Welsh boar is Royal Welsh pig champion

The interbreed pig championship has just been decided here at a wet Builth Wells (as predicted the sunshine didn’t last), and the overall award has gone to John Flay and Helen Tongue with their Welsh boar Slade Vulcan 3.

He is an August 2008-born son of Brynhafod Vulcan out of Slade Daffodil 14, one of 35 sows run by the partnership which tades as Glamorgan Vale pigs. A delighted Mr Flay told Taking Stock that Vulcan 3 had been shown several times this season but had only picked up thirds and fourths all year until this week, when he stood overall male champion before taking the supreme pig award.

In reserve was Amanda Thomas with her Saddleback sow Pantysgawen Dinah 10. This one from Miss Thomas’ four sow herd, is by Walyeat Prefect 259 and out of Pantysgawen Dinah 9. Having stood reserve breed champion at Devon and Royal Cornwall shows this season, Dinah 10 was the BPA Pig of the Year winner at Great Yorkshire last week too.

Interbreed judge Victor Byrne, Northern Ireland, said both pigs were tremendous examples of their respective breeds and picking a winner from the two of them had been a hard task, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. “The boar just edged, but the sow was close too. Both are tremendously well grown for their age and a credit to their breeders.”