Welsh National Agricultural Society And Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Welsh Pony and Cob Winners 1904 -1950 Scrapbook compiled by David Davies The Welsh National Agricultural Society was instigated by Lewes Loveden Pryse of Aberllolwyn, Llanerchaeron, W B. Powell, Nanteos and Vaughan Davies, Tanybwlch. Initially there was much local hostility to the concept, which followed on from the success of the North Cardiganshire Agricultural Show held in Aberystwyth in 1903. An initial meeting was held in the Lion Royal Hotel, Aberystwyth on 1st February. Loveden Pryse gathered many influential supporters from across Wales and after many meetings held in Aberystwyth the society was formed and rules agreed. Earl of Powis was elected President, Vice president, Lord Tredegar and Loveden Pryse, the General Manager. Despite ongoing critics the first show was arranged for the 3rd and 4th August 1904 and was held at the Vicarage fields and then from 1908 the adjacent Plascrug meadow. In the first show in 1904, there were 111 Ponies and cobs entered, compared to 96 in 1905, 101 in 1906, 104, in 1907, 121 in 1908 and 118 in 1909. The Initial shows were a success attracting good entries in all sections and from across Wales, In 1908 the WPCS cob section was given a further boost by the Prince of Wales awarding a cup for the best cob of old Welsh type. Attendance at the first show was 9500 due to the fact that the railway companies laid on cheap excursions from North and South Wales. However, in 1907, there was a train derailment in Abermule and 10 horses and 3 handlers were killed. For the 1908 show there were twenty three special trains which comprised of 224 cattle and horse trucks and 100 passenger coaches. Relationships improved between the other show societies and the WNAG when representative from each area were appointed as ring stewards. The Aberystwyth years were blighted by a poor financial position and so it was agreed to make the show migratory and in 1910 the show was held in Llanelli. During those initial years the WNAS did much to support the WPCS and help in ensuring legislation to clear the mountains of undesirable stallions, to protect the purity of the Mountain breeds and to lift the import duty on Welsh Ponies exported to America. From 1910 the membership of the general council was changed to three members from each county and one each from the three Welsh Universities, thus making a total of 42 members that each served a three year term. In 1911 the King, George V, agreed to become patron which further secured the place of the society although its finances did not improve until Lord David Davies (chairman of Council) and two others agreed to act as guarantors to the society. In 1914, the show became a three day show. Following the First World War the English Royal Show (RASE) restarted in 1919 but it was not until 1922, when King George agreed to allow the Society to change its name to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, did their shows recommence at Wrexham and at which point membership increased and the financial situation improved. The Society still faced challenges due to the great depression, but the appointment of RWAS secretaries, Mr Arthur Evans, Bronwylfa in 1921 and Capt. T A Howson, Gresford, in 1927 (also Secretary of the WPCS), under the leadership of Lord Davies did much to secure the future of the Society. Following the Second World War the first show was held in Carmarthen in 1947, no show in 1948 due to petrol rationing and the migratory show recommenced in 1949 in Swansea. In 1948, Arthur George, succeeded Capt. Howson as secretary of the RWAS and WPCS a position that was maintained until 1964 by which time the societies had severed their ties and the WPCS had moved its secretariat (Tom Roberts) to Aberystwyth. The financial position of the RWAS was still a concern throughout the 1950’s, however, it was the concerns raised by exhibitors during this period about facilities, traffic management, the mud of Machynlleth and Bangor, the floods in Aberystwyth in 1957 and the provision of food which increased the pressure on the society to find a permanent base with better facilities and infrastructure. In 1963 the first show on the purpose built site at Llanelwedd was not an instant success and there were many who opposed this move. It was not until 1975 that the show started to gain real momentum and has grown in popularity ever since. Royal Welsh Champions Sections A and B 1904 –1950 Year 19.. Venue Welsh Mountain Ponies Welsh Ponies Judge Male Female Judge Male Female Champion Champion Champion Champion 1904. Aberystwyth R Brydon Greylight Titw 1905 Aberystwyth D Rees Greylight Llwyn Nell 1906. Aberystwyth W S Miller Greylight Kerry Lassie 1907. Aberystwyth J R Bache Greylight Lady Starlight 1908. Aberystwyth W Foster Grove Ballistite Bleddfa Tell Tale 1909. Aberystwyth John Hill Greylight Lady Greylight 1910. Llanelli J R Bache Greylight Gwyndy Bessie 1911. Welshpool Tom James Grove Ballistite Towyvale Myfy 1912. Swansea Roger Howells Dewi Stone Grove Limelight Ben Davies 1913. Porthmadoc Evan Jones Grove Balistite Nantyrharn Starlight John Owen 1914. Newport T Jones Evans Grove Archlight Hawddgar Lady Bennett Owen Starlight No Shows due to the First World War 1915 -1921 1922. Wrexham J R Bache Grove King Cole II Grove Fairy Queen 1923. Welshpool Tom James Llwyn Might Atom Dawn of Bryntirion 1924. Bridgend Arthur Pugh Llwyn Might Ness Sunflower Atom* 1925. Carmarthen T H Vaughan Llwyn Irfon Marvel Temptation* 1926. Bangor T J Evans Llwyn Satan* Ness Daisy 1927. Swansea Major Dugdale Grove King Cole Kittiwake II* 1928. Wrexham Edgar Herbert Craven Master Caerberris Dazzle Shot* 1929. Cardiff J R Bache Craven Master Dawn of Shot Bryntirion* 1930. Caernarfon T E Jenkins Grove Sprightly* Clumber Miss Mary 1931. Llanelli T J Jones Grove Sprightly* Dunchurch Venus 1932. Llandrindod Meyrick Jones Grove Sprightly* Grove Ladybird 1933. Aberystwyth Matthew Grove Sprightly* Grove Ladybird Williams 1934. Llandudno T J Mathias Grove Sprightly* Grove Ladybird 1935. Haverfordwest T Davies Jones Grove Sprightly* Craven Jean 1936. Abergele T J Jones Grove Sprightly Craven Shot Star 1937. Monmouth Tom Jones Grove Will O the Criban Socks Evans Whisp* 1938. RASE Cardiff Capt T A. Grove Sprightly Vardra Charm Howson 1939. Caernarfon Matthew Grove Sprightly Vardra Sunflower Williams 1940 -1946 No Shows due to Second World War 1947 Carmarthen J. Morgan Evans Dinarth What Ho Vardra Charm Criban Victor Lady Cyrus 1948 No Show due to petrol rationing 1949 Swansea Capt T A Tregoed Starlight Coed Coch Serliw - Criban Heather Howson Bell 1950 Abergele Mathew Coed Coch Meilyr Coed Coch Coed Coch Siabod Gem Williams Siaradus Royal Welsh Champions Sections C and D 1904 –1950 Year 19.. Venue Welsh Ponies of Cob Type Welsh Cobs Judge Male Female Judge Male Female Champion Champion Champion Champion 1904. Aberystwyth R Brydon Llwyn Snowdrop* Trustful* 1905 Aberystwyth D Rees Llwyn True Blue Llwyn Snowdrop Trustful Treflys Blaze 1906. Aberystwyth W S Miller Golden Gleam Bess Melton Cadet Amman Empress 1907. Aberystwyth J R Bache Llew Llwyd Llwyn Snowdrop* Melton Cadet Amman Empress 1908. Aberystwyth W Foster Tessington Goss Naughty Naiad Atwick Junior Pride of the Hills 1909. Aberystwyth John Hill Little Fire Tanrallt Paula High Stepping Sunflower Gambler 1910. Llanelli J R Bache Southwell Swell Tanrallt Paula Melton Cadet Groten Ddu* 1911. Welshpool Tom James Bobby Dazzler Lyndhurst Paula Mark Well Llwyn Flashlight* 1912. Swansea Roger Howells Kismet Lily of the Valley Manoravon Flyer* Norton Sceptre Ben Davies 1913. Porthmadoc Evan Jones Temptation Rosey King Flyer* Lady Cefina John Owen 1914. Newport T Jones Evans Temptation Pinderfields Megania King Flyer* PingPong Bennett Owen No Shows due to the First World War 1922. Wrexham J R Bache Baedeker Llwyn Coralie Mathrafal Eiddwen Pontfaen Lady Model* 1923. Welshpool Tom James Wingerworth Cilwen Lady Lilian Llwynog Flyer Pontfaen Lady Eiddwen* Model* 1924. Bridgend Arthur Pugh Criban Shot* Teify pride Mathrafal Brenin* Wyre Lady 1925. Carmarthen T H Vaughan Cream Bun* Kerry Queen Mathrafal Brenin* Polly Of Pant 1926. Bangor T J Evans Beadeker* Seren Ceulan Mathrafal Eiddwen Hwylog Peggy 1927. Swansea Major Dugdale Cefncoch Country Kerry Queen Mathrafal Eiddwen Polly Of Pant Swell 1928. Wrexham Edgar Herbert Royal Welsh Jack Seren Ceulan* Llethi Valiant Pant Grey Star* 1929. Cardiff J R Bache Royal Welsh Jack* Myrtle Rosina Mathrafal Eiddwen Blaenwaun Flora Temple 1930. Caernarfon T E Jenkins Royal Welsh Jack Cilwen Lady Lilian Mathrafal Eiddwen Cwmcau Lady Jet 1931. Llanelli T J Jones Ceulan Comet* Flemish Cymraes Llethi Valiant Pantlleinau Blodwen 1932. Llandrindod Meyrick Jones Ceulan Comet* Cilwen Lady Lilian Caerseddfan Cwncau Lady Jet Stepping Flyer 1933. Aberystwyth Matthew Ceulan Comet Cilwen Lady Myrtle Welsh Cwmcau Lady Jet Williams Lilian* Flyer 1934. Llandudno T J Mathias Ceulan Comet* Cilwen Lady Lilian Craven Cymro Cwncau Lady Jet 1935. Haverfordwest T Davies Jones - Croten Ddu O Myrtle Welsh Dewi Black Bess* Tremain Flyer 1936. Abergele T J Jones - Cuckoo Myrtle Welsh Teify Of Hercws* Flyer 1937. Monmouth Tom Jones - Welsh Homage Cystanog Trotting Teify Of Hercws* Evans Comet 1938. RASE Cardiff Capt T A. - Myrtle Rosina Mathrafal Teify of Hercws Howson 1939. Caernarfon Matthew Craven Cyrus Myrtle Rosina Myrtle Welsh Meiarth Pride Williams Flyer 1940 -1946 No Shows due to Second World War 1947 Carmarthen J.Morgan Evans Welsh Patriot Queenie Brenin Gwalia Meiarth Welsh Maid 1948 No show 1949 Swansea Capt T A Welsh Echo Queenie Llwynog Y Garth Meiarth Welsh Howson Maid 1950 Abergele J.M. Havard Coed Coch Siabod Queenie Llwynog Y Garth Meiarth Welsh Maid Schedule for the first Welsh National Show, 1904, Aberystwyth.