[Frieslandfilly]

I imagine a fair few of you have been to the previous shows in Builth Wells, I would like to go this year but it always clashes with our 'spring production' at amdram. I am looking for reasons to convince myself to have a year off from the 'dramatics' and go to the show instead. It will be a 3 hr trip for us, although we will probably stay over somewhere. What are your experiences and is it worth my while, dont all shout yes at once! 

[morri2]

We've not been yet either - were supposed to go last year and didn't 'cos I was ill!!    A couple of local smallholders here say its  really worth making the effort.  Hope we'll make it  this year, but probably just for the day as were only an hour or so away from Builth.

[kaz]

It is well worth the visit. We have seen this show grow from a fairly smallish affair to something that is probably in a class of it's own. There is something there for everyone that has a smallholding or even if not. It targets the smaller farmer rather than at the big boys. Bite the bullet and go, you wont regret it.

[Bright Raven]

I will be there with my family. If we made some stick on avatars for our lapels we could spot eachother. I would love to meet TAS folks for real.

[knightquest]

Didn't know about this. Can peeps supply info please? You know where exactly and when?

Thank you.

Ian

[Rosemary]

21st and 22nd May, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society showground at Builth Wells.

We went two years ago - missed it last year as it fell the day we got the keys for here. Going this year - bought tickets already. Well worth a visit - but we only went one day last time and felt we didn't have enough time, so going for two days this year. We camped - the weather was poor but the campsite has good hot showers. We'll be hotelling or B&Bing this year.

Excellent for smallholders - no cattle classes, but sheep, goats, pigs, poultry. Championship dog show. Sale of vintage / old equipment - we were quite fascinated by the folk in the pitch next to us who had bought a two furrow plough and had managed to get it strapped to the roof of their Nissan X Trail for the journey home 

It woudl be good to meet other TASers - we met thewoolyshepherd there. Everyone was really friendly - and having 3 sheep wasn't unusual 

[doganjo]

Which Champ dog show is it, Rosemary - it's not on our calendar

[Frieslandfilly]

I think I am leaning towards the show more and more, and it would be great to meet people in 'real' life as opposed to 'virtual'. We went to the Oxford & Buck show last year and it was great but it was really for the 'big boys' there is no way I would get machinery that size on my 5 acres LOL.

[Fleecewife]

I think we will try to go, farm sitters permitting. Not been before.  We tried to persuade the RHAAS to host a smallholders show up here but no luck so far. 
Does anyone know if dogs are allowed on the field? With a dog show there they should be.   Places like the Great Yorkshire don't allow dogs in so we don't go there - nowhere to leave the dogs.
It would be great to meet up with other TASers.

[Rosemary]

Which Champ dog show is it, Rosemary - it's not on our calendar

Don't know - check the website. I'm sure it said championship dog show but I might have picked it up wrong - a dog show is a dog show to me (pleb)  When you talk about pedigrees and stuff, I get glad we've got two mongs. 

[Rosemary]

We tried to persuade the RHAAS to host a smallholders show up here but no luck so far. 
Does anyone know if dogs are allowed on the field? With a dog show there they should be.   
It would be great to meet up with other TASers.

Check the website about dog access. I'm sure there were dogs going about - yes, I'm sure there were. www.rwas.co.uk

I met with the people who run GardeningScotland a couple of years ago about a smallholding "add-on" to GardeningScotland.  I'm sure I put something on here seeking feedback. I was working for RHET at the time then we moved here, so I didn't pursue it. If there was a demand, they might pick it up.

[piggy]

Just copied this from the website.

Other than Guide Dogs, visitors are encouraged not to bring their dogs to the Smallholder & Garden Festival, but if it is essential to do so dogs must be kept on a lead the whole time and are restricted from entering the buildings. Please do not leave dogs in cars.

[doganjo]

There ARE a number of dog shows at Built Wells but not during the show to my knowledge.

http://www.rwas.co.uk/en/garden-festival/

[Rosemary]

There will be a Traditional Rare & Native Cattle Breeds competition at the show in 2011 - see the Cattle section of the forum for more information.

The dog show is a Premier Open Dog not a Championship Show - there will be 7 or 8 breeds that can qualify for Crufts from this show. Spoke to a lovely man called Denys Simpson, who's the Chair of the Welsh Kennel Club. The Secretary for the show is Julie Howells and her contact details are 01269 841356 if you are interested in the dog section.

[doganjo]

There will be a Traditional Rare & Native Cattle Breeds competition at the show in 2011 - see the Cattle section of the forum for more information.

The dog show is a Premier Open Dog not a Championship Show - there will be 7 or 8 breeds that can qualify for Crufts from this show. Spoke to a lovely man called Denys Simpson, who's the Chair of the Welsh Kennel Club. The Secretary for the show is Julie Howells and her contact details are 01269 841356 if you are interested in the dog section.

I couldn't see it on the website. Will look again.  A Premier show is equivalent to an open show for most breeds - so normally only people within and hour or so's drive will go.  But thanks for the heads up, I'll pass it on.  Will put it on our calendar too.