The Royal Show
Uploaded November 2009

This years Royal Show was to be the last in the format as we know it. This show has always been one of my favourites and with the new floor for the last 2 years it was even better. With no Januarys or Julys to show we didn't have much to take. Grace wanted to show Joanne the gilt she showed last year and at the time of entries closing she looked pretty good. So we entered Jo for the Berkshire sow class, Elsie for the middle white sow class and George for the middle white boar class Jo's piglets pulled her down in the last few weeks so she was out much to the disappointment of Grace then the middle white boar got an inner ear infection2 days before we were due to leave so he couldn't go . So we ended up taking Elsie and 4 Berkshire weaners for the display.

The first day I was ring steward for John Millard who was judging the Large Whites the day went well and we had a lovely lunch. Thursday was the last day of showing and I had a great day helping Melony and Sarah Kiddy show their Large Whites in the pairs they were quite a handful but we won the modem section and ended up reserve overall it was great fun.

Viki had managed to get permission for those going to Yorkshire to leave Thursday night as all the judging had been done in 3days. So she had to come up with something for the Friday for the public to see. What a fabulous job she did "IT'S A PIG WORLD" and it was fantastic. There was a display of each breed, and a poster telling you a little about them all down one side of the building. Friday morning those of us who had stayed would take some pigs out.

We had Martin Snell's group of Large Blacks in one paddock which the children could come in and stroke. There were pens down one side with different breeds in and Guy's Sally was chosen to be the wash pig. Elsie did her turn in the ring along with a Tamworth and Gloucester for the children to have a go with a board and stick. Nick Hunkin did a talk on each breed and what everyone was doing. We also had a group of Duroc out which went down well with the children. It was an amazing day all the children from the 3 schools and some just out for the day with Mum and Dad really enjoyed it.

After we had finished we pooled all the meal tickets that we had left and raided the canteen for sandwiches, drinks cake and crisps and had a get together. It was a really brilliant day and everyone worked well together. I hope the Royal Show were thrilled with all Viki's hard work which really paid off It would be really good if we could do something similar again, as I think the public really enjoyed it and the children thought it was great and really got a lot from there experience washing a pig and having a go with a board and stick. So hopefully we will do it again.
 

Tracey Bretherton