Report on Talgarth Festival 2007

The 12th annual Talgarth Festival was officially opened after a performance from the Tredegar Corps of Drums followed by Barbershop group The Lifeguards. With the Square and Bronllys Road closed to traffic, local people and visitors were able to explore and enjoy the varied programme, with entertainment and exhibits located a various venues around the town - although everything stopped temporarily while hundreds of visitors watched the duck race on the river Ennig!

The Festival provided something for everyone. A craft fair in the Town Hall filled with stalls selling beautifully crafted items from turned wooden bowls and vases to salt dough decorations and stained glass. The Countryside Marquee was home to approximately forty exhibitors who demonstrated skills such as wool spinning, making straw dollies, lovespoons, candles and baskets while others had brought their Shire horses, alpacas, rabbits, owls and bees for us to admire. Other exhibits included displays by the Brecon Beacons National Park, Countryside Council for Wales and the Brecknock Wildlife Trust and there was a very interesting display of old farming tools.

An expanded dog show on the School Field and a children's pet show were very popular as well. Walking back to the centre of town there were marquees housing cookery demonstrations, organic vegetables, and other stalls including airbrush tattoos and The Plant Shop. On George's Green live bands and a DJ played all afternoon to an appreciative audience. There was more music in the evening in the form of a Candlelit Concert in the mediaeval church of St Ellwye, high up in the Black Mountains on Saturday, and Talgarth's own Male Voice Choir performing in St Gwendoline's on Sunday. For those with more up-beat tastes local pubs supplied more live music 'til late.

Children had a wonderful weekend on Doc's Meadow where there were bouncy castles, huge slides, trampolines, goal shoot games and lots more. On the Square street entertainers, MoonCarrot gave puppet shows, showed them magic tricks and in-between kept them occupied by learning circus skills as well as a visit from a storyteller on Saturday afternoon. Throughout Sunday afternoon Celtic Links, a local Scottish dance group performed in the street, with a chance for people to join in.

As well as the many fairground events, St. Gwendoline's Church opened its doors with wonderful floral decorations, cream teas and the parish records open for inspection. In the church hall Talgarth WI provided more refreshments and there was a display from Talgarth's Historical and Family History Societies. At the Bell Talgarth Gardening Club's annual show people could view enormous onions, cabbages and marrows, wonderful flowers and home made cakes and jams. There was a children's section too with amazing animals and other objects made from vegetables. As well as the poetry competition, also held in the Bell Hotel.

The whole Festival was rounded off with an amazing fireworks display.

2007 Prize Winners

Duck Race

1. 1187 Helen Smith
2. 135 Jeff Gwillim
3. 712 Harry Evans (prize money kindly donated by Brian & Joy to Festival funds.)
4. 893 Clem – Queen’s Avenue
5. 532 Matthew Mills
6. 263 Geoff Lewis
7. 120 Ron Clarke
8. 102 Liam Cleary
9. 837 Cai Skyrme
10. 622 Andy Blair
Booby Prize (last duck) 1230 Cynthia Argent

Prize Programme Draw
Julie Devereux

Raffle
Cricket set donated by Kevin Phillips 181
Champagne donated by Talgarth Festival Group 300
Box of chocolates donated by the Co-op 228
Children’s pink set 172

Guess the Weight of the Cake
Maureen Weale – kindly donated the cake to the Bell Gardening Club auction.

Pet Show
1st - Jordan Reid - Lizards

Dog Show

Best Pedigree
1st Chris Price, Builth Wells - whippet
2nd V Thomm, Llangorse – Cocker spaniel
3rd Sara Marcelsanca, c/o Rhydybont - Greyhound

Best Crossbreed
1st Emma Williams, Cardiff
2nd Alice Lord, Trefecca
3rd Sara Marcelsanca, c/o Rhydybont

Best Puppy (6-12 months)
1st Danny, Dickley, Kent – Cocker Spaniel
2nd Loz Skelding, Burntwood, Staffs – Dalmatian
3rd Claire Duffield, Doldowlod - Husky

Best Veteran (9 years and over)
1st Anita Harvey, Talgarth – X breed
2nd Andrea Milne, Llanfrynach – X breed
3rd Julie Wilson, Talgarth - Lurcher

Best Short Legged
1st Jaye Swaine, Talgarth – Wire Haired Dachshund
2nd Angela Dodds, Talgarth -
3rd Jordan Reid, Talgarth – Yorkshire Terrier

Best Long Legged
1st Julie Toubkin, Talgarth – Scottish Deer Hound
2nd Sarah Marcelsanca, Rhydybont – Greyhound
3rd Emma Williams, Cardiff, X breed

Best Biscuit Catcher from Judge
1st Emma Williams, Cardiff, X breed
2nd A James, Talgarth – Golden Labrador
3rd Megan, Bronant, Talgarth – Jack Russell Terrier

Best Child Handler (14 and under)
1st Stephanie Williams, ? – Collie X
2nd Megan, Bronant, Talgarth – Jack Russell Terrier
3rd Alice Lord, Trefecca – X breed

Most Obedient Dog
1st M Mogford, Newport – Bearded Collie
2nd Emma Williams, Cardiff, X breed
3rd Judy Walker, Talgarth – Labrador

Best Retrieve (judge’s article)
1st Judy Walker, Talgarth – Labrador
2nd Alice Lord, Trefecca – X breed
3rd Sadie Tepper, Bristol – Bassett Fauve de Bretagne

Best Short Haired
1st A James, Talgarth – Golden Labrador
2nd Janice Morris, Brecon - Chiuhaua
3rd Shaun Williams, Talgarth – English Springer Spaniel

Best Long Haired
1st M Mogford, Newport – Bearded Collie
2nd Julie Wilson, Talgarth - Lurcher
3rd M Mogford, Newport – Bearded Collie

Best Condition
1st Judy Walker, Talgarth – Lurcher
2nd Stephanie Williams, ? – Collie Cross
3rd V Thomas, Llangorse – Cocker Spaniel

Best Recall
1st Judy Walker,Talgarth – Labrador
2nd Julie Wilson, Talgarth - Lurcher
3rd Emma Williams, Cardiff – X breed

Judge’s Eye Catcher
1st Andrea Davies, Llanbedr – Jack Russell
2nd Loz Skelding, Burntwood, Staffs - Dalmation
3rd Julie Wilson, Talgarth - Lurcher

2006 Prize winners

Duck Race

1st: 961 Paul Austin
2nd: 1268 Paddy Padmore
3rd: 598 Evelyn Jenkins
4th: 269 D Jones
5th: 986 Deb Morris
6th: 225 Eve Wagland
7th: 1282 G Hale
8th: 838 Elain Craig
9th: 810 Ken Weale
10th: 301 Sheila Jones
Booby Prize: 829 Jackie Price

Prize Programme Draw

Rev. Dr. David Lloyd from Swanage, Dorset

Dog Show

Best Pedigree: Slip with Chris Price
Best X Breed: Du with Tyler Morris
Best Puppy: Coco with Angela Dodds
Young Handler: Charlie with Jordan Rees
Fastest biscuit eater: Sam with Lily Powell
Best fancy dress: Sam & Lucky with Lily & Nia Powell
Champion: Slip with Chris Price
Reserve Champion: Du with Tyler Morris

Pet Show

Pet lizard with Jordan Reid

Rodeo Bull

Adult: Wayne Blake - 53 seconds
Teenage: Connor Butler - 66 seconds
Child: Liam Spackman - 58 seconds