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Last Updated: Sunday, 18 July, 2004, 08:49 GMT 09:49 UK
Family's 100 years at show
Dr Wynne Davies with Ceulan Mariah and Ceulan Mai

For 100 years, the Royal Welsh Show has been a fixture on the calendar for farming families, many of whom treat the week as an annual holiday.

This is certainly the case for the family of Dr Wynne Davies, from Miskin, south Wales.

His grandparents were at the show's debut at Aberystwyth in 1904, and their descendants have been showing Welsh cobs at every show since.

"My grandfather and grandmother actually competed against each other in 1904 with Welsh cob stallions," he said.

"I don't know why - they were married at the time, but it must have been a friendly rivalry, as there was no divorce."

Dr Davies' father Evan Samuel Davies, from Talybont, first competed in 1925, while Dr Davies made his own debut in Swansea in 1949.

You meet people and friends from all over the country, and all over the world
Dr Wynne Davies

And that year remains a special one in his memory, as he and his father took home the top prizes for both champion stallion and champion mare.

Dr Davies said the show had always been like a holiday.

"The whole family would go, and you would take a table and a stove, and live in a spare stable for a week."

"Back then, the show was much quieter, with fewer people and fewer animals.

"Nowadays it is the same atmosphere as match-day at Cardiff Arms Park or the Millennium Stadium, and there are as many people.

"There can be 70,000 there on a Tuesday and Wednesday."

Dr Davies' grandparents on their way to the 1904 show in Aberystwyth
Dr Davies' grandparents on their way to the 1904 show in Aberystwyth

He said it was an essential event for farmers to attend.

"It is the same with all farming families in Wales - you plan it at the start of the year.

"You meet people and friends from all over the country, and all over the world."

These days, Dr Davies leaves the showing to his son David, as he is now busy behind the scenes, doing the commentaries for 10 hours a day in the main ring.

"I will be tremendously busy again this year," he said.

"My wife hardly sees me all week, but knows I am all right because she can hear me commentating."

He said he noticed changes to the show every year since it settled at its permanent home in Llanellwedd, in 1963.

"Every year there are improvements, there are extra tarmac roads and permanent buildings.

"It is a welcome change from wooden buildings and tents."

This year also marks 50 years of Dr Davies reporting on the show for Horse and Hound magazine.




SEE ALSO:
Queen to attend Royal Welsh
29 Jun 04  |  Mid
Water buffalo at Royal Welsh
04 Jul 04  |  Mid


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