Date: 24th-27th July 2023
Judge: Mr Peter Derryman (Yarcombe Flock)
Record entry of Suffolk Sheep on show putting the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show back on the map for showcasing the breed.
The Royal Welsh Show took place at Builth Wells from 24th – 27th July 2023 with the record entry of Suffolk sheep at the show with 77 being catalogued. Judging was delayed slightly but took place at 1.00pm on the first day of the show. The ringside was the busiest of all the rings on show with crowds four people deep and spectators hanging from the gantry to the Judges and Stewards pavilion all showing great interest in the Suffolk breed.
The appointed Judge Peter Derryman (Yarcombe Flock), who is a Suffolk Sheep Society member and breeder as well as the commercial flock owner who hosted this year’s NSA Southwest Sheep event, took his place in the ring to cast his experienced eye over the entries at the show.
Very large female classes were forward, which is a great sign that the breed is on the up, with high-quality exhibits giving the judge a particularly challenging task by his own admission.
The male classes were tightly fought but the Shearling Ram lot 6426 from Logie Durno claimed first prize in his class going forward to take the Male Champion and Reserve Overall Champion. There was very little to split from the ram lamb first place of 17 entries shown, but John Griffiths (Tir) lot 6431 won the class and went forward to become Reserve Male Champion.
With 21 entries in the Shearling Ewe class and 24 entries in the Ewe Lamb class, the judge had his work cut out. Following a short lead process of 10 entries Dafydd Jones (Frongoy) took first place in both classes with lots 6455 and 6475 respectively. The Shearling Ewe went on to become Female Champion and Overall Champion making the 2023 champion a repeat of last year and reflecting the high standard of breeding and showmanship displayed by Dafydd.
Arnold Oare (Groes) exhibiting lot 6447 winning second-place sheep in the Shearling Ewe class and being put up as Reserve Female Champion.
Congratulations to all the prize winners and entrants for putting the Royal Welsh Show back on the map as a showcase for the breed.
MALE CHAMPION – Lot 6426 – W & C Ingram
RESERVE MALE – Lot 6431 – John Griffiths
FEMALE CHAMPION – Lot 6455 – Dafydd Jones
RESERVE FEMALE – Lot 6447 – Arnold Oare
OVERALL CHAMPION – Lot 6455 – Dafydd Jones
RESERVE OVERALL – Lot 6426 – W & C Ingram
CLASS 1 : RAM SHEARLING OR OVER TRIMMED
1st: Lot 6426 – W & C Ingram
2nd : Lot 6427 – W & C Ingram
3rd : Lot 6423 – Oliver Sparks
4th : Lot 6422 – Jed Sharp
5th : Lot 6421 – Rhian Davis
CLASS 2 : RAM LAMB BORN IN 2023 TRIMMED OR UNTRIMMED
1st : Lot 6431 – John Griffiths
2nd : Lot 6440 – RG & RA Jones and Son
3rd : Lot 6441 – RG & RA Jones and Son
4th : Lot 6439 – RB & GM Morgan
5th : Lot 6435 – Jones Evans Family
6th : Lot 6438 – RB & GM Morgan
7th : Lot 6433 – C J Harris
CLASS 3 : EWE SHEARLING
1st : Lot 6455 – Dafydd Jones
2nd : Lot 6447 – Arnold Oare
3rd : Lot 6446 – Arnold Oare
4th : Lot 6465A – Jed Sharp (Not Catalogued)
5th : Lot 6456 – Dafydd Jones
6th : Lot 6461 – Oliver Sparks
7th : Lot 6462 – Oliver Sparks
CLASS 4 : EWE LAMBS BORN IN 2023
1st : Lot 6474 – Dafydd Jones
2nd : Lot 6470 – John Griffiths
3rd : Lot 6483 – RG & RA Jones
4th : Lot 6482 – RG & RA Jones
5th : Lot 6475 – Dafydd Jones
6th : Lot 6484 – Jed Sharp
7th : Lot 6485 – Jed Sharp
CLASS 5 : GROUP OF 3
1st : Lot 6493 – Oliver Sparks
2nd : Lot 6490 – C.A. Davies and E.A. Llewellyn ( Frenni Suffolks).
