East Anglia Dexter Group Herd Competition’s Christine Brookes Memorial Salver for 2017 Herd of the Year awarded to Clobell Herd of Great Yarmouth.

The Clobell Herd, winners of the 2017 East Anglia Dexter Group Herd Competition. Picture: RAY BOWLER (Image: Ray Bowler)

The second biennial East Anglia Dexter Group Herd Competition’s coveted Christine Brookes Memorial Salver for the 2017 Herd of the Year went to the Clobell Herd, owned by Paul and Jackie Brind, of Belton, Great Yarmouth.

The couple, who also won in 2015, won the large herd section.

Judge Ray Bowler, secretary of the Red Poll Cattle Society and leading cattle judge, said the herd, which consists of nine breeding cows with associated youngstock, was all red, giving it “great uniformity”. “There isn’t an animal in the herd which isn’t of the highest type,” he said. “On the day visited they were grazing the marsh and just looked an absolute picture. They were quiet, easy to look at and just had that wow factor.” Runner up in the section was Derek Eagle’s Tannslane Herd, from North Lopham, Diss.

In the small herd section, the Brookes Syndicate’s Driftside Herd based in Hepworth, near Diss. took top spot.

“This is a mixed coloured herd with all the cattle of excellent quality,” said Ray.

“Again not a poor animal amongst them. Grazing a variety of sites when visited they looked what they were, quality cattle with deep bodies & excellent udders.”

Runner up was the Endway Herd owned by Robin Creighton, from near Chelmsford, Essex.

Derek Eagle’s bull Multumin Parvo Hugo was awarded the Pat Short Memorial Cup for Bull of the Year. The trophy was in honour of Pat, who was president of the UK Dexter Cattle Society. She was instrumental in founding the support group and was a keen advocate and supporter of the Dexter Breed.

Dexters, the smallest British breed of cattle, are a dual-purpose breed. There are two recognized types, short legged and non-short. It comes in three colours - black, red and dun.