From the Chairman
Uploaded December 2011

The nights are drawing in now and its getting colder I managed to get 200 bales of straw of the field this time but because of the lack of rain the bales are half the size they should be and I am looking and thinking I will be lucky if they last me to January. We actually managed a holiday this year many heartfelt thanks to Peter and Jo who lived in for the week and did a wonderful job looking after the pigs.

I would like to wish John Johnston and family all the best for the future, John is retiring from farming and sadly giving up his wonderful herd of Berkshire pigs so if you have a Cruckley Berkshire in your herd hang on to it tight as you will not get author, I was lucky enough to get a wonderful in pig gilt at the sale the first I have ever had and what a lovely quality gilt she is too.

We had a wonderful weekend at Newbury again with another ring full of top quality pigs for our Judge David Webb, he had a really tough job and you will be able to read his write up inside. But again top honours in the Breed class went to the Westron Family with their smart January Namatjira boar who carried on in the Interbreed the following day. Once again we had the company of The PG Wodehouse Society not so many but very much appreciated for their time and commitment to the Berkshire breeders club and we look forward to seeing them again next year.

On to the BPA Show and Sale which was back at Stoneleigh in conjunction with The RBST and Rugby Markets. I for one am glad to have it back under the old format of show and sale judged properly with the pigs in a proper ring, having had the privilege of judging it at Ross where it was nigh on impossible to do a proper job and being totally shattered by the time I had finished, this was much better. Is it the right place to hold it? Well where ever it is it will not be right for everyone I am in agreement that the catalogue should be available online free and it did need more advertising and there are other problems that need addressing as well, I know that nothing seemed to be selling but a lot of that is down to the economic climate and the winter coming with high feeding costs but we have been here before and will be again.

Don't forget the Winter fairs coming up and if you have stuff to go in the Newsletter please send it Jo and Peter. We could do with ideas for Fundraising if anyone has any. We are hoping for an earlier AGM certainly by the end of January date and venue to be finalised unless its in before we go to print, in which case the details will be inside. All that remains for me is to wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Sharon Barnfield
01989 750079
kilcotpigs@gmail.com