Breed earns day in sun; FARM & COUNTRY ISSUES Rural Affairs Editor Andrew Forgrave reports from the North Wales Agricultural Show, Caernarfon.

Byline: Andrew Forgrave

Cob champion Felinmore Triple Crown, an eight-year-old stallion, owned by Keith Spencer, of the Felinmor Stud, Aberystwyth, and produced by David Roberts (pictured) and his wife Nia, of Coedpoeth 090707caernarfon-3; Dolgellau vet Eleri Jones of DW Jones, Islyn Stud, Trawsfynydd, with Islyn Cantores, a homebred three-year-old mare who was Section A youngstock and supreme champion 100707Caernarfon-15; Champion young handler Gerallt Hughes, 11, of Ffridd, Nantlle, with his Welsh Black Mountain shearling ewe 090707caernarfon-14

A RETIRED civil engineer is cementing his reputation as a sheep pioneer by blazing a trail for the South African Dorper breed.

John Rowlands, 67, established the first Zwartbles flock on Anglesey in the wake of the island's 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Now he has become the first Welsh breeder to acquire Dorpers - a breed developed in South Africa which is now being examined in the UK because of its tolerance to climate extremes.

Mr Rowlands, of 15-acre Hen Feudy, Ysgubor Fawr, Llanfairpwll, was busy promoting the breed at last weekend's North Wales Agricultural Show, Caernarfon.

"They're a cross between Dorset Horns and the Tailed Black Head Persian," he said.

"Ewes produce lambs for up to seven years, lambing percentages of i5O%-i8o% can be achieved, and they thrive on rough ground.

"They're also a hair breed, so don't need shearing and Dorper skin is the world's most sought after sheepskin - in South Africa the skin can be 20% of the total carcass value."

Mr Rowlands bought his ewes from the Viridian flock in Berkshire - the UK's first and founded on New Zealand imports.

Next step is to buy a ram to build his own pure Dorper flock - then crossbreed them with his Zwartbles.

"I'll cross them both ways and hope to established a new breed called the "Monsa" - derived from the name Zwartbles and the Welsh name for Anglesey."

On Saturday Mr Rowlands' work with the Zwartbles breed caught the eye of interbreed judge Mr T Evans, of Llangernyw.

He chose a Hen Feudy shearling ewe as his reserve supreme champion in the 12-breed final of the sheep competition.

Overall champion was a Charollais aged ewe fielded by serial winner Wynne Davies, of Bronallt, Morfa Nefyn.

Sheep entries were up at a show which belied recent tales of woe with the weather. The showground, on Bethel Fields, was bathed in sunshine and two retrieval tractors put on standby were not needed.

Heading the cattle entries was Afonwen breeder Jim Hollingsworth, his commercial animals already lauded the other side of the border. Fresh from a section one-two at the rain-sodden Royal Show, the same two beasts claimed the interbreed and reserve championships at Caernarfon.

Again it was Katherine, a 13-month three-quarter Limousin heifer, who got the nod over her Pandy Farm rival Bling Bling, an 18-month pure Limousin.

Leading the Welsh Black charge was Aled Thomas, 18, of Llechwedd, T)/n Lon, Holyhead.

Breed champion was Clegir Modlan, a two-year-old heifer out of a Brysgaga cow and by Meaudd Hebog 151.

Aled, watched by dad Gerald, of GW & RN Thomas & Sons, will be representing the breed society as its young ambassador at this month's Royal Welsh Show.

"I was also at the Royal Show last week," he said. "I have to accompany the chief executive and help present prizes, that sort of thing."

In the busy horse rings a sororial rivalry was played out by Section A Welsh Pony exhibitors Eleri and Dora Jones, of the Islyn Stud, Trawsfynnydd.

Eleri, 25, a full-time veterinary surgeon from Dolgellau, emerged triumphant with youngstock champion Islyn Cantores, a three-year-old filly bred by her parents who won the Section A championship at last year's Meirionnydd Show.

Her sister Dora, 18, had to be content with reserve spot after running with Islyn Asbri, a four-year-old homebred brood mare who won this year's Clwyd WPCS section championship.

In the adjacent ring the Section D championship went to a Welsh Cob with an illustrious and varied past.

Felinmor Triple Crown, an eight-year-old stallion, was owned by Keith Spencer, of the Felinmor Stud, Aberystwyth, and produced and exhibited by David and Nia Roberts, of Coedpoeth, Wrexham.

Triple Crown was young stock champion at the WCPS centenary show in 2002 before switching to ridden competition, culminating in reserve spot at last year's Horse of the Year Show.

CAPTION(S):

Kevin Owen, of the Gwynedd Axemen, demonstrates his skills aloft 090707caernarfon-1; Supreme poultry champion was this Black Old English Game Bantam hen, shown by Dylan Huws, 16, of Bethel 090707caernarfon-11; Jim Hollingsworth, of Pandy Farm, Afonwen, Mold, with Katherine, a muchgarlanded 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer who collected yet another championship by winning the cattle interbreed sash 090707caernarfon-2; John Rowland, of Hen Feudy, Ysgubor Fawr, Llanfairpwll, with a homebred 18-month-old Zwartbles shearling ewe which was reserve supreme champion at the 2007 North Wales Agricultural Show, Caernarfon All pictures: ANDREW FORGRAVE 090707caernarfon-10