14 November 2004
President leads the way at Welsh Black's Carlisle Sale
Welsh Black Cattle Society Centenary President, Dai Jones MBE, ARAgS, led the way at the Society's 27th Annual Autumn Show and Sale at Carlisle on November 12.

The only Welsh Black Cattle Society sale held outside Wales, it was also the last sale in the Society's Centenary Year.

Some 34 females – including 21 maiden heifers – were entered for Show and Sale at the Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle.

As President, Mr Jones, of Llanilar near Aberystwyth, and his wife Olwen, headed a 20 strong contingent of Society members from Wales. It is tradition that the President judges at the Carlisle Sale, and the S4C presenter carried on that custom witnessing a record prices of 1,600gns and 1,650gns respectively for the Champion and Reserve Champion Maiden Heifers.

The overall Champion at the pre sale show was a 21 month old maiden heifer from the Rhiwlas Estate, Bala. Bred by Robin Price, J.P., D.L., ARAgS, she was bought by the President.

Joining the enthusiastic contingent of Welsh farmers already at the Carlisle sale were another 20 from Wales, England and Scotland – all contributing to a sale which beat recent records.

The Champion Female was Nant-Ganol Tegwen 41st from Messrs Thomas Bros, Nant-Ganol, Rhiwlas, Oswestry. Sired by Gerddi Ebrillwr 2nd and out of Nant-Ganol Tegwen 26th , she was sold for 1,150gns to young Scottish Welsh Black Cattle breeders Charlie and Andrea Walker of Abbey St Bathans, Duns, Berwickshire.

The couple are tenants to past Society President (1978-79), Mr J. James Dobie. The Walkers bought a total of 11 heifers to join his 32 strong pedigree Welsh Black herd.
While loyal Carlisle sale supporters, Messrs Thomas sold 16 heifers – including 8 in-calf and 8 maidens.

Reserve Champion Female was Garth Uchaf Alma 39th , sired by Cwmcarno Mefyn and out of Garth Uchaf Alma 9 th . Sold for 1,100gns by Messrs GE and SM Williams of Garth Uchaf Farm, Pentyrch, Cardiff, the in-calf heifer was bought by a new member to the Society and the breed, Jonathan Pugh of Stanley Pugh Farms, Ty Talgarth, Nantymoel, Bridgend. He went on to buy the other two Garth Uchaf in-calf heifers paying 1,100gns a head.

The Highest Priced Female went for 1,200gns. Morwynion Jet 20 th was sired by Carnedd-Dafydd Du and out of Morwynion Jet 15 th , and is in-calf to Hafodesgob Hefin a young sire from the Hafodesgob herd which less than 12 months ago achieved the record price for a bull – 22,000 gns.

Morwynion Jet 20th was sold by Dylan Wynne of Tyn-y-Wern, Bryneglwys, Corwen to brothers Angus and Duncan Nelles of Thistleyhaugh Farm, Longhorsley, Morpeth, Northumberland who are expanding their pedigree Welsh Black herd.

The Champion Maiden and Overall Champion at the pre sale show, and winner of the Harrison and Hetherington Perpetual Cup, was Rhiwlas Iola 27th . The 21 month maiden heifer from Robin J.Price of the Rhiwlas Estate, Bala, is the progeny of Iwrch Franc, a sire who has produced many prize winning heifers including one of the recent record breaking in-calf heifers which sold for 3,000gns. Her dam is Rhiwlas Iola 8th. Rhiwlas Iola 27th was bought for 1,600gns by Society President, Dai Jones.

The Highest Priced Animal of the day and Reserve Champion Maiden Heifer was a reserve to the catalogue, Waedog Eluned 20th, which was sold for 1,650gns by Emyr Wyn Jones of Rhiw Waedog, Rhosygwalia, Bala, and bought by Ioan Roberts, Tryfil Isaf, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey.

Mr Jones, whose Waedog herd was established in 1968, sold six maiden heifers averaging 1,208gns a head.

Waedog Celynen 142nd , second prize heifer in her class, sold for 1,300gns. Sired by Graig-Goch Rhys 16 th and out of Waedog Celynen 103rd , she was bought by Mr Hubert L and Mrs A W Gwynne, Coedmawr, Llandeilo.

Another maiden heifer sold by Mr Jones for 1,300gns was Waedog Catrin 52 nd a substitute to Waedog Celynen 139 th . She sold to new member, 16 year-old Aled Thomas of Llechwedd, Tyn Lon, Holyhead, Anglesey.

Aled, who judged Welsh Blacks at the 2004 Royal Welsh Show was the winner in the Under 16 class of the Young Farmers Club stock judging competition, receiving two cups – best Under 16 and best competitor giving reasons in Welsh. Since the Royal Welsh his parents – Mr & Mrs Gerald Thomas - have bought four heifers and a few pedigree Welsh Black steers for fattening. Waedog Catrin 52nd was special as she was bought specifically for Aled.

A second prized heifer, Waedog Gwawr 30th was sold again by Emyr Jones for 1,200gns. Sired by Graig-Goch Rhys 16th and out of Waedog Gwawr 20th , she was bought by Bob and Sarah Preece, Lowermoor Farm, Brynkirk, Annan, Scotland. Keeping it “in the family” the couple bought her sister from Mr Jones at the 2003 Carlisle sale.

A very pleased WBCS chief executive, Andrew James, said the sale drew great support from Wales. Five Welsh vendors made the journey north to sell 33 heifers to buyers from the North of England and Scotland as well as Wales at the WBCS sponsored event which was re-instated in its sale schedule last year.

“Carlisle Market is an excellent sale for the Society to market our breed to an area which is looking for hardy cattle with plenty of milk to rear quality calves for the beef market,” said Mr James.

“We may be small as a Society, but we are growing and our cattle are in demand. Our next Society sale of pedigree stock will be in the new year at Dolgellau on January 14th.”

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