FOLLOWING a very successful and rain-free Llangynidr Show, Bwlch & Crickhowell YFC organised their first Speed Shearing Competition.

There were competitors from all over the county as they vied for the top prize.

Results: Junior Class winner was Mark Gwynne, 2 Baden Powell and 3 Gethin Williams.

Intermediate class winner was Eifion Phillips, 2 Hugh Prothero and 3rd Baden Powell. Senior Class winner was John Price, 2nd was Rhys Evans and 3rd was Hugh Prothero.

Open Class winner was Ross Games, 2 John Price and 3 Rhys Groucot.

The speed shear also saw the golden oldies take to the stage for the Veteran Class where first place was awarded to Steve Meredith, second to Gareth Price and third prize to Billy Edwards.

Thanks go to the three of them who generously donated their winnings to the Welsh Air Ambulance.

Lastly the shearers decided to hold a team speed event where if you are not up to ‘speed’ with how it works.

A team of three people complete three individual tasks against the clock. One member has to shear a sheep, the second member has to down a pint of beer and the third has to eat three dry crackers, it was won by the team who called themselves the ‘Ponies’, 2 ‘The A Team’ and 3 ‘The Valley Boys’.

The first Speed Shear was a huge success and enjoyed by spectators from as far away as France.

Despite the commentator giving the French family much banter they stated that “they had never seen shearing before, and really enjoyed the atmosphere, the evening and winning a prize on the raffle”.

They must have enjoyed it so much that they were spotted at the Speed shear the following evening at Felinfach Show.

This event has put shearing, farming and YFC on the map.

It brought a community together to watch talented local farmers competing for success. It also provided entertainment to mark the end of Llangynidr show.

Bwlch and Crickhowell YFC would like to take this opportunity to thank Llangynidr Show Committee who let us organise the event, the many sponsers for the evening, the donations of raffle prizes and finally to the general public for showing support for the very successful event.