Wednesday is always the busiest day at the show, and this year is no exception. There are people everywhere, all eager to share the experience of 'cob day' at the Royal Welsh.
Before I start on today's competitions - just a few bits of news from yesterday. You never know who you're going to bump into at the show and it was great to see the actor wandering around the showground yesterday. I used to go to Sunday School with him and his sister Rachel! It must be quite surreal for him to be one minute filming in LA and the next visiting the Royal Welsh in Llanelwedd. Yesterday there was only time for a quick chat with Matthew before heading back to watch the stars in the cattle ring.
Rachael Garside with the winning Beef Team of Five
I mentioned the Beef Team of Five competition yesterday and it was a truly awesome sight to see the mighty pedigree beef animals parading around the ring in all their glory. All around me, I could hear people speculating as to who would win this year, but most were in agreement when the judge picked the as this year's winners, making it two years in a row for them. When I interviewed the team, they assured me there was some serious celebrating to be done last night.
The other impressive sight came in the skies above the show yesterday as we were treated to a flypast by a Lancaster Bomber, in memory of Dick Moseley who was honorary treasurer of the show for many years and who passed away two years ago. He served as a rear gunner in the bomber during World War Two and successfully completed more than 50 sorties.
Back to today and the competition to decide this year's Dairy Supreme Champion - picked from the champions of each of the four dairy breeds here - the Holsteins, Jerseys, Ayrshires and Shorthorns. Earlier in the week I mentioned a friend of mine who was busy cleaning her caravan ready for the show and wondering why she went to all that effort every year.
Well, today all that effort paid off because their cow, Castellhyfryd Spirte Rosina, was crowned champion. Husband Simon was leading her in the ring and when the result came, Sian was on hand to share the moment. She had tears pouring down her face and told me in their television interview: "We've been bridesmaid so many times here, but this year we're the bride!". It was a great moment.
I've just returned from the shearing shed, packed to the rafters with people waiting to find out who is this year's Welsh Shearing Champion. The atmosphere was incredible, helped along by the best team of commentators at the show. Six men in the final, shearing 20 sheep in the fastest time with the fewest mistakes. My nerves were in shreds by the end and I was only watching! I can't reveal the name of the winner, because it hasn't been announced yet; that'll have to wait until tomorrow.
One thing that doesn't have to wait is the champion cob competitions.The George Prince of Wales Perpetual Cup, for the champion Welsh cob, went to Abergavenny Morning Queen, a mare owned by Jonathan Batt. The cob stallion winner (over eight years old) was Powysvalley Mr Harry, owned by E P and J A Pugh of Adfa, near Newtown, Powys.
At the moment, the Grand Parade of show winners is making its way around the main ring - a reminder of just how much it means to people to win at this show.
See you tomorrow.