ORGANISERS of the Urdd Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire say the week has been a great success with 15,000 competitors taking part, brilliant support from volunteers, and traders enjoying bumper sales.

Nearly 500 volunteers gave their time to help on the maes, this year at Cilwendeg, near Boncath, including members of Crymych Rugby Club who have been praised for their work ensuring the parking and traffic ran smoothly.

Emyr Phillips from Cilgerran was chairman of the Executive Committee and on the final day of the competitions he said: “It has been a great week, everyone’s pulled together in the last two weeks and taken pride in being part of the Eisteddfod.

"Even though we had a wet start to the week with rain on Monday, the Maes was not affected and has dried out beautifully. The Maes has been a success, from the layout to the proximity for caravanners. The parking has been operated smoothly, thanks to all the hard work from the guys of Crymych Rugby Club. So much praise have been given to the club, who’ve not only organised the parking but also given the visitors such a warm welcome.

"At the end of the week like this, all that’s left to say is thank you to all those involved for showing Pembrokeshire at its very best."

A major success this year has been a new app with information about competitions and results and created for the festival thanks to the support of S4C.

It was downloaded by around 11,000 people in just 10 days, receiving 5 stars in 90% of the reviews on the Appstore as well as reaching number 30 in the Apple Entertainment Chart.

Stallholders have also been pleased with the event, with many saying it has been been their most successful Eisteddfod week yet.

Angharad Gwyn from Adra said: “We’ve had a great week here. I started attending the Urdd and National Eisteddfod in 2008 and sales have increased year on year, however this Urdd Eisteddfod has been the best yet.”

Mari Griffith from the Grasi stall said: “We have never sold so much at an Eisteddfod, the sales have been so high we had to order additional stock mid week!”

The Urdd area on the Maes, ‘Pentre Mistar Urdd’, proved a hit with youngsters with 1,101 hoodies sold, 1,400 children enjoying on the trampolines and over 2,000 taking part in sports sessions.

The Glan-Llyn challenge, which was to pack a sleeping bag in the best time, has also been very popular with the best time set at 17 seconds.

523 children had their moment of fame on the cover of Cip magazine in the Urdd magazine stall. ]

In Caffi Mistar Urdd 1,200 eggs and 400kg of bacon were cooked, 1,500 sandwiches sold and over 1,200 cups of tea and coffee served during the week.

The caravan area, which was located adjacent to the Maes, has also been praised.

 Aled Sion, director of the Eisteddfod said: “We’ve had a brilliant week in Pembrokeshire and are very glad our stall holders have done so well. The traffic went smoothly this year, and the new app went down a storm. The standard on the stage was exceptionally high, as usual and it’s a great feeling that we could offer a stage to many of our future Welsh stars.

“I would also like to thank everyone that has contributed to the organisation and preparation for this special event, and to the hundreds of volunteers that have worked tirelessly throughout the week and before the main event raising money.

"None of this would be possible without them. We are also in debt, of course, to our teachers and trainers, locally and nationally, that given hours and hours preparing the children and young people for the Eisteddfod, and to the adjudicators and accompanists that have done a wonderful job during the week.”