DESPITE concerns that the introduction of quarantine units would affect sheep and cattle entries, exhibitors turned out in force to support the Cerrigydrudion Show.

Ifor Jones, the show's livestock secretary, said: “We were concerned that the six-day rule would mean people couldn’t attend the show and sell stock the following week.

"As Cerrig is the last show in the season, it’s an important shop window before the big sheep sales in September.”

However, a flurry of entries kept show director Iwan Price and his team busy making extra sheep pens and extending the cattle section on the Friday morning.

A last minute call on Facebook for extra stewards to help out in the cattle and sheep lines resulted in an excellent response from the Young Farmers.

With over 500 sheep and 60 cattle entered in the show, Cerrig is one of the biggest agricultural shows in North Wales.

Meanwhile, with over 160 sheep entered in the Welsh Mountain Sheep section, judging continued until well after lunchtime.

Ifor Jones said: “There were less exhibitors in some classes, but we had the biggest variety of sheep breeds that the show has ever seen.”

Over 30 different breeds of sheep saw strong entries of both Torwen and Torddu Badger face, and new classes for Balwen and Charmoise sheep saw these breeds represented on the field for the first time.

In the cattle section, there were particularly strong entries in the Welsh Black class, with 15 head of cattle. Following a trend on the day which favoured the females, a heifer from Arfon Williams, of Cwmtirmynach, took the champion in the section.

This year, the popular Dau a'r Dennyn - Two on a Halter league competition, sponsored by NFU Cymru, was divided into two sections - continental cattle and traditional breeds.

Following the Eglwysbach and Llanrwst shows, both sections were tied between the Charollais and Limousins in the continental section, and Welsh Blacks and Shorthorns in the traditional section.

The cattle interbreed judge was called upon to award the final placings at the Cerrigydrudion Show.

Glyn Owens, of Ruthin Farmers Auction, placed the pair of Charollais heifers from R O Williams, Caerddaniel, first.

These were followed by the pair of Limousins shown by local breeder Ellis Lloyd, of Garthiaen, Llandrillo.

In a close competition in the traditional section, Glyn Owens placed Lynn Foxwell’s pair of Welsh Black cattle just ahead of a pair of Shorthorns, from Eric Evans and Sioned Lloyd, of Llanrwst.

In a good day for the ladies, R O Williams’ Charollais heifer then went on to take the interbreed best female, pairs and overall champion, shown by Aled Shenton, who also celebrated his birthday on the show day.

Following successes at both the Eglwysbach and Llanrwst shows, Tomos Roberts, of Denbigh, was heading the Tri Hwrdd league competition, sponsored by the FUW, with a trio of Hardy Speckled rams.

Tying for second place were Geraint Jones, Moelfre Fawr, with Welsh Mountain, and Myfyr Jones, Eglwysbach, with Badger face.

The final placing rested with judge Geraint Davies, Fedw Arian, Bala, who placed Tomos Roberts first, Geraint Jones, second and Myfyr Jones, third.

In the sheep interbreed competitions, judge John Owen, of Rowen, placed a Blue Faced Leicester ram lamb from Carron and Carwyn Davies, Nebo, ahead of the Hardy Speckled shown by Tomos Roberts, Denbigh.

In a competition which favoured the hill breeds, the group of three competition was won by Tomos Roberts’ Hardy Speckled, with Enoch Jenkins’ Welsh Mountain in reserve.

In a grand finale to an outstanding show season, Tomos Roberts then went on to take the champion in the hill breeds section, followed by Gethin Jones, Defaidty, with a Welsh Mountain ram.

The lowland section was taken by Meirion Davies, Trofarth, with his Charollais ewe, with reserve going to local breeder Heledd Jones, Bwlch y Beudy, Cerrigydrudion with a Texel.

Following an excellent showing season, Meirion Roberts’ Charollais ewe was awarded the ultimate interbreed champion, followed by Heledd Jones’ Texel.