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Although I became a member of the WPCS and bred my first unregistered foal in 1964, it was not until 1987 that the Section B stud was founded with the purchase of the foundation mare Talhaearn Eirlys y Pasg at Fayre Oaks. This mare epitomised the true Welsh type which I felt to be so lacking in a large number of Welsh ponies. She was later shown lightly but with great success (Female Champion and Reserve Champion Royal Welsh, Supreme Native Champion NPS Annual Show 1994). The intention was to breed a few fillies from top class stallions on which to base the stud. Unfortunately during the eighteen years of her breeding career at Cwrtycadno, Eirlys produced only three fillies, two of them in the final six years! It was not until 2005 that one of these fillies produced her first foal - another colt!

Photo by Anthony Reynolds

Talhaearn Eirlys y Pasg 1979
(Nefydd Autumn's Chuckle x Keston Fantasia by Solway Master Bronze)

Female Champion and Reserve Champion Section B Royal Welsh 1994
Supreme Native Champion NPS Annual Show 1994

Now retired from breeding

Of the nine colts that Eirlys produced at Cwrtycadno, three are notable showring stallions, namely Cwrtycadno Cadfridog (Supreme Champion Royal Welsh 1996 and sire of the Supreme Champion Royal Welsh 2004 Mintfield Songthrush), Cwrtycadno Taliesin (Belgian National Champion 2003/2005/2007 and Reserve International Champion Aachen 2003), Cwrtycadno Meredydd (Champion Stallion at the 2008 Swedish stallion inspection). Two other successful stud stallions are our stud stallion Cwrtycadno Cymro (a consistent sire of medal winning stock, including the International Champion Cwrtycadno Perlen), and Cwrtycadno Caio, who is producing excellent stock for the Millcroft stud. All the remaining four have had successful careers as ridden geldings (See Ponies Bred).

For an article about Eirlys written in French by Victor Sicard, see

http://www.welshpony-news.com/pages/zoom_sur__Talhaearn_EirlysyPasg-935435.html

As a result of this lack of fillies, in 1996 it was decided to buy in the ultimate show mare Thornberry Royal Gem to put to Cwrtycadno Cymro, and in 2002 she eventually produced the first of four outstanding fillies by him. Thus it is only more recently that the stud has been able to progress, and hopefully in the next few years we will have quality fillies (not just the occasional colt!) available for purchase.

Thornberry Royal Gem 1982
(Keston Royal Occasion x Cwmwyre Samantha)

Female Champion and Reserve Champion Section B Royal Welsh
Champion Royal of England

Now retired from breeding
Thank you to John and Maggie Carter for providing a retirement home.

Other females bought in recent years to put to Cymro are Polaris Columbine, Wian Dawleish, Paddock Pollyanna and Millcroft Simone (the last two being the property of Robert Jones). Bloodlines have been carefully selected, and the majority of females at this stud are Champions and/or WPCS medal winners.