Seven Stunners from the Royal Welsh Winter Fair
Photos by 1st Class Images
Entries at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair were at an eight year high, with 586 foals and yearlings entered.
The smallest ponies, the Welsh section As had the highest numbers entered with 63 catalogued in the filly foal class. It was Ryan Wilson’s colt foal, Cilmery Casemiro, however, who held section judge Adrian Bowen’s attention through the championship to take the tricolour. Bred by Julian Williams, Casemiro is by Cwmhir Wildfire out of Cilmery Surprize. The pair pipped the reserve champions, Enid Rees’ Erw Wastad Platinum Queen and handler Aled Reed to the title.
They later went on to stand reserve in the Overall Welsh Championship under section A breeder Dennis Price but a change of judge to Emrys Jones for the overall supremes saw them scoop the ultimate prize. Ryan’s partner Gemma Morris won the supreme just two years ago in 2021 with her grandmother Jocelyn Price’s Courtway Arctic Fox.
The show’s first championship rosette and the Welsh section B title headed home with Yvonne and Hywel Davies’ Cadlanvalley Princess Charming, the winning yearling filly. She is by Pittybeck Prince Charming out of Cadlanvalley Georgette. It was the Davies’ daughter Hayley Grota who handled her. In reserve for the section B title was Sandy Anderson’s Thistledown Kingfisher in the capable hands of Colin Tibbey.
Nicole Wayman’s Section C colt foal Brampton Ray Royale was led by her partner Will Perins to be judge Huw Reed’s choice to top his class and the section championship. He then went on to take the overall reserve supreme accolade. Will showed the flashy colt’s sire, Starlans Sun Ray to win his stallion class and reserve stallion at the 2022 Royal Welsh, and his dam, Abergavenny Hetti is a former Royal Welsh Winter Fair champion amongst her many accolades in hand.
In reserve for the section C title was Decland Davies showing his own La’Belles Lady Penelope, the winning filly foal. Bred by Louise Lewis, she is by Thorneynewside The Gigalo out of Brookhamlodge Polly Poppet. She was purchased by Decland earlier this year and has had a successful season of showing, with wins including at the Gower Foal Show. The show was something of a dream for Decland, who secured two further championships. Decland also showed Joshua Bassett’s Sybrand yearling filly Willows Jubilee Queen to stand coloured champion, with the reserve champion coloured rosette awarded to Rosita Hamer’s second placed yearling, What a Charade.
Decland’s own homebred Royal Welsh winning yearling colt Steppers Love Island Baby, by Llwynhywel Nebuchanezar out of Thorneyside Miss Congeniality, impressed judge Daniel Hughes to be his choice as Welsh section D champion.
In reserve was colt foal Rhydeilian Morning Dare Devil, shown by Shae Price on behalf of new owners Sophia Chambers and Will Davies who recently purchased him from breeder Alun Hughes at auction.
Mr David Price Jones presided over the part bred Welsh section. His championship headed home with Sam Mackaill’s Rhos Euphoria. Bred by Jill Godden, the quality yearling is by Whiteleaze Democrat and out of Rhos Exotic. In reserve was Joanna Adams’ Tandridge Songbird, produced by Alan Charlesworth but shown by Simon Charlesworth.
Rebecca Faulkner’s Hatterall Strumble Head made a bid for two section championships. Having won his partbred foal exceeding 148cm and maturity class on the show’s opening morning, he returned for a second shot at goal a day later in the sports horse section, only to stand second to Leander Walton’s Compliments Coronation Prospect, out of Sheepcote Compliment by Avanti Aorous Archie. He is the third full sibling to win a class at the Winter Fair, the first being 2019 reserve supreme Cossette’s Prospect.
Champion and reserve sports horse headed home with the first and second placed yearlings however. Charles Morgan was delighted to receive the champion rosette from judge Martin Jones with Richard and Delyth Thomas’ homebred Rapid River 9. A quality filly who seemed to take the show’s buzzy atmosphere completely in her stride, she gave an excellent account of herself from start to finish. She is out of Rapid River 8, and by the extremely successful sire Roviris, who sired the 2017 supreme champion Tigbourne, now a successful ridden contender. Charles and Rapid River 9 are photographed with judge Martin Jones and section sponsors Kathy and Peter Bowdler. The reserve was Maria Williams’ Millbry Summer Rose, shown by Sophie Williams.
