The GOSPBC organises four special competitions each year. This is a reminder of each and what you need to do to enjoy the benefits afforded to members.
This takes place at The Royal Three Counties Show in June and brings together qualifying pigs from all the early major shows to compete for the prestigious Elwes Memorial Cup. Both the Breed Champion and Reserve Breed Champion from each of the shows below is eligible to come forward for the finals. A Qualifier rosette is awarded at each at the shows and if a pig has already qualified at an earlier show, then the next down the line should be awarded the Qualifier rosette. Even if you haven’t entered The Royal Three Counties, you should still be able to reserve a pen or pens and make arrangements to turn up just for the Champion of Champions judging on the Saturday – contact Fiona Parker at Three Counties (01684 584901 fionap@threecounties.co.uk) as soon as you’ve qualified and ask her to reserve a pen for you. She will explain arrival times etc.
The winner receives not only the prestigious trophy for the year but a special rosette and sash and a cheque for £75. The runner-up receives a special rosette and a cheque for £25.
QUALIFIER SHOWS
SHOW | DATES | SHOW | DATES |
South Suffolk Champion – Mr A Brenchley, Millfields Princess 64 Reserve – MJ Kiddy & Son, Balsham Ellen 125 | 11th May | Notts County Champion – Miss S Whitley, Birchfield Bluebell 402Reserve – | 10th-11th May |
Devon County Champion – Mr J Lightfoot, Pebblesford Bluebell 402 Reserve – Mr J Lightfoot, Pebblesford Sambo 551 | 22nd-24th | Welsh Smallholders Champion – Kilcot Pedigree Pigs Reserve – Mr M Smith | 17th-18th May |
Royal Bath & West Champion – Mrs J Sims, Ampneyknowle Princess Freda 33 Reserve – Mrs J Sims, Winterwood Princess 241 | 28th —31st May | Staffordshire Champion – Mr J Knaggs, Littleowls Sambo 320 Reserve – Miss S Whitley, Birchfield Bluebell 402 | 28th – 29th May |
Royal Cornwall Champion – Mrs P Darvill, Toller DahliaReserve – Mrs P Darvill, Toller Dahlia | 5th-7th June | South of England Champion – Mr D Overton & Mrs A Nicholls, Exfold Josephine 205Reserve – Mr & Mrs Dallaway, Trewint Sambo | 5th—7th June |
Royal Three Counties | 13th-15th June |
Northern Championships
The Northern Championships is judged each year at the Great Yorkshire Show in July. Like the Champion of Champions, qualifier rosettes are awarded to the Breed Champions at each of the qualifier events listed below but unlike the Champion of Champions only one pig qualifies from each show. Again, in the event of a pig already having qualified, the next in line should receive the qualifier rosette and be eligible to compete. The other major difference is that you must be entered at the Great Yorkshire Show so there is no provision for late entries just to compete in this competition. Some of the shows appear in both competitions giving exhibitors extra opportunities to compete.
The winner receives the Myrtle Styles Memorial Trophy for the year, a sash and special rosette and a cheque for £35. The runner-up receives a special rosette and a cheque for £15.
QUALIFIER SHOWS
SHOW | DATES | SHOW | DATES |
South Suffolk Champion – Mr A Brenchley, Millfields Princess 64 Reserve – MJ Kiddy & Sons, Balsham Ellen 125 | 11th May | Notts County Champion – Miss S Whitley, Birchfield Bluebell 402Reserve – | 10th-11th May |
Staffordshire Champion – Mr J Knaggs, Littleowls Sambo 320 Reserve – Miss S Whitley, Birchfield Bluebell 402 | 28th – 29th May | Suffolk County Champion – Mr A Brenchley, Millfields Princess Reserve – MJ Kiddy & Son, Balsham Ellen 125 | 28th – 29th May |
Cheshire | 17th—18th June | Lincolnshire County | 18th-19th June |
Royal Norfolk | 25th-26th June | Great Yorkshire | 8th-10th July |
Southern Championships
This works in exactly the same way as the Northern Championships and qualifiers can attend the Royal Berkshire & Newbury Show for the finals in September. You do not need to have entered the show but can contact the livestock officer to book a pen for the final on 15th September. Prizes too are similar with a perpetual trophy, sash, rosette and cheque for £35 to the winner and a rosette and cheque for £15 to the runner-up. The judge is Mr Steve Richardson.
SHOW | DATES | SHOW | DATES |
Dorset Rare Breeds | 26th May | Lambourn | 4th May |
North Somerset Champion – Mrs J Sims, Winterwood Princess 238
Reserve: Mrs J Sims, Ampneyknowle Princess Freda 33 |
5th May | Devon County Champion – Mr J Lightfoot, Pebblesford Bluebell 402Reserve – Mr J Lightfoot, Pebblesford Sambo 551 | 22nd-24th May |
Welsh SmallholdersChampion – Kilcot Pedigree Pigs
Reserve – Mr Mike Smith |
17th-18th May | Royal Bath & WestChampion – Mrs J Sims, Ampneyknowle Princess Freda 33
Reserve – Mrs J Sims, Winterwood Princess 241 |
28th -31st May |
South of England Champion – Mr D Overton & Mrs A Nicholls, Exfold Josephine 205Reserve – Mr & Mrs Dallaway, Trewint Sambo | 5th-7th June | Royal Cornwall Champion – Mrs P Darvill, Toller DahliaReserve – Mrs P Darvill, Toller Dahlia | 5th-7th June |
Royal Three Counties | 13th—15th June | Royal Welsh | 21st-24th June |
Singleton | 20th July | Mid-Devon | 26th July |
Cranleigh | 2nd August | Okehampton | 14th August |
Dorchester | 6th – 7th September | Royal Berkshire & Newbury | 20th – 21st September |
GOS Pig of the Year
This last is a points-based competition for the individual pig which, throughout the show season, has accumulated the highest score of points from all shows. Application forms are sent to all exhibitors at the end of the show season and claims made in time for the prizes
to be presented at the following AGM. The winner receives the Ray Sims Memorial Trophy for the year, a sash and rosette and the runner-up receives a rosette. All shows count towards the total points but the larger shows have a weighting factor applied.
A lot of effort goes into these events and if you are lucky enough to get a qualifier for any of them, do please make the effort to attend the finals and bring your prize-winner out to compete for the main prize!