The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: HappyHippy on May 28, 2011, 07:30:07 pm

Title: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: HappyHippy on May 28, 2011, 07:30:07 pm
The pig classes at Lesmahagow Agricultural show today were fantastic !
It was wet, it was muddy (we even got some hail for a time :o) it was windy, and then the sun came out (in between the monsoon style rain showers  ;)) but the crowds were out in force  ;D
The pig tent was soooooo busy - packed out ALL the time  ;D
The Champion Pig prize went to a 12 week old GOS gilt owned & bred by Lisa McCaig, with Lillian's Tamworth gilt getting the reserve - what better birthday pressie ? (and my Berkshire got a 3rd place rosette - but I'm not sure if that really counts !)
Prizes and rosettes galore - I'll post a full list once I get all the offical results (can't remember them now my head is bumping  :D)
A LOT of time, cash and work went into getting it all together (not to mention blood, sweat & tears), but we couldn't have made such a success of it without all those lovely folks who braved the mud and the weather to bring their pigs and those who came along to support us.
The day passed without incident and it was a fantastic sight to see the GOS in the show ring for the champion of champions judging, especially since there were 2 horses in there with her  ;) Who says horses and pigs don't go together  ::) ;D
Here's hoping other shows follow Lesmahagow's lead and we have a full schedule next year (oh, and maybe a few more helpers for putting up the marquee  ;))
Going for a well deserved bath and glass of wine - sure I'll be back later spouting more nonsense  ;)
Thank you ALL and well done everybody
Karen  :wave:
And Lillian, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !  :-*
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: lill on May 28, 2011, 07:44:15 pm
Jesus Karen, you bet me to it. ;D ;D you must be able to type faster than me.
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: pinkpiggies! on May 28, 2011, 07:57:19 pm
Well done ladies.  You all did a fantastic job.  We had a fantastic day and we will definately be back next year.  See you all at the Yorkshire show?!?!?!?!  Thanks once again for a fantastic day.  Lisaxx :pig:
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: little blue on May 28, 2011, 08:05:04 pm
*thumbs up* to HH & Lillian, & happy birthday!
and well done pigs!
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: Fleecewife on May 28, 2011, 11:54:54 pm
I'm so glad it all went well.  We were thinking of you when the hail came down  ;D  Sorry we couldn't be there to see the fun.
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: Tudful Tamworths on May 29, 2011, 01:02:31 am
Congratulations, everyone. It's not easy keeping an established show going, but starting off a completely new one takes some doing. Time to give yourselves a well-earned pat on the back.
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 29, 2011, 01:09:58 am
That's made my day.  Well done and congratulations all, and happy birthday Lillian.
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: lill on May 29, 2011, 01:24:10 am
thanks all for the birthday wishes, we all had a great day, came home with rosettes, were wet and cold but had a smile on our faces. We have achieved getting pig classes back to Scotland and our ultimate aim is to show at the highland. Thanks to all who attended and supported us and a special thanks to  the people clearing everything away afterwords. :pig: :pig:
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: oaklandspigs on May 29, 2011, 07:39:12 am
and well done to all from me !! :)
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: Rosemary on May 29, 2011, 09:48:05 am
I am so, so pleased for you and for pigs in Scotland. This is brilliant. Let's hope we can repeat the same success at the Scottish Smallholders' Show  :)
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: Fowgill Farm on May 29, 2011, 10:19:19 am
Congratulations so pleased it all went well and especially pleased to see a GOS as winner.
A big well done to you all.
Mandy  :pig: :wave:
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: Blinkers on May 29, 2011, 10:24:26 am
Brilliant, well done you guys that's fantastic news all round  ;D
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: tobytoby on May 29, 2011, 05:16:19 pm
Can antone tell me when the Scottish Smallholder show is & where & when?
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: doganjo on May 29, 2011, 06:10:23 pm
Can antone tell me when the Scottish Smallholder show is & where & when?
Nothing decided as yet since there is not yet an elected committee.  Suggestions so far are September/October 2012, to be held at Lanark Auction Mart(Lawrie & Symington), with 2013 show held at Thainstone, and alternating.  First inaugural meeting for anyone to come to is at the Mayfield Centre, Stirling, 7.30 pm on 30th June.  Let's have a good turnout and get this off the ground.
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: Simon O on May 31, 2011, 09:35:35 am
Well done for organising this and for all those taking part and winning rosettes, sorry I could not get there to see the pigs. Results are on Lesmahagow Farmers soc website. I will need to pop round and congratulate my neighbour Ian Douglas and his Pietrains for their win!
Simon
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: robert waddell on May 31, 2011, 10:05:03 am
also congrats to princesspiggy for coming from peterhead and winning with her heifer and the other competitor from mintlaw. Congratulations to the both of you for making the tremendous effort in travelling from the north east of Scotland to the south west of Scotland. It just goes to show that there are dedicated enthusiasts out there. We just have to persuade your local show to follow in Lesmahagow's footsteps. :pig:
As a foot note, following on from Saturday's success there are at least 3 Scottish pig breeders that are making the effort to attend the Yorkshire Show :pig: :pig:
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: Beewyched on May 31, 2011, 09:26:59 pm
Belatedly ... I've just recovered from Saturday  ;D

Many thanks to the Committe of the SPKA, they are to be commended on their hard work & lobbying over the years to get pig showing back in Scotland. 

Also, to the Committe & their spouses/partners for not just the preparation for the show, but in braving the awful weather to set-up & pack away afterwards (I'd had enough of the weather just attending on the Saturday  ::) ).

We had a brill time at the show, the organisation was extremely professional & SoS thoroughly enjoyed the luxurious pens provided  ;)  Here's to the beginning of great things & onwards to the Highland Show.

& a (very) belated Happy Birthday to Lillian  :bouquet:
Title: Re: First Scottish show a great success
Post by: lill on June 01, 2011, 03:07:35 pm
after 4 years of going round our local shows , demonstrating the pigs, 2011 was the year that showing pigs was going to happen or not. Pushing for classes was the way forward and this is why Robert and myself founded the SPKA on 21st February 2011.As Karen HH was a success at saving palacerigg she was the ideal person to come on board to promote pigs and pig keeping, culminating in pig showing being reintroduced in Scotland.   By getting other breeders involved provided a great turn out for our first show at Lesmahagow. There is plenty more shows that I will be lobbing to get pig classes to them. Everyone wanting to show will always be informed as what shows we will attend. I am still confident that we could be showing at B U S on 28/29th July 2011. There was a lot of hard work, sweat, and tears went into making the day a success and we hope to see you all there next year, as the committee are looking forward to hosting us again. Special thanks must go to Richard at MODULAMB who is allowing us, the SPKA the use of 20 back to back pig pens also JFC for supplying the disinfectant mat and have also supported us at the highland show last year and this year. Great things have come to fruitrition on the back of pigs being shown at Lesmahagow. More to follow on this as it occurs.