One of the UK’s only guinea pig judges has told how he enjoys a jet-set lifestyle presiding over pet ‘beauty’ pageants - dubbed "Crufts on steroids".<br /><br />Jme Eglington has been a national judge for seven years and owns 80 guinea pigs which he lovingly keeps at his home in Coseley, West Mids.<br /><br />His obsession with the cute critters started when he was a child and grew through his teenage years and into adulthood.<br /><br />The 36-year-old is now one of only 69 nationally recognised guinea pig judges in the country and sits on the UK's executive panel for the animals. <br /><br />He says his unusual hobby sends him all over Europe to adjudicate guinea pig shows, which are particularly popular in Spain, Poland and Ukraine.<br /><br />Shows regularly attract over 1,000 guinea pigs and Jme says each animal is judged on their physical features, fluffiness of fur and temperament.<br /><br />Jme said: “I’ve now been a judge now for seven years and just love it. <br /><br />“People are competitive, I’ve heard guinea pig shows being described as like Crufts on steroids but to me they're more like Miss World beauty pageants.<br /><br />“We judge each pig on their physical appearance, the face shape, nice droopy ears - you don't want them sticking up like a mouse - and the density and texture of their coat. <br /><br />“Their markings and colouring have to be right for their breed as well as their overall temperament. <br /><br />“They don’t get extra marks for tricks. It’s purely on what they look like.”<br /><br />When Jme isn’t judging guinea pigs, he works as a mobile hairdresser.<br /><br />The animal-lover, who is married to husband Liam, 34, a chimney sweep, added: “I’ve judged all over Europe. <br /><br />"The first was Poland, which was a fantastic experience. I’ve done so many countries. <br /><br />“I go to Denmark two or three times a year. Ukraine, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands. <br /><br />“It’s a voluntary role but I get my travel expenses and I get to visit so many places I wouldn’t normally see.<br /><br />“I would say the biggest popularity for guinea pig showing is in England. <br /><br />“In the national ones you can get up to 1,000 pigs. The last London one got over 1,000.<br /><br />“The first thing I look for when judging is the breed standard. <br /><br />"That means the markings, the colour and shape.<br /><br />“It’s the presentation of the pig too. You could have one pig win one week, then next week not. <br /><br />“It’s good fun. I don’t know how I’ve learnt it, but it’s just through experience. I’ve just naturally learnt it. <br /><br />“There’s no plans on stopping, I’m enjoying it. I have an absolute wonderful time doing it. <br /><br />“How many people can say that their hobby takes them all over the world. <br /><br />"The fact I get to travel doing something that I love, why would you stop. <br /><br />“I loved judging in Ukraine, I think that stood out the most because it was a special place.”<br /><br />His love for guinea pigs is so strong he spent £10,000 building a huge enclosure for his 80 furry pets.<br /><br />In his collection, Jme has 18 endangered Belted pigs, and tries to breed the rarer species.<br /><br />Jme said: “For every 20 you have, you may only have two show pigs. A lot will be your breeders. <br /><br />“You may keep pigs that have extreme attributes. I breed mark breeds. I breed them to get a perfectly marked one. <br /><br />“You do have more than you need, you have to breed your own. A breeder won’t breed you their best. <br /><br />“I’ve got six different breeds, that works out as approximately 13 pigs per breed. I have known someone that has had up to 300. <br /><br />Jme said his dad inspired his love of animals and helped him buy his very first guinea pig when he was just nine. <br /><br />He added: “I was always brought up with animals, my dad ever since I was a baby he’s had animals around me. I’ve grown up and had doves and pigeons, pheasants, gerbils and rabbits. <br /><br />“I got my first guinea pig when I was nine and I called him Ron Weasley because he had ginger fur. I was hooked after that and I’ll never be without them.”
