THE 175th anniversary of Chepstow Agricultural Society was celebrated in style with a gala dinner within a mile of where it all began.

There were 174 members and supporters of the society at the dinner and presentation evening at St Pierre hotel and country club on Friday (February 10).

The highlight of the meal was the beef supplied by butcher HJ?Edwards at?Chepstow Garden?Centre less than a mile away

The society began life as the Chepstow Farmers’ Club and its first recorded event was a ploughing match at nearby Hayesgate in 1841.

Society chairman Mr Alun Morgan said: “It is wonderful to be here to celebrate 175 years since it was started at the top of the drive at Hayesgate.”

The address was given by Mrs Winnie Jones who, with her late husband Ernie, attended 60 of the annual shows held by the society.

She gave a detailed history of the society – based on the writings of her husband – from that first match at the farm of Mr Phillips to the present day,.

The first dinner was held at The George in Chepstow and there was a show at Piercefield Park in 1920.

The first show after the Second World War was in 1947 at Wyelands on the outskirts of the town where it stayed until the estate was sold.

It then moved to The Cayo near Shirenewton and later to Windmill Farm in Rogiet and to Mount Ballan, the home of Olympic show-jumping medallist David Broome, near Caldicot before being sited at Chepstow Racecourse in the early 1980s.

In 1987 the first of a decade of shows was held at Itton before a move back to the racecourse in 1999 although there was no show in 2002 because of the foot and mouth outbreak.

With cloven-hoofed stock still not allowed at the racecourse, the show moved to Broadwell Farm at Crick in 2003 where it stayed for seven years although wet weather led to the cancellation of the 2007 show.

The show has been held at Chepstow Racecourse since 2012 which Mrs Jones described as “a very good site.”

She said there were too many people who had made “a tremendous contribution” to name individually but she did single out members of the Young Farmers Club who spend three days preparing and dismantling the site and the Richardson family “who provide man- and horsepower to take all the hurdles to the showground and back.”

Mrs Jones also referred to more difficult times for the society when it seemed that it might go under.

She said that in 1980, her husband, Mr Don Spencer and Gwyn Morgan were warned by treasurer Mr Charles Cross not to hold the show unless they could raise £1,000.

A fund-raising show at the Helmain Club in Usk featuring comedian Frank Carson made a small profit.

As well as memorabilia including old photos, many of the trophies awarded at the show were on display.

They included a trophy, which has been handed down through the Baker and Arthur families, which was first awarded to Thomas Langley who ploughed “one acre of land in the best and most workmanlike manner” on October 26 1847.

Chairman Mr Morgan also highlighted a glass trophy which was first presented to Mr B Baker in 1904.

He also praised the “wonderful work and enthusiasm to keep the society successful for so many years.”

He finished with a view to the future: “It’s been a long road – 175 years is a vast span and to celebrate I challenge the youth of the area and everyone who is involved in rural activities to support the farm classes and the show and keep the agricultural society going.”

------

Farm classes awards

TROPHIES for the farm classes as well as the Sheila Frost Award, given in memory of a former secretary of the society, were presented at the dinner.

They were presented by the society’s president Mr Neville Waters, beef judge Harry Rowlands and forage judge Chris Lewis.

TB Williams Memorial Cup for best field of grass: David Martin, Alvington. Midland Bank Cup for the best dairy herd, Abbot Cup for best small dairy herd and Briarhill Cup for the best black and white dairy cow: Jeff and Sian Jones, Undy. Gwilym Richards Cup for best large dairy herd: Stuart Williams and Son, Redwick. Ernie Jones Memorial Cup for best in-calf heifers: Rob Shewell, Tintern. Chris Seymour Perpetual Cup for most points in arable classes: Clive Pritchard, Llanishen. Barclays Perpetual Cup for best flock of sheep: Gwyn and Gail Jones, Earlswood. 

Evill Cup for most points in livestock classes: JCD and KA Richardson and Son, Itton. N and K Cooke and Son Salver for best stock bull:  James family, St Briavels. Pioneer Hi-Bred Cup for most points in maize classes, shared by: Graham and Anne James, St Brides Netherwent, Paul and Christine Guest, Woolaston and Will Hunt, Woolaston.

Rennie Cup for most points in forage classes: Graham and Anne James, St Brides Netherwent. 

Kath Richardson Memorial Award for best suckler herd: Daryl and Sarah Checker, Pilning. Llanvair Cup for non-holsteins: Fraser Price. 

Jack Bradley Cup for large farm (more than 300 acres): N and K Cooke, St Briavels. Cecil Gaskins for medium farm (200 to 300 acres): Steve and Chris Waters, Goldcliff. TH Jones Cup for small farm (up to 200 acres): David Williams, Tidenham. Sheila Frost Memorial Cup: Leah  Hardwick for her work with the horse section.

•See this week’s Review for more photographs.