What a day it was for Harry my 9 year old grandson, the’ best day of his life’ he said. He had the winning way with his pigs and to cap it all won the young handlers class with his new Oxford and Black pig ‘Spotty’. The biggest surprise of the day was his British Saddleback gilt taking the reserve Saddleback breed championship. Harry has been training “Scatty” all spring and summer and she has been to a few shows because she is Harry’s pig and he usually runs her out in the young handlers class. Her best breed prize to date was a forth at Cheshire County Show.
But now she has been to the boar and is showing in pig she is blooming and a different pig altogether. This is the beauty of pig showing that pigs change so quickly from the begining to the end of the season. So Harry won the Oxford Sandy and Black Champion, the group of three pigs with a collection of January British Saddlebacks, and was only beaten for the overall champion pig by Brian and Margaret Mulkeens Saddleback gilt Garsfields Rosette. This was shown by their granddaughter Emily who has developed both skill, patience, dexterity and confidence while showing this January Saddleback gilt. Well done Emily you are always the one to beat!
Pig showing must be one of the few competitions where children can compete on an even footing with adults. The pig showing fraternity welcomes and encourages youngsters to show their pigs. This leads to more confident children who get immense pleasure from preparing, training and eventually showing the pigs. The next show is Westmorland County Show on the 9th of September where all the grandchildren and Dyls will be showing their Saddleback and Oxford Sandy and Black pigs. Remember pigs can give you ‘The best day of my life’ if only you know how! Perhaps if you come on one of our pigkeeping courses we can point you in the right direction?
John
