My report begins again this year with the Welsh Winter Fair. The 2005 Winter Fair as always drew a good crowd of spectators to the Simmental stand, where we had an outstanding group of three Simmental x calves with their Simmental cross mothers. The calves were 7 months old and weighing around 400k with no creep feed. They were very impressive and drew a lot of encouraging comments from commercial farmers and pedigree breeders of all breeds.

Then our next gathering was held at the White Hart, Llandeilo where we had a very relaxed and enjoyable evening, at the dinner we presented Angharad Jones, Dyfed herd for the second year running with the Society Shield which she won for the best young handler during the show season, a competition open to all members of the Society, well done Angharad.

The winter programme of monthly meetings was varied with speakers on different subjects, with the club A.G.M. held in March, most of the officials were re-elected, with the exception of the Secretary, Anwen Jones, who stood down so that she could concentrate on her role as the Society Young Members Secretary, and our thanks to Anwen for being a very dedicated person as Club Secretary for three years, our new Secretary is Gethin Lloyd, Crugmelyn herd. It was nice to have Fiona Sloan giving her time to visit us and provide us with an update on Society matters.

During the spring, our members sold bulls at the Society Sales, where Aled Evans sold his 1st Prize Bull, Alreb Stanley for the highest price of the day at 2600gns; also Meirion and Linda Jones received the highest price of 1700gns for their bull Dyfed Romeo at the Market Drayton sale.

This year again, the summer shows were well represented by club members, but only one Welsh member showed stock at the Royal being Meirion Jones showing his bull Sundial Lewis. As usual the Welsh club was well represented by the young members who took part in the annual stock judging competition. The junior section entered two teams and our congratulations go to Anwen Jones, Cefngwlad herd and Rhys Francis, Pistyll herd winning first prize, and Angharad Jones, Dyfed herd and Angharad Francis, Pistyll herd winning second prize in a very large and tough competition. Rhys Francis at only ten years old gained third place as an individual.

Then it was the Royal Welsh Show with the members from Wales winning first prizes in all classes except the maiden heifer class. Congratulations to them all especially to Meirion and Linda Jones for winning the Supreme Champion in the Simmental section. The young stockperson competition at the show was won this year by Owain Davies, Crugmelyn herd. The annual barbecue was the best ever, with around 100 people attending the event on the Tuesday evening in a wonderful atmosphere.

At the beginning of August, we held our annual Herd Competition, and our Judges this year were Peter Burgess and Sarah who had an enormous task of travelling through the whole of Wales to sort out the best of the Welsh Simmental Cattle. Congratulations to Brian and Kitty Raymond and all who took part in the herd competition.

The results are as follows:-
Large Herd
Wyn Jenkins – Penwern Herd

Medium Herd
Brian and Kitty Raymond – Ben-nant Herd

Small Herd
Wyn Jenkins and Gwyndaf Evans – Pen-y-parc Herd

Best Bull
Aled Davies – Hirwaun Herd

Best Cow
Wyn Jenkins and Gwyndaf Evans

Best Pedigree Calf
Brian and Kitty Raymond

Progeny Group
Richard Jones – Banwy Herd

Best Cross Bred Calf
R & J Jones – Oakdale Herd

Young Stock
Brian and Kitty Raymond

Newcomer
Richard Jones

Overall Herd Winner
Brian and Kitty Raymond

Reserve
Wyn Jenkins

Trip to Scotland

After the shows, our trip this year took us a long way from home to visit four herds in Scotland. Only those who were not scared of heights ventured. We flew from Bristol to Inverness and hired cars to travel around the farms. The first herd we saw was the Blackford herd of Mr. & Mrs. MacPherson and Anne, the following day on to the Corskie herd owned by J. Green and family, and it was nice to meet up again with their new stockman, John Hughes who had settled in well. Then a short break from looking at cattle to visit a distillery, where they made the Glengrant whiskey, then across the road to see the Delfur herd managed by Douglas Barr and Jim.

The next day, we travelled south to visit the Drumsleed herd owned by Gerald Smith and family and then travelled home. The hospitality and welcome given to us at all the farms was exceptional, and the cattle we saw were of the highest quality and a credit to all those looking after them.

Our congratulations go to Gethin Lloyd and family on their success at the Perth Bull sale in October, where after having numerous prizes at local shows and a first at the Royal Welsh Show with their bull Crugmelyn Shamrock, they gained second prize and sold him for 8000gns. Well Done!

The next sale attended by our members was the Carlisle sale, where Nick and Nadia Gwynne won the Overall and Supreme Champion with their bull Chestermann Siegfried which sold for 2000gns.

Thank you all for your support during the year.

Diolch i bawb am eich cyfraniad, a llongyfarchiadau i bawb a’r eich llwyddiant ym mhob adran yn ystad y flwyddyn.

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