IT was a remarkable show of royal proportions for West Devon?s Uglow family. Not only did the Milton Abbot pig breeders scoop the prizes in the Gloucester Old Spot classes but Arthur Uglow had the privilege of showing the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall around this section of the showground. ?It was a great honour. I was thrilled,? said Arthur, who, in 2000 was made senior steward of the pig section. He said Prince Charles was ?very relaxed? as he chatted to everyone. ?It was great. I didn?t think he would talk to people like he did.? The presenting of rosettes for one of the Large Black classes was held for the arrival of the Prince as he is a keen pig fancier. ?Prince Charles has got pigs of his own ? and that is why we kept the Large Blacks in the ring for him,? said Arthur. The pigs were in prime condition ? their coats sparkling with liberal quantities of pig oil as the owners paraded them around the ring. ?Prince Charles said how well they were displayed and shown ? and asked what sort of oil was used on them,? said Arthur, who added that the Prince believed the rare breeds should be represented in Brussels. The Prince told Arthur that he was particularly fond of traditional sausages as they were full of flavour. Dressed in bowler hat and suit as befits the position of a senior steward, Arthur also sported a tie that had a discreet piggy pattern on it. Arthur, who won his first prize at the Devon County Show back in 1960, was joined as usual by his daughter Ann. They both had plenty to celebrate ? not only a brush with royalty but a string of showring triumphs. They had six firsts, four seconds together with the male champion, female champion and champion Gloucester Old Spot ? which elicited much ?beating of the boards? by way of congratulations from other pig breeders in the ring. ?We have a tremendous relationship ? she is my boss really! The secret is that we are both very keen on what we are doing,? said Arthur of his daughter. The number of animal entries were up this year ? with a particularly fine selection in the pig classes. Nick Hunkin, now of Somerset but whose father had a farm at Brentor, did much of the pig commentary. He said with such top quality entrants the judge Sue White was looking not only at configuration but the way the pigs walked and how they were presented. ?It is quite an art. That is why we encourage young handlers. This encourages and fosters a very good future for showing in the ring,? he said. Fortunately for the Large Blacks they are enjoying a commercial revival having almost become extinct some thirty years ago. ?At that time they were being replaced by more commercial breeds. But the public are interested in tracing the source of their food and they want quality of taste. Farmers? markets and supermarkets like Waitrose are now sourcing these type of pigs. ?They make the most wonderful bacon, sausages and ham. That is why we can charge a much higher premium for these than commercial pigs these days. They are slower at maturing but that is why the flavour is so much better.? A traditional Dartmoor livestock farm which welcomes campers received a top award at the show. Philip and Christine Coaker of Runnage Farm, Postbridge won the prestigious John Neason Memorial Award which champions farm diversification into alternative and complementary enterprises. The judges were impressed by the commitment the Coakers had shown to the provision of accommodation and the professional way in which the business was run. ?For us diversification has to fit with our existing core farm business. We originally decided to pursue camping barns to maintain our old buildings and because they fit in so well with the work of the farm,? said Philip. As usual the showground had more than enough to entertain the crowds and please all tastes. The South West Axe Team were there to demonstrate their skills ? not without a bit of comedy as one member tapped his head, and sawdust appeared to come out of his ear . . . If it wasn?t razor sharp axes being wielded in the Country Life arena it was the clash of jousting lances as Powderham Castle?s merry men brought their skills to the main ring. ?There is a lot of magic in jousting,? said Geoff Winship, but he admits there is nothing romantic about jousting for the ?knights? who take part. Like athletes they train daily and have to have the strength to carry a lance weighing 35lbs and a shield weighing 15lbs. ?A good knight has to be a good horseman. And they have to have some acting ability and sword play. My knights say that working for me is like medieval national service!? says Geoff. Taking the weight off her feet in the Churches of Devon site while enjoying a cup of tea one mum related proudly to another how Prince Charles had spoken to her children after seeing them with their faces painted. ?He asked them how they would get the paint off,? she said. ?Oh you should tell the local paper,? said the other. ?Can?t do that ? I phoned their school to say they were off sick today!? said proud mum. ?Let?s hope they aren?t on the telly tonight, then. . .? replied the friend .
