Piggie pair battle it out to be champions (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Rare breed pigs Princess – a Gloucester Old Spot – and Cindy – an Oxford Sandy and Black – are in line for the coveted Champion of Champions at this year’s Royal County of Berkshire show

10:00am Saturday 8th September 2012 in News By Ian Craig

TWO of the Cotswold’s most well-fed residents will be hoping to bring home the bacon at a prestigious countryside show later this month.

Rare breed pigs Princess – a Gloucester Old Spot – and Cindy – an Oxford Sandy and Black – are in line for the coveted Champion of Champions at this year’s Royal County of Berkshire show on September 15 and 16.

The pair – who live at Butts Farm Rare Breeds at South Cerney – have already won a number of accolades at other shows, but owner Judy Hancox said she had her work cut out for her getting the troublesome twosome up to scratch to be in with a chance of winning.

“Princess will be sweetness itself but there is always the worry that Cindy will make a bolt for it at a critical moment,” she said. “We will bath them twice in the days leading up to the show and then again on the day because they are bound to roll around in the meantime.

“It would be lovely to come away with the ultimate title but we always enjoy the Berkshire show anyway because it has a real end-of-season feel, a beautiful showground and lots of family fun whether or not you are into animals.”

A father and son from Church Westcote near Bourton-on-the-Water will also face off at the show to determine who has the best sheep herd.

Sheep farmer Tom Stayt, who has won national acclaim for his Berrichon herd, will face against his 18-year-old son Ben, who started his own flock only two years ago.

Tom said: “We both get a lot of enjoyment from showing our sheep and a bit of rivalry between our flocks makes it all the more fun.”