South Wales A Brief Report of 2010
The year started off with all good intentions and plans but low attendance at training days and poor weather at the Royal Welsh Show had its effect.
TRAINING DAYS
Training days were very poorly attended during spring & summer with only one or two people turning up at our training days, although there was a great improvement in September at Mynydd Illtyd, Libanus near Brecon where 10 trainees and 5 branch members attended. Although it rained on Saturday it didn't dampen the enthusiasm or effort with approximately 15 metres of walling taken down, with the footings and first lift put back. Sunday was a lot more pleasant day where through stones, second lift and copings were finished, the day ended at about 3.30pm and all involved enjoyed the course.
SHOWS
The Royal Welsh Show saw us build another bench and a small display wall, which was demonstrated in the morning and afternoon as part of a display. The stone was supplied by Rhys Bunford. The weather was not very kind to us again over the 4 days but as all good wallers we just got on with it, but it was nice to see Sean Adcock come down on the Tuesday from North Wales for a spot of stone walling in extremely wet conditions. Branch members met up, practiced some walling along with chatting and drinking lots of tea over the 4 days.
Pembrokeshire Show Haverfordwest was attended for the first time by the South Wales Branch, a 5 metre curved wall was built on the entrance to the showground using blue pennant stone supplied by Gwyrdd quarry of the Swansea valley. The Branch rated this show as very successful.
COMPETITIONS AND TRAINING
Vaynor Show Merthyr Tydfil 5 competitors took part in our competition with Sean Adcock winning the professional class while Stephen Meredith
took the amateur class. An information and display tent was put on the show field, but more effort must be put in for it to be a success next year. The Branch must support this show & competition more in the future as the show always supports the Branch
A Certification Test Week was held at the end of September at Mynydd Maen Common Newbridge, a successful test day was had in appalling weather conditions with 2 initial passes and 6 intermediate passes.
October saw 5 members of the branch travel to north Wales for a Clawdd course weekend; we stayed at Blaen y Nant Farmhouse what a beautiful place (check it out). The course was excellent we also had a guided tour of the walling at Blaen y Nant and a slide presentation in the evening, which was most enjoyable.
The year came to an end at our AGM in November with slight changes to the committee so for 2011. Things are looking good with one extra show to attend, The Smallholder & Garden Festival at Builth Wells on May 21/22. So keep clicking on and see how we are doing.