he is not involved in
:34:25. > :34:33.internationals or playing for his club Newport Gwent Dragons, he is
:34:33. > :34:39.never happier than when tending his livestock on the family farm.
:34:39. > :34:45.Dan Lydiate and this is my family farm in mid-Wales. It is a 500 acre
:34:45. > :34:48.sheep farm. Because of the Rugby a comeback when you fry can and help
:34:48. > :34:58.out. It is nice to have a break from the hustle and bustle of the
:34:58. > :34:59.
:34:59. > :35:02.rugby life and get back here and slow the pace down a bit. Me and my
:35:02. > :35:07.brother officer generation farmers in the same family. It is nice to
:35:07. > :35:14.have a bit of history as well and hopefully we will Fonz together
:35:14. > :35:18.when I retire from the rugby. It is a hard-working lives start but
:35:18. > :35:23.enjoyable. Your neighbours are across the valley and if they ever
:35:23. > :35:29.need a hand to help them out and vice versa. It is a nice way of
:35:29. > :35:32.life although it can be hard and to work in harsh environments at times.
:35:32. > :35:37.If you're born and raised in the environment, there is nothing
:35:37. > :35:42.better. There is a lot of manual labour, plenty of fields to run
:35:42. > :35:48.around for fitness. It all helps. If you are on the field and make a
:35:48. > :35:58.good tackle, it gets mentioned. He is from a farming background so he
:35:58. > :35:58.
:35:58. > :36:03.is bound to be strong. I am proud to come from a farming background.
:36:03. > :36:06.Welcome to the Royal Welsh Show. am happy to be here. You have
:36:06. > :36:13.brought to the weather. Everyone is having a good sign. You have
:36:13. > :36:17.already been mocked because this is home turf. Yes, I saw a lot of old
:36:17. > :36:23.friends from school. It is nice to catch up with old friends and a new
:36:23. > :36:28.lens. We are normally in training but it is the first time I have
:36:28. > :36:33.been back in six years. I miss coming to the show. You will take
:36:34. > :36:41.me to your favourite part of the show. We will look at the new shiny
:36:41. > :36:51.tractors. Boys and their toys. is just window-shopping. Lead on.
:36:51. > :36:58.
:36:58. > :37:03.Look what we found. Happy memories? Yes, it wasn't so long ago we were
:37:03. > :37:13.kissing the treat these. It is nice to bring them up to the show and
:37:13. > :37:14.
:37:14. > :37:19.everyone gets a photograph with Well, here we are in the machine a
:37:19. > :37:25.reception. Are they shiny enough? Yes, they are brand new. A lesser
:37:25. > :37:30.farmers will be trying to get bargains. It is nice to see the new
:37:30. > :37:35.machinery and see what is up-to- date on the market. Have you got
:37:35. > :37:39.used to your celebrity status? don't know but up. People got
:37:39. > :37:45.behind the Welsh rugby team during the Six Nations. Everybody wants to
:37:45. > :37:50.meet you and wish you well. Everyone is enjoying it. It has
:37:50. > :37:55.been a good experience. You are named player of the tournaments in
:37:55. > :38:02.the Six Nations. Yes, it is so real. I did not expect it. It is a
:38:02. > :38:07.massive honour for me. But could not have asked for a better season.
:38:07. > :38:12.And there is a Lions tour. Yes, there was a bigger carrots at the
:38:12. > :38:19.end of it. You cannot look too far ahead. You have to focus on the
:38:19. > :38:25.next games and we will see what happens. I want to stay injury-free.
:38:26. > :38:31.Other tractors cheque book ready? Maybe a sponsorship or come in!
:38:31. > :38:41.Bear out of my price range but the minute. Saving the pennies. Spoken
:38:41. > :38:50.like a true farmer. Always one to bargain. Thank you. This marvellous
:38:50. > :38:52.trace the, the Memorial Trophy, is presented every year it to an
:38:52. > :38:56.individual for outstanding contribution to agriculture. The
:38:56. > :39:00.water has been given to it the producers, could tractors and a vet
:39:00. > :39:08.but this year the show's highest accolade has been given to an
:39:08. > :39:13.auctioneer. John Jones lives in world sport and is an auctioneer.
:39:13. > :39:18.He sells at the market every Monday and is credited with leading parts
:39:18. > :39:26.in increasing numbers than 3,000 to 10,000 a day. I met with an earlier
:39:26. > :39:32.in the week. Many congratulations. Was it a complete surprise? It was
:39:32. > :39:38.a surprise a one it, I knew I was nominated. What is the show mean to
:39:38. > :39:44.you? I have been coming here for many years, the first show I went
:39:44. > :39:53.to was in Welsh pool in the 1950s. I have been here more or less every
:39:53. > :39:57.year since 1971. I have shown cattle, sheep and ponies.
:39:57. > :40:02.auctioneering and livestock markets play a terribly important part of
:40:02. > :40:07.Welsh agriculture. Yes, it is an important part because they form a
:40:07. > :40:14.stabilising basis between the wholesaler and farmer. Enjoy the
:40:14. > :40:19.accolade. It is well deserved. Thank you. Your name will be there
:40:19. > :40:26.for ever more. Congratulations. Thank you. Early in the morning at
:40:27. > :40:34.the Royal Welsh not a creature with steering, not even a mouse. Hang on,
:40:34. > :40:38.who are these? Hello! We are from Builth Wells High School and we are
:40:38. > :40:48.the litter picking team. We are bright and early to pick up the
:40:48. > :40:50.
:40:50. > :40:57.litter before the public are right. -- a ride. I am a co-ordinator, we
:40:57. > :41:01.do all of the paperwork connected with the litter picking. We pick
:41:02. > :41:08.every morning get five their tea from Tuesday to Thursday and Friday
:41:08. > :41:18.afternoons we come in and pick the car parks and on Sunday we have a
:41:18. > :41:21.
:41:21. > :41:27.final clear of the Showground when I woke up at 430 to come down to
:41:27. > :41:34.pick litter before the public are right. There are 60 of us today. It
:41:34. > :41:41.is quite nice to see the sun coming up. We have fun, I suppose it is so
:41:41. > :41:46.early we have a joke and you have to have a laugh. It is satisfied to
:41:46. > :41:51.see it will clear it up, a good sense of achievement. A job well
:41:51. > :41:57.done. It is frustrating see people dropping litter thinking I will be
:41:57. > :42:04.picking out up in the morning. feel like we have done something
:42:04. > :42:14.for the show. The money we get for the school is worth our while.
:42:14. > :42:23.
:42:23. > :42:30.will be here next year and every The horse I have got here today is
:42:30. > :42:36.temptation. He has been coming here since he was seven. I would say he
:42:36. > :42:41.is the oldest that has been shown in the Royal Welsh. The George
:42:41. > :42:50.Prince of Wales Cup is what we aim to try and win. It would be nice to
:42:50. > :42:57.win. If real in the first 45 I would be over the moon. It is
:42:57. > :43:05.pretty special when the crowd get behind you. The butterflies start
:43:06. > :43:13.in your belly. The last chance, 22 years old. A red rosette today and
:43:13. > :43:18.we would be retiring happy. So, one of the greatest spectacles at the
:43:18. > :43:21.Royal Welsh Show. This is the event the draws thousands on the
:43:21. > :43:25.Wednesday every year. The grandstand is filled with
:43:25. > :43:35.enthusiasts at the excitement is reaching fever pitch. These are the
:43:35. > :43:40.
:43:40. > :43:46.So, he we gave. The main ring up for the senior clubs stallion.
:43:46. > :43:53.Eight years and over. He is quite mature. And he has been run by your
:43:53. > :43:58.son because you had a nasty accident in 1997. It led to a lake
:43:58. > :44:08.in a state. I will never run again. I wish I could run around the ring
:44:08. > :44:11.
:44:11. > :44:19.today. It is nice he has taken over. So, he has pulled up the first
:44:19. > :44:26.three. He rather likes the look of base. He won the class ear two
:44:26. > :44:36.macro years ago. Whereas temptation now? He is down in 10th but it
:44:36. > :44:38.
:44:38. > :44:40.Now it's Temptation's turn to run up before the judge? It's a crucial
:44:40. > :44:44.time now. Hope he doesn't get frightened and hope he does a
:44:44. > :44:54.fairly good show now. Now he's going, he's going all right! Yes,
:44:54. > :45:02.
:45:02. > :45:12.he's going all right. Moving well. So the senior cob stallion, the
:45:12. > :45:17.winner in this class this? Yes, that's right. I'm over the moon.
:45:17. > :45:24.Here he is placed sixth in the senior stallion at the nice senior
:45:24. > :45:30.age of 22. So, on then to the stallion
:45:30. > :45:40.Championship where the junior stallion goes up against the senior
:45:40. > :45:41.
:45:41. > :45:47.stallion. And the result, the stallion champion is here. The
:45:47. > :45:57.Prince of Wales Cup where the male and female champions go head to
:45:57. > :46:00.
:46:00. > :46:04.head. The George Prince of Wales Cup 2012 is a mare. Owned by a
:46:04. > :46:10.family from Essex. Thursday time lucky. Last two years we've been
:46:10. > :46:14.reserve. This year we've gone all the way. She's fantastic. It was my
:46:14. > :46:19.dad's mare, we lost him seven years ago, so it was even more special
:46:19. > :46:26.than any others. This is really emotional isn't it? Really
:46:26. > :46:29.emotional, yes. All this week, I've been learning
:46:29. > :46:34.exactly what it takes to prepare a dairy cow for competition and I'll
:46:35. > :46:37.tell you what, it's been quite a shock. This is no 9-5 hobby. You
:46:37. > :46:43.have family and teams of showmen working through the night to tend
:46:43. > :46:46.to their cows. If they sleep at all, they'll sleep in the cattle sheds.
:46:46. > :46:52.You can imagine when the Davies family invited me to join them on
:46:52. > :46:56.Monday night, I had no idea what to expect or what kind of night lay
:46:56. > :47:02.ahead of me. I saw the tail go in there, I know
:47:03. > :47:11.to get in there straightaway. drop it! Yes. Oh! Now we know what
:47:11. > :47:17.we are in for. Has she got to go for milking?
:47:17. > :47:22.Let's go... Look at that go! Fantastic. She'll
:47:22. > :47:27.finish her cake, then we'll take her back? Yes.
:47:27. > :47:31.I'll tell you what, glad I spent all those hours in the gym now,
:47:31. > :47:36.that's all I can say. Presumably this gets quite messy
:47:36. > :47:41.does it, the tail? It does. We try and keep it as clean as possible,
:47:41. > :47:47.but before the ring, before she goes into the ring, we'll makeshire
:47:47. > :47:51.the tail is fluffy. Once the knots are out, we'll back comb it.
:47:51. > :47:54.are going to back comb it? Yes. you think I missed my calling in
:47:54. > :47:59.life? Do you think I should have been a hairdresser? Not sure. Bit
:47:59. > :48:04.more practise maybe. Bit more practise? Yes. Passed the test
:48:04. > :48:11.there, but hopefully you will stay with us all night because showing
:48:11. > :48:15.cow is a 24-hour job more or less. Do you know, there is no end to
:48:15. > :48:22.cleaning up after these cows. It goes on and on and on. There will
:48:22. > :48:25.be no sleep. Well, I'm back this morning because quite frankly, I
:48:25. > :48:31.just didn't have the stamina that some of those guys in there have
:48:31. > :48:35.got. They've been up the entire night. I'm really keen to see how
:48:35. > :48:39.they've got on. Washing at 3 o'clock this morning.
:48:39. > :48:42.Put him back in to lie down for a couple of hours and another feed.
:48:43. > :48:47.You must be getting really stressed now. I'm going to lef you to it.
:48:47. > :48:57.Thank you very much and best of luck, I'm going to be watching.
:48:57. > :48:58.
:48:58. > :49:02.-- leave you to it. There we are, Kevin. This is Talent Rosina and
:49:02. > :49:06.true to her name, look at this, she's got a first. Goodness me,
:49:06. > :49:09.Kevin, you must be thrilled? Delighted. She came out well,
:49:09. > :49:12.obviously all down to your milking last night. Do you know, I didn't
:49:12. > :49:15.want to say, but there we go! Absolutely fantastic. There may
:49:15. > :49:21.have been a bit of effort from the boys in there and yourself I think
:49:21. > :49:28.though? Just a little bit. Compared to what you put in... Well done,
:49:28. > :49:33.talent, well done. The young Holstein heifer Talent
:49:33. > :49:42.Rosina doing well there for the family. It's the Supreme Dairy cow
:49:42. > :49:46.competition now. Last year's winner, is now about to take centre stage.
:49:46. > :49:54.Off slight vested interest here, haven't you? Ever so slightly, yes.
:49:54. > :49:58.Good friends of ours, we have an interest in the cow coming in today,
:49:59. > :50:04.so slightly partisan looking on and watching her coming in. Sorry I'm
:50:04. > :50:07.not giving you my full attention but she's going straight past.
:50:07. > :50:11.forgive you. Do you think Rosina can look like she's not just a one-
:50:11. > :50:16.off? Only carved 14 days so it was a big ask for her to come here and
:50:16. > :50:19.Simon's worked so hard to bring her out in top form. She looks the part
:50:19. > :50:25.and good enough but there's strong competition. Where do you think
:50:25. > :50:30.your main competition is, from the Jersey? Probably. Really strong and
:50:30. > :50:34.the Jersey is an outstanding cow. I'm joined by somebody who knows
:50:34. > :50:41.the dairy industry. One of the biggest dairy farmers in Wales
:50:41. > :50:45.milking nearly 2,000 cows in Carmarthenshire, Hywel, what a
:50:45. > :50:48.fantastic sight? Great, one of these cows will become champions
:50:48. > :50:51.but they are all champions so phenomenal to see all the cows.
:50:51. > :50:57.industry going through a period of considerable unrest at the moment.
:50:57. > :51:02.That's there in the background as well, isn't it? Yes, I think the
:51:02. > :51:09.dairy industry at the moment is facing a crisis.
:51:09. > :51:14.The judge has tapped his winner. Holstein is in reserve? It wouldn't
:51:14. > :51:17.have been my first choice because I bias because it was my brother in
:51:17. > :51:21.law with the Holstein and I'm tending to lead towards the
:51:21. > :51:25.Holstein as a breed but a great result for Stuart, he's going to go
:51:25. > :51:30.home now and I wouldn't like to have his bar Biltonite but I'm sure
:51:30. > :51:34.there'll be a lot of partying in the cattle lines tonight. Stuart,
:51:34. > :51:38.congratulations, oh, my Godness? Can't believe it. Some great cows
:51:38. > :51:44.against us today and really, really pleased. Taking the champion smip
:51:44. > :51:49.too? Yes. Doesn't happen often -- Championship. Reserve hundred?
:51:49. > :51:55.You took the Holstein Championship? Yes, a big Championship yesterday.
:51:55. > :51:59.Glad we won that. Then today congratulations to the family who
:52:00. > :52:02.won today. Off to celebrate now?: might have to have a couple! I
:52:02. > :52:06.think you deserve it. Congratulations. Thank you very
:52:06. > :52:09.much. On Thursday, we caught up with one
:52:09. > :52:12.of Wednesday's major competitions which was held late in the
:52:12. > :52:17.afternoon, the sheep Champion of Champions.
:52:18. > :52:23.If you are a sheep breeder, there's one title that you aspire to, the
:52:23. > :52:31.sheep Champion of Champions. Last year, that honour went to a very
:52:31. > :52:36.surprised Jean and Neil rader in with their rader in ram Basil. It
:52:36. > :52:42.was an achievement to win last year, what have the last 12 months meant
:52:42. > :52:45.to you? It's just been absolutely amazing actually. Having one here,
:52:45. > :52:51.we have done well selling the ewes thanks to this show and we have had
:52:51. > :52:55.people ringing up all the time wanting to buy sheep.
:52:55. > :52:58.It's all very well to let them buy something but a home-bred sheep
:52:58. > :53:02.means so much more. It's the culmination of a long time of
:53:02. > :53:05.trying to breed a really good sheep. To get a ribbon on its own at this
:53:05. > :53:09.show is a great achievement, but the Champion of Champions is a
:53:09. > :53:14.dream come true. Neil, you haven't made it into the final this year?
:53:14. > :53:16.No. But you have enjoyed your show? Had a tremendous show. Thoroughly
:53:16. > :53:22.enjoyed it. In this competition, the champion
:53:22. > :53:32.of the native upland and native lowland breeds and continentals go
:53:32. > :53:41.
:53:41. > :53:50.head to head. With a short list of speckle faced Welsh face, Patrick
:53:50. > :53:54.went for this one bred by Bruce and Greg ore from Ingham.
:53:54. > :53:58.Many congratulations. We heard them say the best sheep in the world are
:53:58. > :54:01.here and you have reigned supreme? Thank you very much. It was a great
:54:01. > :54:06.showing and we are delighted to win. More than 3,000 sheep and you've
:54:06. > :54:09.got the best? Yes, it's a great honour. Really happy.
:54:09. > :54:13.Over the years, the show has come up with a number of competitions to
:54:13. > :54:18.recognise the winners in the various horse sections, but this
:54:18. > :54:25.year for the first time, there are two new supreme Championships, one
:54:25. > :54:28.for the ridden horses and one to choose the supreme horse. So, the
:54:28. > :54:33.champion winner and in hand winner will go head to head for the
:54:33. > :54:39.supreme title and judging these three prestigious competitions is
:54:39. > :54:42.Mrs Jean Jones. You are just about to go into the ring. This must be a
:54:42. > :54:46.huge responsibility but a great honour? Very much so. How difficult
:54:46. > :54:50.will it be for you to Chas a winner from all the different types of
:54:50. > :54:53.horse? Well, it will be difficult but I'm hoping it won't be too bad.
:54:53. > :54:56.It's whatever will take my eye. That's what usually happens when
:54:56. > :55:00.I'm in the stand, I've usually picked which one. Lots of people
:55:00. > :55:07.might not agree but I'll to my best. Stkpwh thank you very much, lovely
:55:07. > :55:11.to speak to you. Very excited. busy moment for you? Yes.
:55:11. > :55:15.I'll let you go into the ring and watch with interest. Thank you.
:55:16. > :55:20.joined by Ron Thomas, one of the best-known producers of Welsh
:55:20. > :55:23.ponies and horses. This is the start of the Championship, it's
:55:23. > :55:28.been interesting so far, a brand- new hundredship this year?
:55:28. > :55:38.Interesting, yes. Looks a very good competition actually. It's quite
:55:38. > :55:47.nice and rewarding that they all get together and we need to decide
:55:47. > :55:57.what can win as the best specimen in the show.
:55:57. > :56:10.
:56:10. > :56:20.And the results - the winner of the in hand Championship was the horse
:56:20. > :56:24.owned by Mr and Mrs Len Bigley from near Hereford.
:56:24. > :56:27.The family, they've been exhibited by his daughter, they are competent,
:56:27. > :56:32.capable people. That's a lovely result. Now what's going to happen
:56:32. > :56:41.is that the ridden champion and in hand champion will go up head to
:56:41. > :56:48.head for the supreme champion. And the ridden championship was awarded
:56:48. > :56:53.Helsington Material Girl ridden by Olivia from hafr ford West and who
:56:53. > :57:00.also went on to win the supreme Horse Championship at the Royal
:57:00. > :57:04.Welsh Show -- Haverford West. good girl, hard worker. Helsington
:57:04. > :57:14.Material Girl, the overall winner, ridden by Olivia? She rides for us,
:57:14. > :57:24.
:57:24. > :57:29.so she does. Very, very pleased for And that's it for another year. The
:57:29. > :57:32.Royal Welsh show gave us four fabulous days. Remember, you can
:57:33. > :57:36.always catch up on all our programmes on the BBC iPlayer. So,