Royal Show
Uploaded October 2008

This year I had the honour of being asked to judge the Berkshires at the Royal Show. For a number of reasons there were, generally, not the usual number of pigs forward in all the breeds, but I was very pleased with the quality of the Berkshires brought before me, and would like to thank all exhibitors who took part. Apart from one very heavy down-pour when the Sow class had to be stopped for about 10 minutes, the sun shone and the temperature was just right for showing pigs.

Class 1 Boar born before January 2008:
Two boars entered with just one forward, gracebank Orlando b.19/12/07, owned by Tracey Bretherton, and I was happy to place him first.
 

Class 2 Boar born in 2008:
1st Gracebank Orlando Tracey Bretherton
2nd Alan Rose
 

Class 3 Sow born before July 2007:
1st Dittisham Lady 5 owned by Sue Fildes
2nd Dittisham Lady 22 Sue Fildes
3rd Wedlock Louise Tracey Bretherton

Three very good sows, I particularly liked Dittisham Lady 22 as she was very much the sort of Berkshire that I like to breed myself, but I chose Sue's other sow as she was a couple of years older, still producing good size litters, and still well up on her feet.
 

Class 4 Sow born on or after 1st July 2007:
1st Gillhouse Excelsa owned by Viki Mills
2nd Dittisham Suzanne 3 Sue Fildes

Two very nice gilts with the winner very obviously in-pig.
 

Class 6 Sow born in 2008:
1st Dittisham Lady Sue Fildes
2nd Gracebank Louise Grace Bretherton
3rd Maddaford Royal Sapphire Alan Rose

Four nice gilts but Dittisham Lady stood out as being well-grown, a good dark black colour and walked well. I would just like to say here how well Grace (who I think is now 7?) showed her little gilt.
 

Class 7 Best Group of Three Pigs Bred by an Exhibitor:
1st Tracey Bretherton

Just the one group forward of two boars and gilt, but all extremely good, and worthy of a first prize.
 

Class 8 Best Group of Three Pigs with same Sire/Dam:
1st Alan Rose - 1 boar and 2 gilts
2nd Tracey Bretherton (as above)

I chose the group of three being ably shown by Alan Rose and Andy Gready as my winners because although individually they all had minor failts, as a group they looked very nice together and showed themselves well.

The Female Championship went to Dittisham Lady 5.

The Male Championship went to Gracebank Orlando.

Overall Berkshire Championship went to Dittisham Lady 5.
Reserve: Gracebank Orlando.

Funnily enough, I found this the most difficult decision to make of all my judging because I kept in the ring the July gilt of Viki Mills' Gillhouse Excelsa, which I did like very much, but at the end of the day I went with the boar, as it is a fact that it is more difficult to breed a good boar than it is to breed a good sow.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day, although I am sure not everyone agreed with my decisions!

With many thanks again to all those who presented their pigs to me,

Jo Wykes-Sneyd