Montgomeryshire farrier wins Royal Welsh £2000 prize
A farrier from Montgomeryshire has won this year’s Dr Emrys Evans Award given by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society to a person who has contributed in an exceptional way to rural skills.
The prize of £2000 has gone to Dorian Lloyd of Penperthog, Machynlleth, who also receives a certificate and a piece of Welsh crystal. He was one of six farriers from across Wales nominated for the 2011 award, a once-in-a-lifetime prize given in memory of Dr Emrys Evans, a Royal Welsh gold medallist and chairman of the society’s board of management, who died on the eve of the centenary show in 2004.
The candidates were nominated by the Royal Welsh County Advisory Committees and their technical knowledge and skills were assessed according to criteria laid down by the Worshipful Company of Farriers, a livery company founded in 1605 to promote high standards in the craft of shoeing horses.
They were also judged on their attendance at farriery courses and any voluntary roles they may have undertaken such as demonstrating and stewarding and work educating apprentices. Record keeping, business and development plans and their working relationships with veterinary surgeons were also taken into account.
The award, which is sponsored by Sainsbury’s, was open to farriers under 35 years old living and working in Wales.
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