15 September 2005
CEREDIGION CATTLE TAKE WELSH BLACK ANNUAL ‘MR & MRS’ TITLES
One county has swept the board in the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s annual search for the best bull and female of the year.

Ceredigion bred cattle took the top honours in the keenly contested competition which is decided by the accumulation of points at agricultural shows held throughout the summer.*

Eirianfa Ebrill, has been named as Female of the Year, after amassing a tremendous 63 points from 6 shows, taking first place and overall champion at each event - including overall breed champion at this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

The freshly calved heifer with her bull calf at heel also achieved the highest number of points for a male or female a feat which also earns her owners, Messrs A, E, & Caryl Griffiths, Glandulais Isaf, Llangybi, Lampeter, the National Westminster Bank Bronze Bull.

No stranger to awards, Eirianfa Ebrill won the Supreme Beef Cattle championship at the 2004 Royal Welsh Show.

Sired by Graig-Goch Rhys 16th and out of Eirianfa Blaran, she is not the first animal produced by the Griffiths family to achieve greatness.

The Griffiths’ are regular competitors and Eirianfa Caryl took the Female title in 2003, and Eirianfa Maggie May the runner-up position in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Female First Reserve is a maiden heifer – Rhyddid Gwenol – who was sired by Cynon Carwyn (AI) and is out of Iwrch Cledwen 6th.
Bred and exhibited by Mrs Lyn Foxwell, Tyddyn Rhyddid, Harlech, gained 53 points from 8 shows.

It was the first year for Mrs Foxwell to show her pedigree Welsh Black heifer, and with only 6 breeding cows it was a great achievement all round.

Rhyddid Gwenol was placed first in 5 shows and won 4 female champion titles. She also competed throughout the season starting at Nefyn in May and ending at the last show on September 3 at Cerrigydruion.

Second Reserve is Cwmcae Eirliw 89th exhibited by regular Society competitor, Trevor Jones, Cwmcae, Llandre, Bow Street, Aberystwyth.
Sire by Cwmcae Aron and out of Cwmcae Eirliw 69th she was heavy in calf, and won 6 first places from 8 shows including one champion female and five reserve titles.

The Bull of the Year title for 2005 goes to Penwernhir Sambo.
The 2 year-old bull from Doug Rowbotham, Penwernhir, Pontrhydfendigaid, Aberystwyth totalled 62 points from 7 shows.

Sired by Chwaen Erddyn 137th and out of Neuadd Ethel 137th, he won five first prizes, one reserve championship and five champion bull titles including the Champion Bull at the Royal Welsh Show.

Until this year, Doug – a young farmer who is also stockman at Llanilar for the Society’s immediate past president Dai Jones, MBE, ARAgS – had only competed at local shows. He is now preparing to sell Penwernhir Sambo at the Society’s Sale at Dolgellau on November 1st.

First Reserve with 33 points from 4 shows is Calveley Ewan, exhibited by Mr A Plumley & Co of Calveley Green Farm, Tarporley, Cheshire.
Originally the 3 1⁄2 year old bull wasn’t going to be showed, but ended up ‘filling in’ when his sibling was sold.

Organic producers, brother and sister Derek and Kathy are loyal supporters of the WBCS show circuit and are among only a few Society members who show pedigree Welsh Blacks from England.

The Second Reserve is 18 month-old Synfi Ap Rhys, exhibited by Gareth, Diane and Aled James of Bernardswell Isaf, Tufton, Clarbeston Road, Haverfordwest.

He won 30 points from 4 shows – including 1 champion and 3 reserve titles - and his sire is Gwern-Cynyddion Rhys 33rd and is out of Hayston Gwenno 6th.

The Synfi herd have won many prizes in recent years including First Reserve in the Female of the Year 2003 with Esgob Sarah 36th.
As well as providing a good contest, the Bull and Female of the Year competition can also have commercial benefits, said Welsh Black Cattle Society chief executive, Andrew James.

“Points potentially mean money and recognition, which features high on the list of breeders who often have cattle to sell at Society sales during both ends of the season – namely the autumn and spring.

“We had a great turnout this year with a total of 42 females and 22 males participated in the competition varying in age from yearling cattle- which are often handled by young members – to maiden and in-calf heifers including cows with calves at heel. The bulls always attract the crowds due to their size and weight, especially the proven big and mature bulls.”

He continued, “I’d like to thank and congratulate all exhibitors, and highlight the fact that all the awarded animals were home bred – an even greater personal achievement for the breeders and exhibitors.

“Also, the fact that it was the first time Mrs Foxwell had competed and Doug Rowbotham followed the circuit is a credit to them as it is to all who supported the competition, both new and established stockmen.”

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