RE: 22 inch beard.
 

Beard length is important in overall bird score....as is weight, but the number one factor, and one thing that you will see ALL very high scoring birds have in common, is spurs in excess of 1 3/4" inch.

If I recall, that current record typical eastern had spurs around 2 1/4".

RE: 22 inch beard.
 

that's incredible. if the beard was as brittle as they say in the article it's amazing it didn't break off.