North Cornelly History Pyle & District Ploughing Club (founded c.1883) Glamorgan Gazette - Friday December 21, 1894 Pyle and District Ploughing Club The eleventh annual ploughing match in connection with the Pyle and District Ploughing Club, took place on Wednesday, in a field kindly lent by Mr Rees Williams, New Park. The weather was very propitious till well on in the afternoon, when frequent showersbegan to make things very uncomfortable. There was a very large attendance of farmers and the general public of the district, who were rewarded for coming by being able to witness some rare good ploughing in the chief classes. The state of the field, which was heavy and stony, unfortunately militated against any phenomenal achievements; but there was a general consensus of opinion among connoiseurs in the delightful art of ploughing that, allowing for the ground, some fine work was shown. It was a noticeable feature that some ploughmen who started the best finished the worst and vice versa. The judges task was thus rendered an unenviable one, but they exercised the greatest care and gave general satisfaction. The judges of the ploughing were: Mr Thos. Jones (St Melons, Cardiff), Mr George Williams (Tondu) and Mr Watkin Bassett (Porthcawl) and the hedging and ditching: Mr Watts (Tydraw, Llantrithyd), Stewards on the champions: Mr Griffith Thomas (West Farm, Nottage) and Mr Jenkin Thomas (Tymaen, Pyle): on the men: Mr Wm. Morgan (Sker), Mr D. Vaughan Thomas (Nottage); on the crops: Mr Edward Thomas (The Hall, Pyle) and Mr John Loveluck (Kenfig); on the chill: Mr Arthur Maddock (Pyle) and hedging and ditching: Mr Jenkin M. David (Maudlam, Kenfig). The secretarial dutoes were left in the capable hands of Mr W. G. Loveluck (New House, Cornelly) and the Club possess an equally good treasurer in Mr Evan Jones (Caegarw, Pyle). Twenty-six teams entered and of these two did not turn up. Apended is the Prize List: Open Champion Class First prize. £5, David Thomas, Margam; 2nd, £1, David Jervis, Llantrithyd (employed by Mr Thomas, Garn Farm). Class 1 Open to all new comers, except those who have won two first prizes in two senior classes in this or any other match: 1st, £2 10s, J. Butler (servant to Mr Jenkin Henry, Tycoch, Newton. 2nd, £2, Griffith Thomas (employed by Mr E. Morgan, Marcross). 3rd, £1, R. Thomas, New Land, Margam. 4th, 10s, David Yorwerth, Clawddymanach. 5th, 5s, Henry Thomas, Pencyrn, ystradowen. Class 2 Open to boys under 20 years of age, who have not won the first prize in this class before: 1st, £2 10s, William Morgan (servant to Mr Evans, Mount Pleasant, Newton). 2nd, £2, John Thomas (son of Mr W. Thomas, Eglwysmynydd). 3rd, £1, W. David (servant to Mr Howells, Penymynydd). Chill Class 1st, £2, T. Howell (servant to Mrs Loveluck, Kenfig Farm). 2nd, £1, Thomas Butler (servant to Mr J. Thomas, Tymaen, Cornelly). 3rd, 10s, J. Doyle (servant to Mr J. Thomas, Tymaen, Cornelly) Hedging and Ditching 1st, £1, Thomas Thomas, Kenfig. 2nd, 15s, Thomas David, South Cornelly. 3rd, 10s, Wm. Owen, Kenfig. 4th, 5s, divided between James Gould, Nottage and Wm. Thomas, Kenfig. The Dinner The usual dinner was held at the New House, Cornelly after the match. Major Rees Thomas (The Hall) presided in the absence of Mr Edward Knox, J.P., Margam, who had promised to preside but who had been called away to London. A large number sat down to a capital feed supplied by Host Loveluck. Among those present were: Messrs Watkin Bassett, George Williams and T. Jones (judges). Thomas Evans (Mount Pleasant), W.B. Loveluck (Kenfig), Jenkin Thomas (Tydraw), W. Morgan (Sker), T. Penhale (Cornelly), W. Williams (Sealands), T. Powell (The Grove), Watkin Bevan (Newton), James Loveluck (Llangewydd), A. Maddocks (Pyle), t. J. Yorwerth and W. John (Cowbridge), R.J. Lloyd (St Brides), E. Jones (Caegarw), E. John (Kenfig Hill), - Murray (Park Farm, Margam), R. McEwen (Pyle), Rees Morgan (Sker), Wm. Thomas (Eglwysynydd), Wm Thomas (Morva Bach), Wm. Thomas (Newton), Wm. Rees (Cornelly Arms), Thomas Jones (Cornelly), George Thomas (Tyfru) &c. &c. The room was nicely decorated with evergreens and the chair was surmounted by the motto Long life to the Chairman and Success to the Pyle Ploughing Club. The loyal toasts having been honoured, the Chairman gave The Bishop, Clergy and Ministers of all denominations, and Mr Watkin Bevan followed with The Army, Navy and Reserve Forces, all of which services he extolled in an admirable speech. Major Thomas, Sergeant Thomas, Sergeant Williams, Colour-sergeant Evans and Corporal Horsell replied. The Chairman next submitted the toast of The Subscribers. If they agreed he said as to the necessity of keeping on the club they must have money. The pecuniary resources of the club were very much weaker than what they were some years ago. It was impossible to carry the thing on without money and he hoped they would work together and find the money or else the club would drop to the ground. He urged them not to let it die as it did a tremendous lot of good (applause). They had subscribers, it was true, but they had not enough of them. They had a very generous subscriber in Miss Talbot (applause) - and next to her came Mr Watkin Bassett and Mr Knox (renewed applause). He coupled with the toast the names of Mr Murray (who would respond on behalf of Miss Talbot and Mr Knox) and Mr Bassett. The toast was entusiastically drunk. Mr Murray, responding first said Miss Talbot took great interest in the club and tried to do her best for it as well as Mr Knox. (applause). Mr Bassett also responded. He said he was a new man with this Company. They were financially low, and he might out another pound on (applause). He would do all he could to further the interests of the Club as well as for the welfare of the district. (applause). The Chairman gave The Judges, who, he said, were the important men of the day. Proper judging was a very essential thing in ploughing matches and the judges of that day had pleased themselves and not tried to please anybody else (applause). Mr George Williams said Mr Watkin Bassett whose names were linked with the toast, responded. Mr Bassett said he was the middleman, and the two others were such able judges that he had no trouble whatever. The only trouble he had was in walking over the ground (laughter). They had done justice (applause). Mr Williams, in returning thanks, said the judges had tried to reward the best work. He regretted the absence of Mr Thomas Jones, one of the fairest judges he had ever met. Mr Bassett had stated that he intended giving a prize to all the unsuccessful men (applause). At this stage the Chairman distributed the prizes to the successful competitors. Mr Thomas Evans gave The Stewards, who, he said did their duties splendidly. In the course of an interesting speech, Mr Evans said it was the duty of farmers to encourage their servants to take an interest in ploughing. He understood that the three first prize men that day were the owners of their own ploughs. The youngest was his servant who bought his own plough by his (Mr Evans) help recently. Alluding to the financial condition of the club, Mr Evans said rather than it should die, he would double his subscription. The farners were experiencing hard times and they must depend more on the landlords than anybody else. Agriculture was the most important of all industries for the whole world depended on the farmers (applause). Mr Griffith Thomas, in reply, said he had never seen such an excellent class of ploughmen, who left the stewards nothing to do. Mr Jenkin Thomas also responded. There was no need of having stewards that day, the men were so capable. The Chairman gave, The visitors, coupled with the names of Mr McEwan, Mr T.J. Yorwerth and Mr W. John. Mr T.J. Yorwerth, in response gave three suggestions for the improvement of agriculture which he had heard from an influential farmer in the vale: 1. they must look to the landlord 2. to legislation 3. to the farmers themselves. He undertook to give a prize of 10s 6d next year for the bext turn-out. Mr W. John, who also responded said he was sorry that the pecuniary resources of the society were low, for the society ought to be encouraged and he would give a second prize of 5s for the best turn-out (applause). Mr Watkin Bevan gave The Press, Mr D.H. Lewis (Glamorgan Gazette), responding. The healths of the chairman, secretary and treasurer were drunk with muscial honours. During the evening songs were contributed by Mr R.J. Lloyd and W. John. website researcher/author: Copyright © Rob Bowen, Kenfig.org Local Community Group, 2014 Source: National Library of Wales, Welsh Newspapers Online (welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/home)
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:23:21 +0000
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