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R. EIFION JONES, DWYLAN - BRIDFA MINMON STUD
Eifion Jones tragically passed away in a road traffic collision on the 8th of January 2009.
Eifion had a lifelong love affair with the Welsh Mountain Pony that started when he was a very young boy helping out with the Bryntirion stud near his home in Llangaffo, Anglesey. Many will remember him for his involvement with the other Welsh Sections, most notably the Welsh Cob and the Section C. He loved all the Welsh breeds – but it did not stop there, he was a ‘horseman’ in the true sense of the word, and also a ‘stockman’, having ‘a way’ with all animals. However – his heart was well and truly smitten by the Section A.
His first was a stallion (so typical, as many who knew him well will agree – there still being five stud stallions at Dwylan!): Brynpwll Simwnt; chosen not so much for his looks, as for the careful breeding that had produced him. Eifion believed in correctness of confirmation and good bloodlines above all else. He valued what the founders of the WPCS had advocated, and Volume 1 of the Stud Books was his ‘Bible’ – not to be deviated from for whatever reason. His foundation mare was Briolen Glesni, again chosen for her immaculate pedigree. Most of the females at Dwylan stud can be traced back to these two and the bay stallion, Brierwood Constable. Eifion and his closest friend Mr. J.R.C. Jones (John Charles) of Pengraig stud, spent countless happy hours planning (and arguing about) their stud strategies and investing in Eilianfa Kitty (Revel Vodka & Snowdon Kitty), whose son Pengraig Dylan is still a firm favourite at Dwylan.
Eifion was a great friend and confidante of the Late Mr. Owen (Owie) Ellis of the Hendre stud. As most of us who know anything about the Welsh Mountain Ponies will know, Mr. Ellis and the late Miss Broderick of Coed Coch, were very good friends in the Welsh Pony world, often loaning one another stock. Hendre ponies are thus regarded as some of the purest of the breed, now very rarely available. So, as Dwylan stud grew, it was on the foundations of the Hendre and Coed Coch bloodlines. Hendre Lafan is still the senior stud stallion. Dwylan Serchog is out of Hendre Barcud, and some of the mares are out of Hendre Pela and the young mare who died in 2006, Hendre Gwenda.
Eifion was a great advocate of a grey Section A, although by no means objecting to other colours. He believed that the grey in the section was a direct contribution of the great stallion Dyoll Starlight. He was aware of the argument that the grey was reintroduced through Arabian blood – but that was intentional by the founders of the WPCS, who described the ideal Section A as an “Arab in miniature” – his favourite quotation. Eifion believed that grey Welsh Mountain ponies roamed the hills over the centuries – but were easily spotted and culled in the proclamation of Henry VIII, that all ponies under 14.2 h.h. be destroyed. The blacks, chestnuts and bays were easily camouflaged in the natural forests that covered the hills in the 16th century.
It is tragic that Eifion Jones was taken from his loved ones when he had the time to give his full attention to his beloved ponies. However, the stud will continue in the hands of his daughter Lliwen, who has struggled to keep things as Eifion would have himself. She has successfully shown a mare and foal (line-bred to Hendre Lafan) in 2009. Dwylan Sidan was 11th in the Young Brood Mare class in the Royal Welsh Show, and Dwylan Samson was 5th. (D. Sidan’s dam. D. Tlws was placed 4th there as a yearling.)They have been shown twice since, being both placed 2nd twice and 3rd twice, in strong classes.
The future, though, for Dwylan with its precious bloodlines, should be secure – as Elin. Lliwen’s 5years old daughter will soon be taking charge. Here she is as Reserve Champion Young Handler (4 at the time) with Dwylan Nans (dam: Dwylan Baner out of Hendre Gwenda and Brynpwll Simwnt, sire: Hendre Lafan).
Rest in peace, Eifion, your beloved Welsh Mountain Ponies are in safe hands.
R. EIFION JONES, DWYLAN
"'Wyt Ionawr yn oer
a'th farrug yn wyn...'
.......ond pharhaodd y tywydd oer a chlir ddim a 'chydig wyddem am y cymylau duon oedd ar fin disgyn ar bawb ohonan ni........"
Fel hyn y cychwynnodd teyrnged i Eifion mewn papur lleol, cyn mynd ymlaen.....
"Prin oeddan ni wedi dweud Blwyddyn Newydd Dda na chawson ni'n syrfdanu gan y newyddion fod un o hogia'r pentra, y dyn mwya' diymhongar a thawel y gallech chi feddwl amdano wedi cael ei gipio oddi wrthan ni'n greulon a disymwth............"
Dilynwyd gan deyrnged iddo a ddarllenwyd yn ystod gwasanaeth yn yr amlosgfa ym Mangor, ond a glywyd gan ond canran fechan iawn o'r llu anferthol a drodd i fyny ar y dydd Iau iasoer hwnnw yn Ionawr 2009.
Gwr bonheddig yng ngwir ystyr y gair – yn fwy na dim am nad oedd yn ymwyodol ei fod yn un. Rydan ni i gyd yma yn ei 'nabod am wahanol resymau, ac nid oes yr un ohonom wedi clywed un gair drwg amdano. Mae criw go helaeth yn ei 'nabod fel 'Y Lord', ac erbyn heddiw, er cymaint yr hwyl a'r cellwair, mae 'Lord' yn addas iawn.
Gwyddom i gyd am y trychinegau ddioddefodd Eifion: trychinebau fyddai wedi llorio'r rhan fwyaf ohonom ni. Heb som fwy am bethau preifat y gwr hynaws hwn, rhaid i ni ddysgu'n, anffodus, sut y deliodd o a hwy – yn gryf, ac yn gadarn ac yn ddistaw. Beth sy'n anhygoel am gymeriad Eifion ydy – na chaledodd ddim ar ei galon, er cystal y gallai guddio hynny. Parhaodd yn hanfodol yn galon-feddal iawn.
Awn i ddim i son cystal dyn ceffyl ydoedd, a chystal stocman ar bob anifail. Nid oes pwynt dweud beth ydym i gyd yn wybod – a sydd wedi dod a ni at ein gilydd. Gwyddai sut i drin dyn ac anifail fel ei gilydd – trwy deg.
Roedd Eifion yn gwneud bob dim oedd yn rhaid ei wneud – ac o'i galon, heb fod yn gyndyn – a gyda hwyl! Yn y dyddiau anioddefol bron sydd wedi dilyn y drychineb hon, nid oes yr un sgwrs am Eifion wedi bod heb gynnwys y geiriau: "......ydach chi'n cofio'r hwyl gawson ni pan........"
Mae'r deyrnged yn fer iawn – yn llawer rhy fyr, a'r rheswm yw bod meddwl gormod, neu'n rhy ddyfn am Eifion yn peri loes annioddefol bron i'r rhai ohonom sydd wedi cael y fraint o fod yn agos ato.
Roedd Eifion yn gymaint o ffrind a chefn ac ysbrydoliaeth i gymaint ohonom ni mewn cymaint o wahanol ffyrdd fel nad eith fyth o'n calonnau.
Nid oedd yn un am rwysg na lol – ond roedd yn lecio i bethau fod yn iawn. Doedd o dim eisiau bod yng nghanol y sylw – ond fo oedd yn y canol i lawer iawn ohonom. Mi fysai'n gwerthfawrogi'n arw'r parch a roddir iddo fo a'i deulu ar yr achlysur. Roedd yn gwybod hefyd fod galaru'n naturiol a hanfodol – ond ei wir ddymuniad fysai i ni ddathlu ei fywyd yn hytrach nac achlysur ei ddiwedd.
CASGLWYD ARIAN GAN GYFEILLION EIFION MEWN CRONFA O DAN ORUCHWYLIAETH J.R.C. JONES. CYFLWYNIR CWPAN BARHAOL HARDD IAWN I SIOE GEFFYLAU LLANERCHYMEDD, AC UN ARALL I'W CHYLFLWYNO I'R GRWP TEULU YN ADRAN A (PROGENY) YM MHRIMIN MON. DIOLCH AM EICH RHODDION HAEL A PLIS – DATHLWCH EI FYWYD TRWY GYSTADLU AMDANYNT.
Cafwyd y gerdd ganlynol gan Gwynfor o Fridfa Cobiau Cymreig Sangwyn:
Dyn hynaws diymhongar. Dyn onest, dyn clem,
Yn weithiwr diguro, bob tro hefo gwen.
Ei air yn faith a'i sgwrs yn bleser,
Ac o'i adnabod mi roedd yn anrhydedd