The Royal Welsh Show 2009

Paul & Wendy Wright exhibiting at The Royal Welsh Show

Wendy and I have just returned from exhibiting our unique range of silver and gold jewellery at The Royal Welsh Show. This year we were invited to exhibit in the South Glamorgan Hall which meant that, despite the inclement weather, we remained dry and mud free!

This is the biggest agricultural show in Europe! It is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904, and takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales.

The first show was held in Aberystwyth in 1904, and its success led to the development of the permanent showground at Llanelwedd, first used in 1963.

The show lasts for four days and attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually, making it a major boon for tourism in Wales. Events include competitions of cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs and various other domestic animals, Sheep dog trials, Sheep shearing competitions, Horse riding competitions, Four-in-hand and Carriage Driving displays, Falconry, Games and sports such as the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery of the Royal Horse Artillery, Arts and crafts and live music.

Given its "Royal" status it is not unusual for a senior member of the British Royal family to attend at the Show. A familiar sight is the Prince of Wales who is generally acknowledged to be a keen supporter of the farming community. Indeed following his outspoken support during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis, some farmers regard him as an influential figure. The royal interest in this year's show was provided by the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, and the Countess of Wessex. The couple spent several hours at Llanelwedd on Wednesday, having been greeted by the president, North Wales landowner and farmer Robin Price, of Rhiwlas, Bala, who then accompanied them on a tour of the showground. Unfortunately I was unable to find an opportunity to photograph the couple to add to my 'Royal photo' collection and so the 'blog photo feature' this time is one of Wendy and I on our trade stand!

Once again we stayed in our delightful rural B&B nestled in a beautiful valley a short distance from the showgrounds where the proprietor, Biddy Williams, provides not only the best Welsh breakfast 'fry up' in the world but an outstanding roast dinner with fresh vegatables grown in her own garden! Each evening all ten guests staying at this picturesque period cottage congregate in its' small dining room around an oak gateleg table and exchange diverse experiences of the days events at the show. This year's guests included a Vivien Westwood fashion designer (who was showing a pony in the competition of Welsh Cobs), two Irish cattle farmers from Donegal, the marketing director for Harper Adams Agricultural College, a country artist, a podiatrist and two market traders from London. It certainly made for varied and interesting conversation after the show each day!

NB. We acknowledge thanks to Wikipaedia for the factual information on the history of the Royal Welsh Show.

Welsh Cobs & The Royal Welsh Show 2008

“Frankfurt approach this is Aer Lingus Three .. Two .. Nine at Flight level Three .. Five .. Zero..”

Carolin was already aware of the incoming Boeing 747 which had appeared moments before on her radar screen at Frankfurt airport. Responding politely, in perfect English, she said:

“Good morning Aer Lingus Three .. Two .. Nine.”

She monitored the Irish airliner as it continued along its approved flight path - along with five other approaching aircraft - and then spoke with authority into her VHF radio:

“Aer Lingus 329 descend to altitude 2500 feet, QNH .. One ..Zero .. One .. Five.”

What, you may ask, has this conversation between an air traffic controller in Frankfurt and a Boeing 747 pilot got to do with the Royal Welsh Show?

Allow me to explain.

Last week Wendy and I were attending Europe’s largest agricultural show with more than 230,000 visitors. The Royal Welsh Show is held in Builth Wells and we, alongside other trade exhibitors, were showing our new silver and gold jewellery designs for the 2008 season - including the popular silver and gold daisy jewellery collection!

Our Guest House accommodation in Wales is something quite extra-ordinary. Each morning, at the crack of dawn, we are treated to one of Biddy William's famous full 'Welsh' breakfasts. In the evening there is always a delicious roast dinner served once we return from the Show at 8.30pm sharp! We all sit around a large 18th Century oak dining table and share experiences with the other guests who have come to attend the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd. This year two German air traffic controllers, Carolin and Stefan Klose, had flown to Wales from Frankfurt and booked into the same Guest House - a small Grade II listed cottage in a picturesque valley not far from the Showgrounds. We all immediately became firm friends and Carolin, also a semi-professional photographer, kindly agreed to provide the pictures for this our ‘Royal Welsh’ blog.

Princess Anne opens The Royal Welsh Show 2008

Carolin owns a Welsh Cob stallion called “Old Radnor” and she and Stefan had come to see the famous Welsh Cob Pony competitions held every year at this world renowned event. One of the most stunning spectacles at the show is undoubtedly the running of the Section D Welsh Cob Stallions on the Wednesday afternoon. This attracts huge numbers and the noise from the crowds is matched only by the most excited football fans at a top international game! This is partly down to their enthusiasm for these very special horses and partly as an attempt to actually influence the judge who must make the difficult decision of declaring a very highly prized winner!

This year’s event was judged by the Synod stud breeder Doreen Jones of Gellihen Farm who, along with her husband Cerdin, was also staying at our Guest House ... making our Tuesday evening roast dinner all the more interesting! This appointment is a once in a lifetime honour and one that Doreen was taking very seriously indeed. The winning Stallion can instantly become a

priceless asset as far as future stud fees are concerned! The judge must make a completely impartial and 'objective' decision based on the criteria laid down by the British Show Horse Association. We enjoyed discussing the enormity of the task that lay ahead of Doreen the following day!

Apparently all sections of the Welsh pony and Welsh cob competitions demand horses that are sure-footed with sound feet, dense bone, and that display very hardy characteristics. The ponies should also have a well-laid back shoulder, deep chest, short back, well-sprung rib cage and strong hindquarters. Their legs should be “clean" with good bone, short cannons and correct hocks. Indeed they must exhibit the substance, stamina and soundness of their ancestral bloodstock!

DROGEDA ‘Stormy Tempest‘, a beautiful chestnut displaying lively action and striking beauty in equal measure, was finally named the Stallion Champion Cob by our recent acquaintance, Doreen. It took more than an hour of careful studying of nearly fifty fabulous entries, and a whittling down to an impressive shortlist, before she could be sure. And the George Prince of Wales Perpetual Cup went to junior mare, Trevallion Racheal’s Miracle, a glossy-coated and spirited bay, with quite unusual markings.

DROGEDA ‘Stormy Tempest' - Champion Cob 2008

I am pleased to say that our display of silver and gold jewellery attracted almost as much attention as the famous Welsh Cobs! We were happy to see our regular customers, who have been enthusiastically faithful to us over the past twelve years, at this event. We were delighted to have assisted with two romantic engagements at our stand too and we will be making very special diamond engagement rings for these happy couples!

I must, of course, thank Carolyn Klose for her photographic contributions which have made this blog a really special one. She and Steffan are now on their way back to Frankfurt and I leave them with the rest of my fictitious recording taken from Frankfurt radar control to the approaching Irish 747 jet:

"Aer Lingus Three .. Two .. Nine, you have traffic, a Fokker at one o'clock, two miles, Eastbound," Carolin warned the incoming jet.

The Aer Lingus pilot quickly responded:

"Frankfurt approach .... I've always wanted to say this... I've got the little Fokker in sight!"

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to the feed here!

Photos by Carolin Klose for
Paul Wright Jewellery

Quick Links:

Diamond Engagement Rings

Handmade Silver Jewellery

The Royal Welsh Show

We have just returned from the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show where we were exhibiting our unique range of jewellery - for the tenth year running!

There were a number of new faces at our usual B&B 'rendezvous' not far from Builth Wells. A member of the Welsh Assembly was attending this year and the evening meals provided a useful opportunity to learn more about Welsh devolution. We also had a pig farmer and his wife staying with us! This was not just any pig farmer but an expert in his field and he had been invited to the Show to judge the various classes of pigs in the main ring competitions.

My only personal experience of judging pigs has been limited to the quality of the crackling on a good Sunday roast! However 'our' pig judge soon enlightened us as to the qualities of a really good breed of pig - and how to go about judging this. For example, apparently the pig's face must not be too fat. It must have a straight back and four good legs. Most importantly all fourteen teats must be present! The pig judge stands in the centre of the main ring and the each farmer escorts his entry around the ring using a 'bat' and 'board'. The board is held in the left hand and is used to guide the pig while the 'bat', held in the right hand, is used to encourage him along his way.

There were of course many other interesting events and livestock competitions going on at the Show this year and I am told that some of the highlights included the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh, the parade of the hounds and the floral art competition - not to mention, of course, the famous Welsh Cobs!

Sadly this popular event was marred only by the appalling, bad weather we have been experiencing lately. Our journey to Wales from Stratford-upon-Avon seemed almost impossible at one stage as we could find no way of crossing the Severn or the Teme rivers and all roads near Worcester were totally impassable. Further torrential downpours during the show eventually resulted in the 'flood waters' penetrating our marquee and the ground around our trade stand soon turned to thick mud! The hardy Welsh, however, were determined to enjoy the event and continued to turn up on all four days ...despite having to be towed by tractors in and out of the sodden, muddy parking areas. Attendance figures stood at over 215,000 - the highest of any agricultural show in Britain!

Our popular range of silver and gold daisy jewellery was a big hit with the Welsh! The illustrated solid silver pendant has a gold plated centre making it a delightfully different and attractive fashion accessory. The 'daisy' range is available via our online shop at http://www.paulwrightjewellery.com/ for just £69 inc chain.

If you weren't able to make it to the Royal Welsh Show this year click on the image - you have an opportunity of buying one right now!