Owen Griffiths’ homebred Ilar Dakota delighted his connections when he was crowned overall supreme of show by judge, Dewi Roberts of the Trofarth stud. He was shown by his producer, Sam Morsely. The pair won the yearling section A colt class en route to the section championship and the supreme. He is sired by Waxwing Fly Past, who is also owned by Owen. The dam, Waxwing Dainty Dinah is leased to Owen from David Blair and Tom Best of the Waxwing stud. ‘I saw his dam up for sale and asked Tom Best if she would be a good breeding mare for me. Half-an-hour later, Tom returned the call and told me that the mare was on her way down to me,’ explained Owen.

Section A judge, Kitty Bodily, of the Glebedale stud enjoyed bumber entries. She chose the winning yearling filly as her reserve section A champion. This was Keith Hughes’ Brynodyn Symphony-Ann, shown by Richard Miller. Richard has a long history of producing ponies for Keith, showing her maternal grandmother, Brynodyn Scarlett, successfully to qualify for the HOYS Cuddy in-hand championship twice, ending Reserve Pony of the Year. She was also twice Breeders Champion at the Royal of England. Richard went on to produce the filly’s mother, former section A HOYS ridden of the year, Brynodyn Savannah, to stand Royal Welsh reserve champion female section A in-hand in 2013. Keith’s late wife, Ann, decided that the next filly foal that Savannah produced should be names Symphony. Sadly, Ann passed away before the filly was born, but Keith decided to stick with her choice but with an additional tribute.

Reserve supreme was awarded to the winning section B yearling colt, section B champion, and judge, Brian Foster’s Welsh breeds supreme. This was Catryn Bigley and the Bigley family’s Llanarth Consort, sired by Breeton Dai. Consort is the last foal by him at the Llanarth stud. His dam is the prolific prizewinner, Llanarth Delilah. She was won at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair as a yearling on her debut showring appearance and went on to be champion section B, champion Welsh breeds and supreme of show. Delilah later went on to be overall champion section B and supreme of show at the Royal Welsh show in 2012 and was female section B champion in 2014. ‘We hope he follows in his parents’ footsteps as not only a top show animal, but also as a prepotent sire,’ said Catryn, adding, ‘even at a few hours old, Dad [the late Len Bigley] thought Consort was one we should never part with’. Catryn’s brother, Simon Bigley, also enjoyed his own share of the spoils when he won the section D yearling colt class with his own homebred Llanarth Billy Black Gold (Abercippyn Victor’s Last x Llanarth Bay Lady).

Jan Harries chose Christine Williams’ winning filly foal, Byley Eliza, as her reserve champion section B, shown by Christine’s daughter, Kate Williams. Eliza is sired by Eyarth Issac and out of Byley Reanna. Breeder, Tracy Lowe, contacted the Williams family to ask if they would be interested in purchasing the filly. Christine and Kate fell in love with the photos Tracey sent and bought her shortly after. The remaining classes, the colt foal and yearling filly classes were won by Gareth Williams’ homebred Moelgarnedd Aran Benllyn and Janet Mansfield’s Janpete Prim N Proper respectively.

Pembrokeshire based Jessica Goldsworthy’s Penstrumbly The Illusionist took the Welsh part-bred yearling to exceed 148cm at maturity class and the Welsh part-bred tricolour, shown by Rebecca Lamb. The yearling gelding was bred by Kath Hall. He is sired by Monahawk Real Magic and is out of Hollygate Superstitious. Jessica purchased him as a foal but he was returned to Rebecca’s care to be prepared for the winter fair. He’ll now have a winter at home with Jessica before returning to Rebecca for further show production in future. The reserve spot also returned to Pembrokeshire. Valmai Thomas’ Mount Pleasant Silver Charm (Mount Pleasant Royal Romance x Mount Pleasant China Doll) won the first class of the section: the Welsh part-bred foal not to exceed 148cm at maturity. Richard Evans exhibited homebred Ystwyth Special Edition (Multicouture x Ystwyth Special K) to win the class for foals expected to exceed 148 cms at maturity, and Adrian Champman showed Liz Hampson’s Trindod Celtic Lord (Brookvale Celtic Isle x Telynau Capri) to win the class for yearlings not to exceed 148 cms at maturity.

It was Richard Morgan’s winner of the yearling colt class, Ormond Brenin y Ser that clinched the section C championship under judge, John Welsh. The Synod Apollo son was shown by his producer, Dorian Lloyd. In reserve was Nathan Sage with his own homebred winner of the filly foal class, Bryncarnau Glorys Gift (Rhoswen Gladiator x Bluehaven Glorious). The colt foal class was topped by Richard Pittman’s Popsters Duke of Gloucester (Starlans Evol x Parvadean Saving Grace). ‘I saw him in the field at the Popsters stud as a foal,’ said Richard. ‘He instantly caught my eye, and I was fortunate that Justin and Heidi [Davis and Bennett of the Popsters stud] were willing to part with him.’ Finally, it was Ben Orchard’s homebred filly, Stanray Miss Florence (Popsters Playboy x Thornetown Miss Rebel) that won the yearling filly class.

The final section to be judged was the Welsh section Ds. Judge Derek Dykes crowned the Eurig Eynon’s Hatterall Lady Beth his champion, shown by Justin Walters. She is out of Llanarth Beth and by Abercippyn Victor’s Last. In reserve was the second placed filly foal, Sara Williams’ Parciau Ana Mai. Ana Mai is out of Parciau Miri Mai, and is sired by Monohawk Masterpiece. ‘I had always admired Masterpiece, and when I judged the ridden classes at the Royal Welsh, he was our reserve champion. I said then that I would like to use him on my own mares one day.’ Sara now intends to show the filly in youngstock classes before eventually aiming her at the ridden circuit. The yearling filly class was won by Laura Ferris’ Rotherdale Nefferli (Rotherdale King Rob x Rotherdale Hera) shown by Rebecca Ferris.

Thank you to Beth Simons for this report

Photo Credits:1st Class images

Ilar Dakota – Supreme Champion

Llanarth Consort -Supreme Welsh Exhibit