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25 July 2004
The re-enactment of the work of Welsh drovers, formed part of the Society's centenary celebrations and served as a reminder of the links between the breed and the banking world, as it was Llandovery drover David Jones who formed the Black Ox Bank in 1799 - a fore-runner of Lloyds TSB in Wales. The Parade – led by Bernard Llewellyn of Castell Carreg Cennen – was followed by an international conference where Welsh Black enthusiasts from across the world told of their experiences of Wales' native breed. The performance of the Welsh Black breed at the Royal Welsh Show has been a tremendous boost for the Society, which was also honoured during the week by visits from The Queen and Prince Charles. The start of the week saw Welsh Blacks take the Supreme Beef Championship when the heifer Eirianfa Ebrill was chosen as the best animal. Owned and exhibited by Alan, Eirian and Caryl Griffiths of Llangybi, Lampeter, the three year-old heifer was chosen from 900 cattle on show. That evening, the Society held a special centenary dinner with musical entertainment and raffle at the Showground. The celebratory cake was cut by Dilwyn Bennet Jenkins of Talybont, Ceredigion, whose father cut the Society's 50 th birthday cake in 1954. The next day the Welsh Blacks took the Reserve Champion spot in
the NatWest Bank Team of Five Beef Cattle. The Welsh Blacks have again proved their excellence as beef animals with the bull and heifer pairing of Seisiog Cymro 61 st from Gwynfryn and Marian Phillips of Abergwaun, Pembrokeshire and the already award-winning Eirianfa Ebrill, taking the top honours. “What a record we have in this competition,” said WBCS chief executive, Andrew James. “Since my employment with the Society in 1997 the Welsh Blacks have won the FitzHugh best beef pair trophy four times – 1997, 200, 2003 and 2004 – that's four times in seven years, what a record!” The final day of the show saw more honours when the breed succeeded in scooping the Marks & Spencer Native Group of Three title, when Seisiog Cymro 61 st and Eirianfa Ebrill were joined by the heifer Caerynwch Gladys 43 rd , bred by Mr T.W.Williams, of Caerynwch, Dolgellau, and exhibited by Ken Hughson & Partners, Newbridge on Wye. “What a week, we will be on ‘Cloud Nine' for a while,” said Mr James. “Winning the awards and witnessing the vast improvement in cattle quality down the Welsh Black line confirms all the work done during the earlier years in breed development and herd health has certainly paid dividends.”
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