The Pembroke Farmers Club on Wednesday marked the 200th year of their popular Town and Country Show by unveiling a plaque, in a field facing the church at Lamphey, where the event has taken place annually for at least the past 50 years.

Solemnly performing the task was the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Ms Sara Edwards, who is Her Majesty’s representative, and consequently, it is her first and foremost duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown.

She thanked the club members for the invitation, congratulated all on a magnificent achievement in reaching such a significant milestone and wished everyone well for the next 200 years!

The plaque was mounted on a piece of solid granite obtained from the local dockyard and the work was largely sponsored by a generous donation from the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society whose officials, Richard Cole, president, and Mike Davies, chairman of management committee, were in attendance.

Weatherwise, the day opened on a damp note, but everyone worked hard to get the show underway and, true to the forecasts, the sun eventually appeared from time to time and the rest of the day proved most enjoyable and rewarding.

Entries across the board were considered to be well up to the usual standards and, in the horse and pony section, it was the 11-year-old chestnut brood mare, Chiddock Story Time, from Sarah Baker that stood supreme as shown with her three-month-old foal, Coppybush Time Lord.

Standing in reserve was the Ridden Hunter, the eight-year-old bay Moon Racer bred locally and shown under saddle by Isabel Meyrick.

Charlotte Owen had an astoundingly successful day with her 16-year-old grey pony, Abbeybells Queen Adlaide, ridden by daughter Sophie as they won all the lead rein, show pony, show hunter pony, working hunter pony and mountain and moorland sections.

Others amongst the prizemoney were Jo Mount with her palomino, Joylands Georgeous Grace, Milly Thomas with the 14-year-old bay, Gwillym of Preseli and Wendy Campbell with her first time shown coloured pony, Hollyland Honey Bun.

Supreme from the beef cattle entries was a yearling black Limousin heifer from Kevin Williams and the dairy breeds were headed by Eric Webb with his Holstein heifer.

The sheep championship was retained by Roger and Bethan James with their yearling Texel and the group prize was awarded to a young shepherd, seven-year-old Griff Jenkins with his Torddu trio.

Show champion from the poultry marquee went to newcomer Sue Stanklewicz, with stalwart, Peter Howells in reserve. Emyr Harries was the best junior and Leo Cridland took the cage bird prize.

The dog section is becoming increasingly popular attracting 186 entries; the best in show being a German wire haired Pointer from Mrs. Shelton, with a Pembrokeshire corgi from Angie James in reserve.

The programme ended with the Pembroke Farmers Club presenting no less than 36 medals as a reward for long service to the agricultural industry in South Pembrokeshire.