Gwent Young Farmers have had a busy few weeks with stock-judging competitions, battling it out at both the English and Welsh Winter Fairs.

Following the county stock-judging day held at Nant-y-derri Farm, Llantilio Crossenny, by kind permission of the Cooke family, a team was chosen to represent the county at the English and Welsh Winter Fairs’ YFC stock-judging competitions.

First stop was the English Winter Fair held at Stafford Showground, with Gwent YFC coming second overall as a team. Successes were had across the board and competitors went home with handfuls of prize cards.

Highlights of the competition included Will Probert and Andrew Watkins of Crucorney YFC winning best beef carcase team and taking home the Mick Bradshaw Trophy for best scoring overall carcase team.

Next in the calendar was the Royal Welsh Winter Fair held at Builth Wells. Despite the wet conditions at the showground, Gwent members had a successful couple of days, with Rhys Cooke from Raglan YFC winning first place in U26 beef stock-judging, Aled Groucott winning the U26 lamb trimming competition and Lizzie William from Raglan coming third place in the U21 lamb carcase judging.

Rhys Whittingham, Gwent Federation of Young Farmers Clubs county chairman, said: “We are lucky to have some very keen and able stock-judgers within Gwent Young Farmers. Congratulations to everyone who competed at both county and national levels competitions this year.”

Young Farmers’ stock-judging competitions give members the opportunity to develop their stockmanship skills by being presented four animals to place according to quality and present their reasons to the judge for doing so. There are both livestock and carcase competitions for YFC members to compete in.

For further details about Gwent Young Farmers and how to join a club, contact county secretary Sally Richardson on 01291 672602.

How did they get on?

English Winter Fair:

1st place U26 beef carcase: Will Probert (Crucorney YFC)

2nd place U26 live beef: Amy Phillips (Raglan YFC)

2nd place U26 lamb live and carcase: Aled Groucott (Abergavenny YFC)

2nd place U26 beef live and carcase: Rhys Cooke (Raglan YFC)

2nd place live and carcase team: Aled Groucott and Rhys Cooke

1st place U21 beef carcase: Andrew Watkins (Crucorney YFC)

2nd place U21 pork carcase: Meggie Jarrold (Raglan YFC)

2nd place pork carcase team: Meggie Jarrold and Lizzie Williams (Raglan YFC)

2nd place beef live and carcase team: Rhys Cooke and Nerys Lewis

2nd place lamb live and carcase team: Aled Groucott and Georgia Parry

2nd place U26 live and carcase team– Aled Groucott, Rhys Cooke, Nerys Lewis (Usk YFC) and Georgina Parry (Raglan YFC).

Welsh Winter Fair:

1st place U26 beef judging: Rhys Cooke

1st place U26 lamb trimming: Aled Groucott

3rd U21 lamb carcase judging: Lizzie Williams