Royal Welsh Show 2024 ‘Sioe’r Cardis’ concludes a resounding success!

The Royal Welsh Show 2024 has come to a spectacular close, celebrating four days of agricultural excellence, innovation, and community spirit. This year’s event, held from Monday 22nd to Thursday 25th July attracted an abundance of visitors, exhibitors, and participants, reinforcing its position as one of the premier agricultural shows in Europe. The Royal Welsh Show 2024 welcomed over 200,000 visitors highlighting the event’s ever-growing popularity and significance in the agricultural calendar.

This year saw the return of the Horticultural section to the show with its very own dedicated area, the Horticulture Village, which has proven exceptionally popular with visitors. Assistant Honorary Director of the section Adam Jones, popularly known as Adam yn yr Ardd, was thrilled by the visitors enjoying the area and reflected that ‘The most important element of the show is the people.’ The launch of the new area at the Show has given Welsh Horticulture an international stage to promote the produce and successes.

2024 has also seen the welcomed return of the Poultry and Pigeon section, after their enforced absence due to Avian Flu outbreaks. Exhibitors, stewards and volunteers were delighted to see the section bustling once again with visitors viewing the Poultry and Pigeon’s being exhibited.

The Pole Climbing in the Forestry Section also returned this year and was welcome by excited visitors to see the racing. Chief Executive, Aled Rhys Jones said that “this has been the year of the poultry, plants and poles!”. He reflected that we have had an excellent Show and are grateful to all of the visitors, exhibitors, volunteers, trade stands and sponsors who make the event the success that it is.

The Feature County this year was Ceredigion, led by their President Mr Denley Jenkins along with his wife Mrs Brenda Jenkins and 2024 Ambassador, Esyllt Ellis Griffiths, have had an exceptionally busy week, with various launches, award ceremonies and receptions to attend. President Mr Denley Jenkins reflected “that there can be fewer greater privileges in life than being elected President of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.” The Show fondly became known this week as ‘Sioe’r Cardis’.

The main ring attractions proved as popular as ever with the return of the JCB Dancing Diggers, a Heavy Horse Display, the ever-loved Tristar Carriage, Black Mountain Falconry, the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and the return of the Quack Pack.  The Grand Parade of Prizewinning Livestock on Wednesday and Thursday, was, as always, a sight to behold and, as Chair of Council, Nicola Davies, said during Thursday’s Grand Parade, that “the standard of stock this year is sensational!”.

This year’s Show was also a celebration of the 120th Anniversary of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was celebrated with a specially commissioned Main Ring display by this year’s Feature County, Ceredigion. Closing this year’s show was the Regimental Band, who entered the main ring for the final time under a Guard of Honour formed by the Dancing Diggers.

Key Livestock Winners:

Supreme Champion Dairy Cow

Judged by Mr Michael Gould

Dulais Lustre Silver – owned by Messers Davies, Haines, Jones, Sercombe and Yates

Supreme Beef Champion

Judged by Mr Steve Edwards

Maraiscote Tangerine – owned by G&S Harvey

Supreme Horse Champion

Judged by Mr Richard Johnson OBE

Stockdale Black Prince – owned by Jodie Phillips

Fitzhugh Championship – Dairy

Judged by Mr Alan Timberell

Holstein Pair – Dulais Lustre Silver property of Davies, Haines, Jones, Sercombe & Yates and Nethervalley Awesom Rosanne Red from Hefyn Wilson

Fitzhugh Championship – Beef

Judged by Mr Charlie Boden

Limousin pair – Maraiscote Tangerine from G&S Harvey and Garrowby Tarzan from R&J Graham

Marks & Spencer Team of Five – Dairy Breeds

Judged by Mr Alan Timbrell

A team of Holstein cattle owned by Davies, Haines, Jones, Sercombe & Yates, David Jones and Hefyn Wilson

Natwest Team of Five – Beef Breeds

Judged by Mr Bernard Llewelyn

A team of Shorthorn cattle owned by James Dickinson, M.R. Souter and Mary Cormack

2024 Queens Cup

Judged by Mr Malcolm James

Welsh Black Champion – Gwarcwm Macsen owned by D. Huw Jones

Sheep Champion of Champions

Judged by Mr John Sinnett

Suffolk owned by Arnold Oare

Pig Supreme Champion

Judged by Mrs Sharon Barnfield

Welsh – Clowen Model 42 owned by Julian Collings

Goat Supreme Champion

Judged by Mr Adrian Bull

Ballingall Roxy owned by Beth Fairley

Poultry Best in Show

Paul Tucker

Pigeon Best in Show

Jamie Vaughan

Pets Best in Show

Tortoise owned by Cai Barnard

Horticulture

Floral Best in Show

The Dewel Garden – Delyth Price