Devon County Show - May 2004
Uploaded September 2004

Glorious sunshine for every day of the show saw five exhibitors show pigs from an initial entry of 40 Berkshires.

On Thursday:
Pigs from Sharon Barnfield and Vicky Mills dominated the Berkshire's competition. Interestingly, Vicky's 3 wins & one of the seconds in the 'junior' classes were all with stock from the new bloodline of Wedlock Lassetter, including an apparent trio from a January litter. They were all very well grown, in superb condition and immaculately presented:-
September 2003 gilt - Gillhouse Stonebow 45 (also second with Gillhouse Stonebow 47)
Jan 2004 gilt - Gillhouse Farewell 2 (also second with litter sister Gillhouse Farewell)
Jan 2004 boar - Gillhouse Lassetter 3

Sharon won the Senior classes with 3 magnificent animals which show that she can not only breed good animals, but she can also make good purchases:-
2003 boar - Up The Steps Peter Lad
Sow - Kilcot Excelsa 11 (also second with Kilcot Stonebow 4)
July 2003 gilt - Saltway Farewell

The Champion female went to Sharon's Sow, the Champion male went to Sharon's Boar.
The Breed Champion was the Sow, Reserve was the boar.
The group of three was almost a foregone conclusion, with Sharon's three (the 2 Champions plus another great sow, Kilcot Stonebow 4) winning ahead of Vicky's. Against such good competition I was happy with third for my own pigs, from an entry of
four trios.

On Friday:
Pig Of the Year:  Vicky's January boar is a very stocky little chap who caught the judges eye in the Pig Of the Year class. I spoke to the judge, Mr J Appleton, who said "he is a superb Berkshire boar, who very nearly got the first prize, he walks well, but there is also a superb, but bigger, January Saddleback who has to receive the honours for the traditional breeds".

Interbreed Championship
Sharon's sow was well presented but unfortunately a white pig prevailed.

Pressure Washers SW Pairs Championship - Interbreed
Sharon's successful run continued. After much deliberation she produced her Breed Champion Sow and Reserve Breed Champion boar as a perfectly matched pair for this inter-breed competition. After a close contest Sharon's pair were awarded the first prize ahead of a very nice pair of Lops. So a rather nice Pressure Washer is now in her possession!

Kittows Award - Interbreed
Also on Saturday was the Kittows Award. This is an Inter-breed special prize open only to Devon and Cornwall resident breeders, and I'm delighted to say that again a Berkshire won - this time it was lan Todd with his Sow Smallicombe Stonebow 27.

A very good show for Berkshires!