One of the country’s leading beef trophies will awarded at next year’s Royal Norfolk Show.

For the first time for more than 60 years, the country’s supreme inter-breed beef trophy will be judged at the Norfolk showground.

The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association’s livestock secretary, Mary Wright, was delighted to confirm that the Burke Trophy will be presented on the second day of the show.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have the Burke Trophy,” she added.

The trophy was originally presented to the Royal Agricultural Society of England for the best pair of inter-breed beef animals. Since the demise of the Royal Show, it was decided to offer the opportunity for other associations to award the trophy.

It is also official recognition of the level of support and the strength of the beef cattle entries, which have stood at more than 800 in each of the past two years.

The record entry of 808 cattle took place during the presidency of West Norfolk landowner Sir Jeremy Bagge, of Stradsett, near Downham Market, in 2010. This summer, there were 805 cattle entries.

The Burke Trophy was last awarded at the Costessey showground when the Royal Show was staged in 1957 by the RASE. The Queen also visited in support of Prince Philip, who was then RASE’s president. It was the last peripatetic visit because later the Royal Show moved to Stoneleigh.

The RNAA had purchased a site for a showground in 1952 and two years later, the Queen Mother visited and was the show’s president.

It has also been announced that the Queen’s Prize will be awarded to the best Norfolk bred, owned and shown inter-breed sheep breed at next year’s show. The Queen’s Prize is awarded in rotation to breeds of farm livestock and horses.

The RNAA’s show schedule and prize money is expected to be published in February when details of classes and the judges for the various sections of large livestock will be announced.

The Royal Norfolk Show will be staged on Wednesday, June 27 and Thursday, June 28.