Class 1 – Berk Barrows 

Placing: 3142

Cuts 2-4-3

A really nice way to start this year’s judging contest! 

I think the berk barrows can certainly offer up an element of challenge on either end of the class. However, when you really break them down there’s a logical way to go about lining up the pairs. 

The 3 and 1 barrow surface for me, but for different reasons. The white eared 3 barrow hits me as a tall shouldered, elevated barrow that has the significant advantage in terms of freshness and shape. Not only is he the stronger footed, stouter skulled barrow within an initial pair but he also hits me as the kind that could withstand a drive and still maintain his comfort level. 

Now no doubt, the 1 barrows foot size, feature and density can give you a pretty good first impression. But if you really get in and study that barrow there’s a culmination of little things that start working him down for me. I wish the weaker footed, wasty barrow facilitated more extension. But realistically I really need that barrow to be better in terms of a freshness and shape standpoint to require a switch up high. If you switched the top, it’s certainly understandable. We only cut you two. 

In my opinion there’s not a whole lot of discussion to be had in middle. Heads up out of the gate, that 1 barrows foot size, blade and density is certainly going to be more favorable ringside. I’d surely split the class into two pairs, if you don’t you’ll take four in the middle.

Once again, I think there’s some discussion to be had down low. But realistically, like previously discussed, the freshness, comfort level and just quality found out on the side certainly favor the 4 barrow. Some may argue that the stronger footed 2 barrow reads with some more shape and width. Considering what we’ve got to work with, from the side I thought that barrow was pretty quick to label himself as the low fronted, off quality barrow that got entirely too round out of his hip. 

Cut you three on bottom.