Suffolk sheep breeders were over the moon after scooping the top prize in their class at the Tendring Show as their pedigree flock celebrates its 90th year.
Chris and Sarah Partridge, of Bridges Farm, Kersey, near Hadleigh, said they were delighted after their shearling lamb took top honours in its class.
Chris added: “He’s a shearling lamb that I bought last year at the National sale and show at Shrewsbury. We have already got lambs by him and he’ll continue to. It’s the 90th year of our Suffolk flock which was established by my great uncle in 1927.
“We have got a flock of about 80 Suffolk ewes producing shearling lambs that we sell each year.”
The Partridges are strong supporters of the event but this was the first time in a while they had taken top honours, they said.
Amy Readhead-Higgins was equally delighted after her Southdown ram scooped the supreme title for its breed.
It was the second year in a row Amy had received the accolade - although this time with a different sheep which she had come close to selling last year. “I didn’t sell him and thank goodness,” she said, adding that she was “thrilled” at the win.
Judge Paul Humphrey praid the animal’s conformation. “He stood well and he had a bit of presence about him,” he said.
Sue Amoss, a regular at the event who is based just a short distance away at Lawford Hall, was thrilled after her Beltex cross large fat lambs took the top title in the commercial sheep category.
Judge John Coleman said: “They were just more or less the perfect sheep,” but added that the competition was very close.
Over in the cattle pens, it was the turn of Geoff Freeman of Poplar Farm, Bredfield, near Woodbridge, after his Limousin cross took the supreme beef champion title, and another of his animals, a Blonde Aquitaine cross, took the reserve prize.
“It’s unbelievalbe really,” said Geoff, 69, who works with another younger farmer, Lee Byam of Poplar Farm, Swilland whose farm is five miles away. Together they have 130 cattle across the two farms.
“I have never had the championship. We are over the moon really,” said Geoff.
Simon Husk, who came from Canterbury to judge the cattle, described the winner as “exceptional”. The overall standard was first class, he added.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here