2023 Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show

...Wednesday 9th August

Glamorgan Star news 09/08/2023

6 minutes read

A message from the Show president

Mrs Nicola Gibson DL

I AM very honoured to be asked to be the 2023 Show president. It is very special for me to follow my father and grandfather in this role.

The Vale Show has always been an important day in our family calendar. When I was quite young, we parked around the main ring in Penllyn. Mum and Dad would leave us a splendid packed lunch in the car and they would go to a huge and extremely grand luncheon in an enormous tent at the top end of the show field. We had a lovely day running around the ring, dodging the horses and cars and the culmination of the day was always my favourite, the gymkhana.

It is a long time ago now that my father mentioned in the kitchen at Pancross that there was a nice little job going if I was interested. At the time I was doing the books for Keith and Dad, as I still do but thought why not apply? It’s only a little summer job. I had absolutely no idea what it entailed!!

Without Pam and Dai Harris, I would have been completely lost. Pam had been secretary for nine years and it was the first show at Fonmon – a splendid new show field. I watched in awe as Pam efficiently organised the event.

Luckily, September until January is quite quiet, but as soon as March comes along the pressure builds to a crescendo until show day, where you hope to keep 20,000 people entertained, safe and happy.

Many people do not realise that the Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Society run the Vale Show, with no help from any external agency or council. The society was established in 1772 by a group of farmers and land owners with the initial meeting in the Bear Hotel in Cowbridge. The point of the society was to run crop and animal classes to promote and improve agriculture in the Vale.

The whole event is paid for by the society and run by a committee of unpaid volunteers, the majority still being farmers from the Vale. We are very grateful to all those companies and individuals who help the society through sponsorship – particularly Wayne Griffiths of Nathaniel Cars in Bridgend who has been the main show sponsor for a number of years.

I thoroughly enjoyed my 16 years as general secretary and would like to thank everyone who helped along the way. We had some wonderful show days and some very wet – I met many fascinating people and we had a brilliant show team including the Show director John Hanks, and Jonathan Davies who has marked out the trade stand positions for over 30 years. I don’t think the show would still be running if it wasn’t for the hard work and dedication of Dai Harris – he really is the backbone of the event.

At the show this year will have many new and exciting trade stands, along with the KC registered Dog Show, Food Court, Horticultural Section, Home Produce competitions and Craft Fair. There is a Rabbit Show this year and the horse classes have been updated and improved.

Thank you to all who show their animals at this event, it is a massive job to get them looking and behaving impeccably in order to compete.

Following my retirement in 2014, Sarah Fenner has taken the reins and is doing an excellent job. Mocing from Fonmon back to Penllyn hasn’t been easy, but Sarah has worked tirelessly, along with her team. to make this a successful event. I would like to wish them all the very best for an enjoyable day on 9th August. I am very much looking forward to it.

A message from the Show chairman

Ian Thomas

ON behalf of the show committee, I would like to invite you all to join us at the 2023 Vale of Glamorgan show, which will be held at Penllyn.

A very warm welcome goes to this year’s lady president, Mrs Nicola Gibson, and her husband Keith. Nicola a former show secretary still makes a tremendous contribution to the show and is very much appreciated. We hope that Nicola and her family have an enjoyable day.

This year’s show really does have something for all the family – with classes for cattle, sheep, dogs, horses and ponies, home produce, handicrafts and children’s competitions.

We have The BMX show and the fairground for children. The farmers’ market food court is always popular – as is the Horticultural show. The Agricultural Machinery Demonstration and the Grand parade will take place in the main ring.

Thanks must go to the Llewellyn and Homfray families, to judges, stewards, competitors and committee members for their commitment over the past to make this year’s show a great success.

We hope you all have an enjoyable day and thank you for your support.

Dog Show

Peter Pask, Dog Show secretary

ANOTHER year has passed in the blink of an eye and the committee is looking forward to a show that is popular with both exhibitors and spectators.

Although entries have not closed, it looks as if there will be lots of dogs on display. This is one of the most prestigious shows in Wales and exhibitors are keen to show off their pedigree breeds. Last year, the weather was exceptionally hot so hopefully it will be a little cooler this year – but we have large marquees available which provide shade if needed. The committee will be available to answer any questions about the pedigree breeds.

All roads lead to the Vale Show

THIS year, access to the Vale Show has been transformed.

There will be three different routes into the Show for motorists coming from:

1 The M4 (via Pencoed and Llangan). This is the blue route on the map.

2 Bridgend along the A48. This is the lilac route on the map.

3 Cowbridge, Llantwit Major and Barry traffic will leave the A48 at the Forage Farm Shop Roundabout. This is the red route on the map.

All three routes are colour coded on the map.

Countryside Marquee

THE Glamorgan Smallholders will once again take over the Countryside Marquee, in co-operation with representatives from the Cowbridge Ministry Area.

The marquee will host sheep, goats, and rabbits. You’ll be able to see spinning demonstrations and goat milking. There will be displays of wool, produce from local smallholdings and children’s activities including face painting and bracelet braiding.

Home produce, floral crafts and the children’s marquee

WE welcome you once again to the home produce, floral crafts and children’s competitions marquee where all are welcome to enter the competitions.

This year, we are celebrating the King’s Coronation in the Chairman’s Cup competition. There are the usual cookery classes. Why not enter the coffee sponge or the gingerbread cake? The flower arrangements are always impressive, as are all our craft classes. The children’s classes, which cover all ages, are also very popular. The handwriting poem for age 8 – 11 promises to be quite amusing this year.

Our schedule is on the Vale Show website. For further information, contact secretary Janet Lewis on 01443 225202.

Craft Fair

THE Craft Fair is a fantastic opportunity to meet the makers, browse and purchase from unique small businesses.

There will be a wide variety of arts and crafts stalls using different materials such as wood, textiles and glass. There is something for everyone – including an opportunity for your beloved pet to have its portrait produced in glass or pencil.

Show jumping

SHOW jumping at the Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show will see national riders competing for top prizes, including a Horse of the Year Show qualifier.

Competitors will be coming from across the UK to compete in the show jumping classes, including Wales’s number one show jumper, Glamorgan-born Mark Edwards, who will be competing in the 1.40m Open and throughout the day with many horses.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, this year’s show will be more exciting than ever and is not one to be missed at Penllyn Castle Park. The show jumping ring can be viewed by all.