John Price and the badger-faced Welsh mountain sheep champion

John Price, who works for the Farmers' Union of Wales, started showing sheep when he was 13.

After 10 years of breeding and showing the animals, and winning awards, he is considered experienced enough to judge at the agricultural showpiece.

Mr Price, from Llanelli, was inspired by his grandfather to show sheep.

I was brought up surrounded by these sheep John Price

This year, he has been invited to judge the badger-faced Welsh mountain sheep section, which this year boasts a record entry of 206 for the breed.

"I was brought up surrounded by these sheep," said Mr Price.

"I started showing in 1996 when we moved to the farm. I showed balwen and torddu lambs.

"I showed at the Royal Welsh for the first time in 1997 with a few balwen sheep and, after winning a few rosettes, I went on to concentrate on the balwen sheep over the next few years."

He started judging sheep in 2002, and said he was "really enjoying" working at the show.

He won several major awards at the Royal Welsh between 1998 and 2000 including reserve champion with a yearling ewe, reserve champion with a senior ram and champion with a yearling ram.