Bath and West: Pig Interbreed Champion

Traditional breeds have dominated in the pig interbreed championship, with a British Saddleback boar bred by the Newth family, Cumnock Terrace, Castle Cary, Somerset, reigning supreme.

Prestcombe Golden Arrow 6 marks the third interbreed win for the Newth family, who won with Prestleigh Queen in 2010, and Prestleigh Prince in 2009.  He is the family’s chief breeding boar – they also keep Large Whites, Gloucester Old Spots and Landrace.

This one is by Lowpark Golden Arrow out of Prescombe Dinah, and described by judge Phil Fowlie as an animal in excellent shape and a “commercially viable pig”.

Previous wins for Arrow include supreme at this year’s Devon County Show and Saddleback champion of champions at last year’s Bath and West – the Newth’s plan to take him on to the Three Counties.

In reserve was a Tamworth homebred sow from Caroline Wheatley-Hubbard of Boyton Farm, Warminster.

Berkswell Princess 52 is by Stoneymore Jasper 5 and out of Berkswell Princess 47. Princess is part of a herd of 25-30 Tamworth breeding sows – the oldest herd of any breeding pig in the country with a long running show history going back to 1922.

This one is set to farrow in July and will now be heading to Newbury for the Tamworth Breed Society’s champion of champions.