Cymdeithas Defaid Balwen
Sheep Society
Balwen Society Annual Awards Dinner
Albert Williams Challenge Cup for Royal Welsh Winter Fair 2025 Mr Paul Hancox AURIC Flock
Maesteilo Challenge Cup for Aged Ram Royal Welsh Show 2026 Teulu Howells SHADOG Flock
Enock Challenge Cup for Yearling Ram Royal Welsh Show 2026 Zahvia Paewai Jones ZAV Flock
Hebog Challenge Cup for Royal Ram Lamb Royal Welsh Show 2026 Adam Lynch and Katie Mander HOLTHALL flock
Swffryd Challenge Cup for Aged Ewe Royal Welsh Show 2026 Goronwy Jones GOROF Flock
Llwni Challenge Cup for Yearling Ewe Royal Welsh Show 2026 Alun and Lowri Davies RHYDDWEN Flock
C.O. Price Challenge Cup for Ewe Lamb Royal Welsh Show 2026 Jac Thomas TY-TWYN Flock
Brianne Challenge Tankard Best Group of Three Royal Welsh Show 2026 Alun and Lowri Davies RHYDDWEN Flock
Glynglas Challenge Cup Opposite Sex Breed Champion Royal Welsh Show 2026 Alun and Lowri Davies RHYDDWEN Flock
Dolyfardin Challenge Cup Overall Breed Champion Royal Welsh Show 2026 Zahvia Paewai Jones ZAV Flock
Rhys Jones and Family Award for Reserve Champion National Show 2026 Carys Morgan ENOCK Flock
Rhys Jones and Family Challenge Cup for Supreme Champion National Show 2026 Zahvia Paewai Jones ZAV Flock
Gethin Morgan Challenge Cup for official Show and Sale Champion 2026 Alun and Lowri Davies RHYDDWEN Flock
Brickiln English Points Trophy 1st 48 points Adam Lynch and Katie Mander HOLTHALL Flock
2nd 42 points Emma Darby QUANTOCK FLOCK
Pencefn Challenge Cup Highest points at shows 2026 132 points Mr Steve Newman EBBW Flock
Tyderi Challenge Cup Second Highest points at shows 2026 101points Zahvia Paewai Jones ZAV Flock
3rd Helen Arnold PENARTHBROOK Flock
4th Alun and Lowri Davies RHYDDWEN Flock
Alun and Mair Williams Shield for the highest-point show animal at shows 2026: 1st, 36 points, Rhory Whitney LLANFOIST Flock
2nd: 33 points, Dylan Jones, HYDDOD Flock
3rd: 22 points Zahvia Paewai Jones ZAV Flock, Adam Lynch and Katie Mander HOLTHALL Flock
5th: 12 points Alun and Lowri Davies RHYDDWEN Flock
Vic Bowman Young Handlers Award Betsan Jones COTHI Flock
We then had two new awards for 2026,
Cadwrn Challenge Cup for highest points at Royal Welsh Show, National Show and Show and Sale 2026: 1st Zahvia Paewai Jones ZAV Flock
2nd Alun and Lowri Davies RHYDDWEN Flock
3rd Goronwy Jones GOROF Flock
Shadog Flock Video Competition Award: 1st Cari Haf Harries FFINANT Flock
2nd Zahvia Paewai Jones ZAV Flock
3rd Teulu Howells SHADOG Flock
4th Edward Jeynes EIN PRAIDD Flock
OFFICAL SHOW AND SALE
BALWEN SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW & SALE
SHOW RESULTS
What a fantastic day for the Balwen breed! A huge congratulations to everyone who entered, exhibited and supported our Annual Show & Sale.
Aged Ewe
1st - Lot 166 Mr A Davies, Rhyddwen Flock
2nd - Lot 115 Zahvia
3rd - Lot 118 Adam Lynch & Katie Mander
4th - Lot 117 Adam Lynch & Katie Mander
Shearling Ewe
1st - Lot 134 Zahvia
2nd - Lot 130 R J Evabs, Gables
3rd - Lot 133 Zahvia
Ewe Lamb
1st - Lot 168 Meinir & Gary Howells, Shadog
2nd - Lot 175 Zahvia
3rd - Lot 171 Meinir & Gary Howells, Shadog
4th - Lot 183 Geraint Jones
5th - Lot 141 Goronwy Jones
Ram Lamb
1st - Lot 224 Wil Thomas
2nd - Lot 222 Goronwy Jones
3rd - Lot 221 Goronwy Jones
4th - Lot 217 Maesteilo
5th - Lot 210 H Arnold
6th - Lot 225 Huw Williams
Shearling Ram
1st - Lot 233 Lynn Williams
2nd - Lot 231 Huw Williams
3rd - Lot 230 D A Harries
4th - 242 Teulu Downes
Aged Ram
1st - Lot 250 Zahvia
2nd - Lot 247 Mr A Davies, Rhyddwen Flock
3rd - Lot 254 S. Newman
RESERVE CHAMPION
Lot 224 – Ram Lamb – Wil Thomas
CHAMPION
Lot 116 – Aged Ewe – Mr A Davies, Rhyddwen Flock
A huge congratulations to all our exhibitors and a massive thank you to everyone who made the Annual Show & Sale such a success.
PHOTOGRAPHS NOW LIVE!
Take a look through the gallery captured by Bŵts Bach Brown – Hanna from Balwens Marli
https://bwtsbachbrown.pixieset.com/balwensocietyannualsh.../
Keep your eyes peeled…
TOP PRICES LIST TO FOLLOW!
About The Breed
The British Isles are home to many breeds of sheep — some introduced in recent years, while others have grazed these lands for centuries. Among them, the Welsh Mountain Sheep serves as an umbrella term for several breeds native to Wales. Through generations of careful breeding and selection, these sheep have developed into distinct types — one of which is the Balwen Welsh Mountain Sheep.
🌿 Origin: The Balwen comes from a small area of Wales, the Tywi Valley.
❄️ Near Extinction: In the harsh winter of 1947, the breed was almost wiped out, with just one ram surviving.
📈 Recovery: Numbers slowly increased through the 1950s and 1960s, and by the 1970s, interest in the breed spread beyond the valley.
🏛️ Breed Society: In 1985, the Balwen Welsh Mountain Sheep Society was founded. While the population has continued to grow, the Balwen remains on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s Watchlist today.
KEY QUALITIES
GREAT MOTHERS
Balwen ewes are widely recognised for their exceptional maternal qualities, making them a highly valued breed for both pedigree and commercial flocks. They are naturally attentive mothers with strong bonding instincts, good milk production, and an easy lambing ability that helps produce vigorous, healthy lambs. Their hardy nature and calm temperament allow them to thrive in a range of environments, particularly in challenging upland conditions where resilience and self-sufficiency are essential. These qualities make the Balwen a practical, low-input breed capable of rearing strong lambs with minimal intervention.
CARCASS AND MEAT
The Balwen Welsh Mountain is also respected for the quality of its carcass, producing lean, well-shaped lamb with excellent flavour. The breed develops naturally muscular carcasses without excessive fat cover, making it attractive to both traditional and modern markets. Balwen lamb is known for its fine texture and distinctive taste, reflecting the breed’s ability to efficiently convert forage into high-quality meat. Their manageable size and efficient growth make them an increasingly popular choice for breeders looking to combine hardiness, performance, and premium carcass characteristics.
MARKINGS
One of the most recognisable features of the Balwen Welsh Mountain is its striking and unique appearance. The breed is traditionally black or dark brown in colour with a distinctive white blaze running down the face, white socks on the legs, and a white tip to the tail. These markings give the Balwen its unmistakable character and strong visual identity among native sheep breeds. Combined with their compact build and alert expression, Balwens are admired not only for their practicality and performance, but also for their beauty and heritage significance within Welsh farming history.
Judges List
Please find below the contact list of judges for the year ahead.
We encourage all members to reach out to judges in their area — not only to discuss upcoming shows, but also to share ideas, experiences, and advice. Building strong connections within our community helps us all promote the Balwen Sheep and ensure high standards across the breed.
Members are especially encouraged to support and encourage Balwen Sheep classes at local agricultural shows. Many of our breeders are also able to judge Badger Face, Black Welsh Mountain, and other native breeds, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the ring.
If you’re planning to enter or organise a local show, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the judges listed — they’re always happy to offer guidance and support.
THE BRICKLIN SHIELD
For the highest points in show classes outside of Wales.
Presented in 2025 by Brian and Elizabeth Eagles long time breeders and supporters of the society who kept Balwens in England for many years. This award will be presented at our awards dinner in October
This award is different to the Welsh show points system as it does not require a Balwen list judge. Record all your results for any other native, rare breed and hill and heath classes.
To enter, forward details of your show results for the 2026 season to Chairman Adam Lynch - cows@hotmail.co.uk
BALWEN SHOW POINTS SYSTEM / SYSTEM PWYNTAU SIOEAU BALWEN
The Balwen Show Points Competition is back!
Points can only be awarded in Balwen classes judged by a Balwen-listed judge.
1st – 6 points
2nd – 5 points
3rd – 4 points
4th – 3 points
5th – 2 points
6th – 1 point
To be eligible for the award you will nominate your 6 best results from these shows, your entries must include the number of animals forwards in each class.
The Royal Welsh and the National show are to be excluded this year.
Please note: Where only one exhibitor in each class, no points will be awarded.
Good luck to everyone competing this season!
⸻
SYSTEM PWYNTAU SIOEAU BALWEN
Mae Cystadleuaeth Pwyntiau Sioeau Balwen yn ôl!
Dim ond mewn dosbarthiadau Balwen a feirnir gan feirniad sydd ar restr swyddogol Balwen y caiff pwyntiau eu dyfarnu.
1af – 6 phwynt
2il – 5 pwynt
3ydd – 4 pwynt
4ydd – 3 phwynt
5ed – 2 bwynt
6ed – 1 pwynt
I fod yn gymwys ar gyfer y wobr, bydd angen i chi enwebu eich 6 chanlyniad gorau o’r sioeau hyn. Rhaid i’ch ceisiadau gynnwys nifer yr anifeiliaid oedd ymlaen ym mhob dosbarth.
Ni fydd y Sioe Frenhinol Cymru na’r Sioe Genedlaethol yn cyfrif tuag at y gystadleuaeth eleni.
Sylwer: Os mai dim ond un arddangoswr sydd mewn dosbarth, ni ddyfernir unrhyw bwyntiau.
Pob lwc i bawb sy’n cystadlu’r tymor hwn!
Upcoming Events 2026
INSPECTION RHAYADERSat 07 NovRhayader Livestock Center