Thousands of visitors flocked to Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, for the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, enjoying two days packed with competitions, exhibitions, festive shopping and live entertainment.

The event, held on Monday and Tuesday this week, has grown from a modest one-day show in 1990 into one of the UK’s leading prime stock events, attracting nearly 700 exhibitors this year.

The Sheep Supreme Champions - a pair of Dutch Texel lambs bred and exhibited by Tirion Griffiths of Corwen - pictured with RWAS President John Owen. The pair sold for £1,500 each to the White Hart, Llandeilo
The Sheep Supreme Champions - a pair of Dutch Texel lambs bred and exhibited by Tirion Griffiths of Corwen - pictured with RWAS President John Owen. The pair sold for £1,500 each to the White Hart, Llandeilo (RWAS)

The two-day programme also celebrated agricultural excellence, with awards including the John Gittins Memorial Award, Oxford Farming Conference Bursary, and the inaugural Dai Jones Llanilar Memorial Award. Education featured strongly, with more than 2,000 schoolchildren attending workshops on food production, healthy eating, and farming careers.

Supreme Horse Champion ‘Llanmorlais Buster’, a Section D yearling colt owned and exhibited by Mark Swistun of Swansea.
Supreme Horse Champion ‘Llanmorlais Buster’, a Section D yearling colt owned and exhibited by Mark Swistun of Swansea (RWAS)
The Pig Supreme Champion (Single) — a 90.5kg Welsh x Pietrain bacon pig exhibited by Teulu Jenkins of Newcastle Emlyn — sold for £550 to Cigydd Sion Jones Butchers, Ceredigion
The Pig Supreme Champion (Single) - a 90.5kg Welsh x Pietrain bacon pig exhibited by Teulu Jenkins of Newcastle Emlyn - sold for £550 to Cigydd Sion Jones Butchers, Ceredigion (RWAS)

The two-day programme also celebrated agricultural excellence, with awards including the John Gittins Memorial Award, Oxford Farming Conference Bursary, and the inaugural Dai Jones Llanilar Memorial Award. Education featured strongly, with more than 2,000 schoolchildren attending workshops on food production, healthy eating, and farming careers.

Visitors enjoyed a bustling Food Hall, street food stalls, and the Gwledd | Feast village, showcasing Welsh culinary delights. Late-night shopping on Monday drew crowds for Christmas gifts and a spectacular firework display.

The Food Hall was once again bustling with shoppers sampling the finest Welsh food and drink produce
The Food Hall was once again bustling with shoppers sampling the finest Welsh food and drink produce (RWAS)
Winter Fair visitors enjoyed festive live music, late night shopping and a spectacular firework display on the Monday evening
Winter Fair visitors enjoyed festive live music, late night shopping and a spectacular firework display on the Monday evening (RWAS)

Honorary Winter Fair Director, William Hanks said: “We’ve been thrilled to welcome such high visitor numbers to this year’s Winter Fair, which once again delivered a wonderful festive atmosphere across the whole showground. From exceptional live music and outstanding food and drink to the superb standard of entries across all sections, the event truly showcased the very best of Welsh agriculture and rural life.

“We are deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, stewards, traders, sponsors and, of course, the visitors who make this event possible. The Society is immensely proud of what has been achieved this year, and we are committed to building on this success to make next year’s Winter Fair even better.”

A summary of top results

Cattle Supreme Champion: ‘Glangdwen Velvet’, a Pedigree Limousin Heifer weighing 598kg, bred by CL & FE Jerman and exhibited by Edwards Brothers, Corwen, Denbighshire. Sold for £27,000 to K Jones, Brechfa.

Baby Beef Supreme Champion: ‘Pretty Little Thing’ A Continental Heifer weighing 318kg, bred and exhibited by D E & SJ Cheacker, Gloucester. Sold for £4,400 to R Whitfield, Bold.

Pig Supreme Champion Single: Welsh X Peitrain - Single bacon pig, weighing 90.5kg, exhibited by Teulu Jenkins, Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion. Sold for £550 to Cigydd Sion Jones Butchers, Ceredigion.

Pig Supreme Champion Pair: A pair of Peitrain X bacon pigs, weighing 86kg and 88.5kg, exhibited by Mark Horsley, East Yorkshire. Sold for £420 each to Manisold Valley Meat Ltd, Leek.

Carcass Supreme Champion Single: A Beltex, bred by Ben Moralee and exhibited by Swinnerton & Hamplett, Shropshire. Sold for £1600.

Carcass Supreme Champion Pair: A pair of Beltex x lambs, bred and exhibited by TG & EA Jones, Lampeter. Sold for £ 900 each to JW Simmons & Son, Lydney, Gloucestershire.

Champion Single Carcass bred in Wales: A Beltex X, bred and exhibited by Gareth Jones, Lampeter. Sold for £3,000 to the White Hart, Llandeilo.

Champion Pair of Carcasses bred in Wales: A pair of Beltex x lambs, bred and exhibited by TG & EA Jones, Lampeter. Sold for £400/each.

Sheep Supreme Champion: A pair of Dutch Texel lambs, bred and exhibited by Tirion Griffiths, Corwen, Denbighshire. Sold for £1500/head to the White Hart, Llandeilo.

Overall Meat Hamper Champion: A ‘Showcase of Welsh Meat’, exhibited by Wild Welsh Meat T/A Izzy’s Butchers, Powys. Sold for £340.

Dressed Poultry: A turkey, weighing 16.5lb, exhibited by Russel Gibbons, Ceredigion. Sold for £450 to D Roberts, Ammanford.

Bacon, Burger & Sausage: Sausages, exhibited by Morgan’s Family Butchers, Builth Wells.

Beef Rib: From a Heifer, exhibited by GCSE Butchers, Powys. Sold for £180.

Welsh Horse Champion: ‘Thistledown Red Bull’, a Section B Yearling Colt, exhibited by Josh Hampson, West Yorkshire. Owner, Alison Wright.

Supreme Horse Champion: ‘Llanmorlais Buster’, a Section D Yearling Colt, owned and exhibited by Mark Swistun, Swansea.