[Berkshire Boy]

Well I have bitten the bullet and bought myself a show gilt. I thought it would be easier with a pig that had done a bit of showing, she can teach me the proper way to do it.
I am planning to start with the smallholders show in the spring at the Royal Welsh showground I've been told a good place to start, apparently they don't laugh at you too much.
Would appreciate any info on what to do, what not to do and what sort of things should I take with me appart from Valium.

[Fowgill Farm]

Hi
Go the GOS website and read forum section on showing theres loads of good info which will help.
We're in our third year now and still hunting that elsuive red 1st rosette, off to Egton show near Whitby tomorrow.
Hope it stays fine.
Bestest luck Mandy 

[HappyHippy]

Apart from the white coat and show board, you'll need pig oil - gallons of the stuff 
The difference it makes to their appearance is amazing, really gets them with a super shine.
Practice as much as you can beforehand (20-30 minutes at a time) walking anti-clockwise in a circle with the board on the outside of the pig (closest to the fence) and make sure she's nice and clean.
HTH
Karen

[robert waddell]

clockwise 

[HappyHippy]

Duh, ckockwise yeah 
Best of it is I sat and pictured it in my head going clockwise  Must be my age 

[oaklandspigs]

Pig show'ers in our area are a really friendly helpful bunch, as keen to see you do well as they are for themselves, they showed us lots of good tips quite happily, and were genuinly pleased when we won stuff.

Pm us and we'll send you the "take to the show" list.

[robert waddell]

oaklands could not agree more  the most friendliest group of people ever even with the Scottish banner up

[Tamsaddle]

Went to the Hatfield show on Saturday and met Robert and Lillian and Liz Shankland (Tudful Tamworths) and Shirley and Bill Howes and lots of other breeders and all their various pigs - fantastic day and everyone was delightful and incredibly helpful and friendly.     Most of the pigs behaved beautifully, and was very impressed by the numerous young handlers in the ring and how well they do it.    You will have lots of fun - and good luck too, it must be such a buzz to win a class - Tamsaddle   

[onnyview]

Agree you'll have a great time, though expect to be exhausted! It's been my first year showing this year too and I've had a blast.

 Don't forget to get your show pig used to loading on and off the trailer too.

Allison

[Fowgill Farm]

We got our first ever red rosette  yesterday and i am chuffed to bits.
When i came down from bathing last night OH had stuck my rosette to a bottle of champers left over from New Year because we ought to celebrate this momentous occaision! 
Showing can be nerve wracking, back breaking & expensive but its also great fun, you meet great people, you learn loads and it makes you smile 
Look forward to seeing you in the show ring Berkshire Boy and any of you others out there who fancy having a go.
Check out your local shows for pig classes and if they don't have any ask them why!! You could even offer to do a piggy exhibit for them to see if theres interest.
Bestest
Mandy 

[Berkshire Boy]

Thanks everyone for the advice I am looking forward to having a go, but will be a nervous wreck by the time I get in the ring.
Allison , how many shows did you do in your first year?
Well done Mandy, red rosette how many years have you been showing?
Looking forward to meeting some of you and putting faces to the names. Others will be too far from me to meet, I'm in Wales and I know a lot of you are from north of the border.

[RaisinHall Tamworths]

We got our first ever red rosette   yesterday and i am chuffed to bits.
When i came down from bathing last night OH had stuck my rosette to a bottle of champers left over from New Year because we ought to celebrate this momentous occaision!  
Showing can be nerve wracking, back breaking & expensive but its also great fun, you meet great people, you learn loads and it makes you smile  
Look forward to seeing you in the show ring Berkshire Boy and any of you others out there who fancy having a go.
Check out your local shows for pig classes and if they don't have any ask them why!! You could even offer to do a piggy exhibit for them to see if theres interest.
Bestest
Mandy  

Well done Mandy  

Go for it Berkshire Boy, showing is great fun and you get to meet loads of friendly people  .  If you are having difficulty there will always be someone to give you a helping hand 

[Tudful Tamworths]

That's great news, Berkshire Boy. Look forward to meeting you at Builth next year.
Where in Wales are you, btw? I'm in Caerphilly, if you're ever over this way.

Drop me a message with your email address and I'll send you some of the stuff I've written on showing for Country Smallholding magazine and the Haynes Pig Manual. Might help to start you off.
Good luck!
Liz

[SallyintNorth]

Congratulations Mandy.  From the posts that you make from time to time it sounds as though you have put in a lot of work over a long period to earn that red rosette!   

[Fowgill Farm]

Thank you all.
We started showing in 2009 and did 4 or 5 small local one day shows. Our pigs haven't always been brilliant as the quality of pigs shown is very very high. In 2010 we did 8 one day shows and got second places.  This year we were really brave and we went to Newark & Notts where with lots of help (Raisinhall knows what i mean!! ) we showed at a major county show for the first time. We've also done another 8 one day shows by time we finish. It is hard work and a lot of effort does go in but its so lovely to be able to show your pigs to the world.
Already planning for next year with our July's looking promising already and we'll shortly be putting Clover in with our boar for some Januaries so fingers crossed. The calendars getting cluttered already!!
See you at Penistone Raisinhall. 
Mandy