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Ancient
Breed
Centenary
Year 2004
Looking back over 2004, the Welsh Black Cattle Society
can reflect on a centenary year which took them from lunching
at the home of the Prince of Wales, to record breaking show
and sale successes.
In June at the invitation of the Prince some 107 WBCS members
traveled to Highgrove to visit the farm and garden, as well
as to meet their Royal Patron.
“It was a most memorable day for all with an opportunity
to meet His Royal Highness on a one to one basis,” said
WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.
Success followed in the Best Native Beef Pair championship
at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh and marked the beginning of
the Welsh Black’s show ring dominance of 2004.
“It was the start of our winning streak of show success
and was much sweeter being over the Welsh border!” said
Andrew.
“Welsh is the new Black” proclaimed the Western
Mail, when the breed took to the Royal Welsh Show ring, virtually
sweeping the trophies board at Llanelwedd.
Three year-old heifer Eirianfa Ebrill was chosen from 900
cattle on show as the Supreme Beef Champion, while Welsh Blacks
went on to take the Reserve Champion spot in the Team of Five
Beef Cattle, and the Native Group of Three title. The icing
on the cake was the prestigious FitzHugh Perpetual Championship
Trophy for the best beef pair by the team consisting of Seisiog
Cymro 61st and Eirianfa Ebrill.
The Show also saw the launch of “The Best of Breed.
A History of the Welsh Blacks” by Jenny Buckton, and
the Society’s special Centenary Dinner, which was held
at the showground and saw more than 300 members dine on Welsh
Black beef.
Meanwhile a Drovers Parade in Llandovery was a reminder
of the special link between Welsh Black cattle, Llandovery
and the banking world as it was a local drover, David Jones,
who founded the ‘Black Ox Bank’ in 1799, a fore-runner
of Lloyds TSB in Wales.
This was followed by an international conference where 27
WBCS members from across the globe spoke of their experiences
of the breed.
While the Society’s Centenary Autumn sales at Abergavenny,
Llandovery, Dolgellau and Carlisle exceeded all expectations.
“What a sale season we had, 367 female sold this autumn,
compared to 300 females sold in all the 2003 sales. I am absolutely
delighted at the performance of the pedigree sales which resulted
in all members obtaining good prices for their cattle.”
A good show at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Winter Fair,
and Reserve Champion in the Duke of Norfolk Cup at the Royal
Smithfield Show brought 2004 to a close for the Welsh Blacks.
The new year’s activities opened on January 14th with
the 49th Annual Welsh Black Cattle Society Winter Show &
Sale at Dolgellau, with the spring sale season starting in
April.
The Society’s centenary celebrations come to a rousing
close on May 13th with a presidential farm open day and special
concert.
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