Full Results
Berkshire classes, judged by Viki Mills.

1) Boar born before 1 Jan 2005
Glebe Farm Berkshires Jobesmajor Peter Lad 8 (this boar was Reserve Champion Male)
Glebe Farm Berkshires Jobesmajor Ambassador 6

2) Boar born in 2005
Mrs Jo Wykes-Sneyd Bruisyard Orlando 7 (this boar was Champion Male)
Mrs CA Webb Caumpedene Peter Lad
DC Wickstead Boswick Freight Train

3) Sow born before 1 July 2004
Mrs Jo Wykes-Sneyd Kilcot Mermaid (this sow was Champion Female and Breed Champion)
Mrs CA Webb Caumpedene Royal Sapphire 81 (this sow was Reserve Champion Female)
Glebe Farm Berkshires Bramfields Royal Sapphire 57
Mrs Tracey Bretherton Kilcot Excelsa 20
Glebe Farm Berkshires Jobesmajor Royal Lustre 22

4)Sow born in 2004 on or after 1 July
Glebe Farm Berkshires Jobesmajor Royal Lustre 30
Mrs CA Webb Caumpedene Royal Sapphire 663
Glebe Farm Berkshires Jobesmajor Royal Lustre 31
Mrs Tracey Bretherton Wedlock Louise 4
Brian Merry Wedlock Louise 129

5)Sow born in Jan 2005
Mrs Jo Wykes-Sneyd Bruisyard Mermaid 4
Mrs CA Webb Caumpedene Royal Sapphire 691
DC Wickstead Boswick Louise
Mrs CA Webb Caumpedene Royal Sapphire 699
Mrs CA Webb Caumpedene Royal Sapphire 688

6) Best Group of Three BK pigs bred by an exhibitor
Glebe Farm Berkshires

7) Best Group of Three BK pigs by the same sire/out of the same dam
Mrs CA Webb

8) BK Champion of Champions Qualifier Mrs CA Webb
Caumpedene Royal Sapphire 81

9) Pig of the Year qualifier Glebe Farm Berkshires
Jobesmajor Peter Lad 8

Report

Sunday 3rd July. The BK classes were judged by Viki Mills at 12 noon. It was very hot for the pigs and their exhibitors. There was a short break between the sow and July gilt classes for a presentation of a crystal bowl to Philip Snell, by Christine Parker, on behalf of the BPA in appreciation of his support and commitment over many years to the Pig Industry. He was a member of the National Pig Breeders Association, now known as the British Pig Association. He is father of Martin Snell, the Wednesday judge (see below).

Jo Wykes-Sneyd from Suffolk won both the male and female Berkshire championships. The sow is Kilcot Mermaid, (by Kilcot Ambassador out of Fairoaks Mermaid 7) bought as a 9 week old weaner from Sharon Barnfield in March 2003. Jo explains: ‘I was looking for a Mermaid gilt, having failed in my bid to buy a one at the Ross Sale the previous September. She has done really well, has won nearly all her classes, and lots of Championships.’ This sow is the mother of the winning January gilt and boar here, and the mother of a similar pair who did extremely well last year. The sire of the youngsters is an Orlando/Excelsa line.

The Berkshire Champion of Champions competition at Newbury in September has one pig nominated at each County show. Here, as both Jo’s sow and young boar have already qualified at East Anglian shows (and also she is unable to attend that weekend), this opportunity was awarded to Caroline Webb’s sow.

Tuesday saw the Interbreed classes and the Flack trophy for the best pair. This was judge Mrs Rachel Wyllie’s last show as she is retiring from judging.

Inter-breed Champion Male was won by Mrs Jo Wykes-Sneyd Berkshire Bruisyard Orlando 7 – it is especially commendable to achieve this with a January boar against older opposition from other breeds.

**** Congratulations to Jo for the breeding and presentation of the boar on the day. ****

Champion female and Supreme Champion overall in the Show was won by the Duroc gilt of Mr Alan Rose - Maddaford Hjornegard. This gilt also won the Geoffrey Cloke Memorial Cup which was presented for the first time following Geoffrey’s death just one year ago.
In the Flack Trophy – the pair of BKs nominated by the BK breeders to represent the breed were Jo’s January pair (as was the case last year) and they came third behind the Saddlebacks and Middle White pairs in the Traditional heat. Overall winner were the Saddlebacks.

Wednesday saw the Pig of the Year and Young Pig of the Year qualifying heats. Best wishes to Chris and Kevin’s boar who qualified against stiff opposition from other breeds to go forward to the final at the Yorkshire show.

In the interbreed class for Mixed Pairs - Traditional Breeds born in 2005, Berkshires won 3 out of 5 placings, a remarkable achievement:
1st Berkshires Mrs Jo Wykes-Sneyd
3rd Berkshires DC Wickstead
5th Berkshires Mrs CA Webb

Overall show comments:

The good news - The BPA tent was larger than last year and well-used over the five days - very helpful during the rain.

It was very nice to see three new breeders exhibiting Berkshires (Mr Wickstead, Mr Brian Merry and Mrs Tracy Bretheton), and we hope that they enjoyed the Royal and will return next year.

The bad news - The pig barn floor was diabolical, as usual, VERY dusty, no improvement there. It is certainly no fun living amongst it for 5 days. Then there was the usual hassle leaving, it took hours, sitting in queues, with the sheep people butting in as usual!

Today I received an apology letter from the CEO at the Royal, apologising for various management shortcomings at this year’s show...


Sue Fildes, July 2005

PS: Bruisyard Orlando 7 will be for sale at Melton Mowbray in September, along with other good-quality Berkshire stock.