Suffolk success across the border

THE sun shone on the first day of the Royal Norfolk Show yesterday - with a number of livestock breeders from across the border in Suffolk basking in some glory of their own.

The show was a royal occasion in fact as well as name, with the Earl of Wessex spending around five hours at the Costessey showground, outside Norwich, as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

The Earl met award participants and watched them give a range of demonstrations before hosting a VIP reception where award officers and volunteers from across the region were thanked for their support for the scheme.

One of the more unusual attractions at this year's Royal Norfolk Show was a parade of Suffolk Beauties - eight prize-winning cows covering three generations from the Instead herd of Guernsey cattle, owned by Nigel and Anne Kennard from Weybread who traditionally name their cattle “Beauty”.

Mr Kennard said the family line-up was extremely rare as it was unusual to get so many female calves within the same family up to show standard. “You don't get such a consistently high standard usually so this is really quite unique,” he added.

There was a second success for the village of Weybread - near Harleston, but on the Suffolk side of the Waveney - with R & D L Harper, of White House Farm carrying off the Charolais cattle title.

There were also championships for Boldeston & Parnters, from Blyford, near Halesworth, for the Jersey breed, and Ian Stennett, from nearby Ubbeston, for Suffolk's native cattle breed, the Red Poll.

In the sheep section, there were championships in the Texel breed for Terry and Jenny Prentice, from Creeting St Mary and the Hampshire Down breed for Banks & Green of Thelnetham.

The Royal Norfolk Show is open again today from 8am when judging will include the cattle and sheep interbreed titles and the Suffolk Horse classes.