Home-bred Welsh section D stallion Ionos Brenin Elwyn claimed the supreme champion title at the 2026 Barley Saturday show in Cardigan. Shown by Daniel Hughes and owned by his mother Sarah Hughes, the horse led the parade through cheering crowds on April 25. The victory holds special meaning for the family with deep ties to the event.
Thousands lined Cardigan’s sun-soaked streets for the 2026 Barley Saturday on April 25, cheering the parade of horses through the town. The event’s show took place that morning at the grounds of Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi, where Ionos Brenin Elwyn stood supreme champion. Daniel Hughes showed the stallion, owned by his mother Sarah Hughes, leading the parade of stallions afterward. Nearly 100 vintage vehicles followed the horse parade through town. Decland Davies earned reserve supreme with his home-bred traditional coloured stallion Steppers Big Batman. Jack Davies and Crumpwell Larky won the private exercise vehicle category, while local John Fletcher took the heavy horse turnout title with George and Frankie. Sarah Hughes described the win as particularly sweet, noting her upbringing in Cardigan and fond memories of Barley Saturday, where she first met her late husband Tom. “It is a unique day and nothing compares to it anywhere else in the world,” she said. Elwyn, sired by Ionos Llion—a previous supreme winner here in 2017—is out of three-time Royal Welsh winner Ionos Ffion. Named after Sarah’s father-in-law, the horse was unshown until age 10 but has excelled recently, placing reserve supreme in 2024 and seventh at the Royal Welsh last year. The family nearly skipped showing him after last season, swayed by grandchildren’s pleas. “Having grown up locally, it was a dream come true in 2017 to lead the parade with Llion but to have Elwyn follow in his footsteps is just amazing and among the best days of our lives,” Sarah added. She praised Elwyn’s kind nature and the family joy he brings.
