Sunday 13 May 2007

WELSH BLACKS LOOK TO PAST

AND FUTURE AT AGM

It was a mixture of business and pleasure for Welsh Black Cattle Society (WBCS) members yesterday at their annual general meeting and dinner.

Held at the Marine Hotel in Aberystwyth, the day saw retiring WBCS President, Robert Williams, Penywern, Talybont, hand over his chain of office to John Pratt, The Hillis Farm, Llanfilo, Talgarth near Brecon.

In his report Mr Williams paid tribute to the individuals the Society had lost over the past year who had contributed to the history of the Society in breeding, showing and selling to farmers in Wales and across the water. He also included the work of his own parents, the late Mr E H Williams, and his mother who celebrated her 100 th birthday last July.

While among the highlights of his year in office was the invitation to judge the South Wales Welsh Black Breeders Club's herd competition which involved travelling nearly 2,000 miles during September 2006.

Incoming President for 2007/08, John Pratt, established his Cwrt-Rawlin herd of Pedigree polled Welsh Black cattle in 1975.

Originally from Yorkshire he moved to Wales 50 years ago, and was recently in the public's eye as the Welsh chairman of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the National Assembly elections earlier this month.

President-elect for 2007/08 is Richard Hughes, Glanrafon, Bodorgan, Anglesey , whose Rafon herd of pedigree Welsh Black Cattle were established in 1967.

Well known on the show circuit in North Wales, Mr Hughes and his wife Phyllis keep a few breeding cows, their main enterprise concentrating on finishing store cattle bought at WBCS sales in Dolgellau to supply local butchers.

Also from Anglesey is the new Young Member Ambassador, Aled Thomas, Llechwedd, Ty'n Lon, Holyhead.

Some 37 members were also chosen to represent their counties on the WBCS Council for a three year period until 2010.

Numerous prizes and awards were presented yesterday, including the Herd of the Year Trophy, which went to Mr D William Jenkins, Neuadd-yr-Ynys, Taliesin, Machynlleth; and the National Westminster Bronze Bull for the breed champion with the highest number of points, namely Seisiog Bedwyr 129 th , owned by Goronwy Jones a'i Gwmni, Tynewydd, Nebo, Llanrwst.

The awards ceremony was kindly sponsored by NatWest Bank.

W.J.Matthews & Son, Bridge Street , Caernarafon, was re-elected as the Society's accountants.

The next WBCS event will be the Royal Welsh Smallholder & Garden Festival at Builth Wells on May 19 & 20, 2007.

The Society's theme for its stand will be ‘Polled Welsh Black Cattle,' and a heifer and bull calf from the new Society President, John Pratt's Cwrt-Rawlin herd of Polled Pedigree Welsh Black Cattle will be featured on the stand.

During the event the WBCS's Organic Club will hold an informal meeting (May 20) in the Society's pavilion, where club chairman, Stephen Baker of the Disgwylfa herd will brief members on forthcoming events.

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information contact:

Andrew James, Chief Executive Welsh Black Cattle Society

Tel: 01982 551111