The Blue Texel classes at this year’s Royal Welsh Show were held in perfect showing conditions, well-supported around the ring. An all-Welsh line-up put on a strong display, despite the recent bluetongue restrictions.
Judge Clive Richardson of the Cleenagh flock commented on the quality forward, saying: “The Welsh breeders met me with a very warm atmosphere, and it was great to judge such a prestigious event.
“The Blue Texel sheep were of a very high standard and the final cut to choose the champion and reserve of each sex was truly amazing.”
Taking the overall championship was the shearling ewe Dragon Jasmine, from Geraint Williams’ Dragon Blues flock, Llanwnnen, Lampeter. By a homebred Dragon ram and out of Dragon Fiona, a daughter of Beili Blues Extreme, Dragon Jasmine also stood female champion.
Geraint Williams also turned out the reserve overall champion. A shearling ram who had earlier taken the male championship, Jems Jackpot is by Caryl’s Blues Hulk and out of Nantyderri Going For Gold.
The Jones family of the Beili Blues flock also enjoyed success, winning the ram lamb class and taking the reserve male champion spot with their first-placed ram lamb. Away from the breed ring, this same ram lamb went on to secure the prestigious ram lamb interbreed championship at the show, a remarkable achievement for the flock.
In the female section, the reserve female champion title also went to the Jones family with their aged ewe, who led a strong class of older females.
In the group of three class, Rhys Cooke’s trio secured the red ticket, while Geraint Williams followed in second.
With quality sheep presented across the classes and a great atmosphere around the ring, the Blue Texel section proved a strong outing for the breed at the Royal Welsh.
Class results:
Aged ram
1 Rhys Cooke (6369).
Shearling ram
1 Geraint Williams (6373)
2 Rhys Cooke (6370)
3 Jac Isaac (6371).
Ram lamb
1 D L and B W H Jones (6388)
2 Caryl Howells (6383)
3 G and E Jones (6389)
4 D L and B W H Jones (6387)
5 Geraint Williams (6397)
6 Rhys Francis (6380).
Aged ewe
1 D L and B W H Jones (6402)
2 Rhys Cooke (6398)
3 Plas Coch Farm (6404)
4 Chris Davies (6399)
5 Baird and Coles (9006)
6 Ruth Isaac (6401).
Shearling ewe
1 Geraint Williams (6428)
2 Rhys Cooke (6408)
3 Caryl Howells (6417)
4 Adrian, Ifan and Harri Davies (6410)
5 Gethin Davies (6411)
6 Plas Coch Farm (6425).
Ewe lamb
1 Geraint Williams (6454)
2 Caryl Howells (6440)
3 Adrian, Ifan and Harri Davies (6432)
4 Caryl Howells (6441)
5 G and E Jones (6446)
6 Plas Coch Farm (6452).
Group of three
1 Rhys Cooke (6455)
2 Geraint Williams (6460).
Championships:
• Male champion: Geraint Williams (6373) – Shearling ram
• Reserve male champion: D L and B W H Jones (6388) – Ram lamb
• Female champion: Geraint Williams (6428) – Shearling ewe
• Reserve female champion: D L and B W H Jones (6402) – Aged ewe
• Overall champion: Geraint Williams (6428) – Shearling ewe
• Reserve overall champion: Geraint Williams (6373) – Shearling ram
