ONCE again, they have been shear class in the Dee Valley.

Rhug Estate was the setting recently for the 2018 Corwen Shears event.

Over nearly three decades, Corwen Shears has been an icon of the shearing and wool handling industry in Wales.

This year's event began during the early afternoon of Friday, July 27, with the heats of the novice wool handling.

The first presentation of the weekend took place halfway through Friday afternoon, with the traditional blade shearing prizes being handed out.

Here, Emlyn Roberts, of Rhydymain, was first, with Robert Edwards (Dinas Mawddwy) the runner-up.

The opening day concluded with the presentation of the novice, intermediate and open wool handling awards, in addition to the commercial blade shearing prize.

Ffion Rees (Llandeilo) was successful in the novice wool handling section, with Machynlleth's Fflur Jones to the fore in the intermediate wool handling competition.

Scotland's Audrey Lamb was number one in the open wool handling event

and the commercial blade shearing accolade went the way of Allan Oldfield (New Zealand).

Cneifio Corwen Shears was first established in 1989 and it is one of the most successful sheep shearing competitions throughout the United Kingdom.

Sheep shearers and wool handlers travel from all over the world to compete at the show.

Results:

Junior: 1, Dyfan Jones; 2, Dion Hughes (Ceredigion); 3, Dafydd Evans (Llangernyw); 4, Cameron Hamer (Rhayadr); 5, Huw Williams (Dolgellau); 6, Ifan Lloyd.

Intermediate: 1, Elis Ifans (Betws Gwerfil Goch); 2, Rhys Wyn Williams (Groes); 3, Rhys Douglas (Lampeter); 4, Huw John Roberts (Bala); 5, Caron Evans (Pentrefoelas); 6, Aled Evans (Dolgellau).

Senior: 1, Dylan Jones (Nebo); 2, Dylan Lewis (Llanwrda); 3, Phil Grove (Gower); 4, Karipa Tunohe (New Zealand), Dafydd Davies (Builth Wells); 6, Gareth Hughes (Tregaron).

Welsh: 1, Gwion Evans (Bylchau); 2, Matthew Evans (Swansea); 3, Richard Jones (Glyndyfrdwy); 4, Lloyd Rees (Brecon); 5, Delwyn Jones (New Zealand); 6, Rhys Jones (Llanelidan).

Open: 1, Ian Jones (Llandrindod Wells); 2, Gwion Jones (Bylchau); 3, David Buick (New Zealand); 4, Richard Jones (Glyndyfrdwy); 5, Nathan Stratford (New Zealand); 6, Lloyd Rees (Brecon).

International team relay: 1, Wales; 2, France; 3, England; 4, New Zealand; 5, Corwen Shears workers; 6, Scotland.

Celtic Shield: 1, Scotland; 2, Wales.

Test: 1, France; 2, Wales.

Test: 1, New Zealand; 2, Wales.

Commercial blade shearing test: 1, Wales; 2, England / France; 3, Scotland.

Commercial blade shearing: 1, Allan Oldfield (New Zealand); 2, Rheinallt Hughes (Llanarmon DC); 3, Elfed Jackson (Bethesda); 4, Gareth Owen (Beddgelert); 5, Richard Till (Beddgelert); 6, Mark Armstrong (Scotland).

Novice wool handling: 1, Ffion Rees (Llandeilo); 2, Sara Roberts (Llandeilo); 3, Elen Hughes.

Intermediate wool handling: 1, Fflur Jones (Machynlleth); 2, Awel Jones (Llangwm); 3, Beca Jackson (Bethesda).

Open wool handling: 1, Audrey Lamb (Scotland); 2, Leanne Pullin (Scotland); 3, Millie Green (Scotland).

Traditional shearing: 1, Emlyn Roberts (Rhydymain); 2, Robert Edwards (Dinas Mawddwy).