I would like to thank Martin Snell and Chris Coe for arranging for me to judge at the last minute at this show seeing Chris could not make it. It was a real pleasure and the best lot of Berkshires I have judged since starting judging Berkshires classes in the UK back in 04.

The boar classes were poorly represented but the quality of one boar paraded by Chris lmpey made up for lack of numbers.

The sows and gilts classes made me work as like all pigs they each had little faults and then it came down to my 50 years of judging them. Over those years feet have become so important to me, as I have seen many lovely body pigs fall by the wayside because they could not last on them This became important when judging my Res Champion of the breed.

Many of the gilts had such fine bones and I think that is because in lengthening them out the bone seems to disappear Erst. Breeding ekes time and it took me 15 years to shorten the nose on a Canadian (American blooded) sow. Anyone can mate this to that and hope for luck on your side. The best pig l ever saw only had one Grandfather. Work out that line breeding.

My other pet issue is the short traditional Berkshire must have big hams or they look out of balance when side on, with this huge front end. The most important meat is the ham. So apart from Chris's boar I thought the shorter pigs just lacked ham. The longer ones lacked bone in their legs.

Now to My Champion sow and Breed Champion shown by Sue Fildes, her sows few faults are its head, that is the lack of white and the nose a little long for me. But for her age she stood so well on her legs and has great body conformation. Congratulations Sue.

As I mention earlier my. biggest decision was between Chris's lovely boar and Sharon Barnfield's July gilt for reserve. One long pig, one short one, my decision went Sharon's way in that Chris's boar has my pet hate and that is a small inside claw on one of its back legs, 1 just hope it does not affect him as he grows older as his body is tremendous. It's just that l have seen so many pigs go lame if they bruise the only good claw pad left on that leg.

To those pigs that never caught my eye on the day, 1 have been round long enough to know that pigs can change from week to week when they are young and sows change at different farrowing stages. So for those who did not do well with my judging, there is always another day and another judge. Keep Smiling.

Pierre Le Bas