New volunteers for Llanfyllin Show

Staging an annual event the size of the show requires a huge amount of unsung voluntary work behind the scenes, according to organisers.

They say the key to the abiding success of the "friendly show" over 145 years is the constant introduction of new ideas and new committee members who are passionate about the event's future.

This year, two mums from the town have joined the committee for the first time and have accepted the challenge of helping to organise the Village Green family entertainment area at the show, on August 9.

Bethan Macdonald, 38, and Mair Jones, 35, have returned to Llanfyllin after working away for many years and their families have a long connection with the show.

Bethan's dad Gordon was chairman last year and her uncle Emyr Roberts has taken over the hot seat this year, while another uncle, Pryce Roberts, is a former chairman.

Mair's dad Huw Francis is involved with the show's sheepdog trials while her brother Gerallt is involved with the sheep shearing section.

Both women have recently taken part in the Llanfyllin Ladies Challenge, which saw around 25 ladies walk to the top of Mount Snowdon and then 20 of them, including Bethan, ran from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llanfyllin in relay, covering 66 kilometres. They hope to have raised more than £3,000 for Cancer Research and the Friends of Llanfyllin Primary School.

Bethan, a former professional actress who now teaches performing arts and Welsh at Coleg Cambria, Wrexham, said: "I love Llanfyllin Show because it's such a great family day out with something for everybody.

"Growing up in the town, I always competed in the cookery and floral art sections at the show but it has grown and changed so much from when I was a child.

"The show is part of our heritage and I depend on it to catch up with people that I don't see for the rest of the year.

"We all used to go to the show as children and now we are there with our own children."

Mair, an occupational therapist who moved back to the town with her husband in 2009 to bring up their two children, said: "Now that we have children who are competing, I want to help ensure that the show continues to be successful by making it family-friendly.

"It's nice to be involved in organising the Village Green and trying to make it special for the children.

"It's a great show and it gets better every year because it moves with the times."

Lined up for the Village Green this year are a jazz band, Pickle Lily children's entertainer, who will give four performances during the day, a birds of prey display, Organ Rosie, a Punch and Judy Show and a fun fair.

Star attraction at the action-packed show are the spectacular freestyle motocross stunt display team, Broke FMX and the 2014 All Wales Circuit Shearing Final.

The busy programme also includes a donkey derby, terrier racing, sheepdog trials, showjumping and gymkhana and displays by Tanatside Hounds and Mid Wales Vintage Machinery Club.

Classes for horses, sheep, goats, dogs, poultry, horticulture, floral art, cookery and crafts are always keenly contested.