Wales YFC News
Wales YFC Eisteddfod 2024
Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthenshire was the home of Wales YFC’s National Eisteddfod this year. On November 2nd, Carmarthenshire YFC welcomed competitors and supporters from across Wales to their county. This year the Eisteddfod was chaired by Dai Baker and the Eisteddfod President was Sioned Page-Jones. 800 competitors from 12 county federations took part this year in an event that was kindly sponsored by D.I.Evans Waste Disposal, Skip and Plant Hire, Forest Arms Brechfa, Castell Howell, Rees Richards, James Pantyfedwen Foundation and JDS Machinery.
There was a wide range of competitions across music, recitation, light entertainment and homework sections that included writing, art and photography competitions. After a day of competing, Ceredigion won the Mansel Charles trophy, ending the day with 47 points across all Eisteddfod competitions. With 45 points, Carmarthenshire federation finished in 2nd place and Pembrokeshire YFC in 3rd place with 41 points.
A successful chairing and crowning ceremony was held under the leadership of Aled Jones. The Chair was sponsored this year by Persimmon Homes and the Crown sponsored by Llwyddo’n Lleol, thanks for their support. This year’s Chair was created by two members associated with Llanllwni YFC. The wooden element of the chair was created by Siôn Evans, the former county chair, and the metal work by Hefin Jones. The winner of the chair was Mared Fflur Jones from Rhosybol YFC in Ynys Môn for her winning poem on the theme ‘Roots.’ Mared is a Welsh teacher in Ysgol Botwnnog. Elain Iorwerth from Prysor ac Eden YFC in Meirionnydd won the Crown this year, made by Lowri Elen Jones from Dyffryn Tywi YFC. Elain Iorweth is a familiar face to the movement after being the Junior Member of the Year for Wales YFC in 2023/2024. Elain is in her second year at Bangor University studying Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Congratulations to the two that came out on top!
The Welsh Awards Ceremony also took place during the Eisteddfod with Deryn Evans, Brecknock YFC being awarded The Learner of the Year Award for 2024 and Lynne Roberts-Watkins from Montgomery YFC was awarded the 2024 Calondid Award. Both competitors won the awards for their efforts in learning the Welsh language and using their Welsh skills within the movement’s activities.
At the end of a high standard Eisteddfod, the Parcwilws Cup was awarded to the best individual in the musical or film solo competitions to Hannah Richards from Carmarthenshire YFC, the Ardudwy Cup for the best soloist in the music section was presented to Ffion Thomas from Pembrokeshire and the Wales YFC cup was awarded to Elin Williams from Ceredigion for the best individual in the recitation section. The Joy Cornock cup was presented to the most promising individual in all the Eisteddfod competitions and this year, that individual was Tomos Heddwyn Griffiths from Meirionnydd.
To conclude the day of competitions, we had five choirs entered into the Choir competition, singing ‘Dere ‘Nôl’, a song commissioned by Meinir Richards, especially for this year’s Eisteddfod. After a fantastic competition, the judges decided that Carmarthenshire YFC was the winning choir this year, with Pembrokeshire coming in the second position and Ceredigion YFC third.
Taking the Denbighshire Farmers’ Union of Wales Trophy for winning the homework section was the Carmarthenshire YFC and the Elonwy Phillips shield for the winning federation in stage competitions was Ceredigion federation.
Wales YFC would like to thank everyone who contributed to make the eisteddfod a success once again this year, being competitors, stewards or supporters. A special thanks must be given to the judges and the fantastic accompanists who were so busy throughout the day and to the Sir Gâr committee for their work, support and welcome in preparing and holding the Eisteddfod.
A big congratulations to Ceredigion on becoming the overall winners, we look forward to welcoming everybody to the 2025 Wales YFC Eisteddfod next year in Montgomeryshire!
It’s possible to re-watch the competing that was broadcasted on S4C on iPlayer or S4C Clic.
