Suffolk-raised Aberdeen Angus animals reigned supreme at the county show yesterday as they took the two top spots in the breed competition at the county show.
And they were given the ultimate accolade when judge Angus Stovold said the county’s beasts could vie with the best in Britain.
“The standard would be up in the top end all over the country, from Scotland to Wales. You are seeing some of the best cattle in the country,” he said.
Hawstead Lodge Peter of Pinford End, Bury St Edmunds, was breed champion, while reserve spot went to Shadwell Lady Heather, raised near Lavenham.
Hawstead Lodge’s Andrew Brown said he was “extremely pleased”, having previously won with his sire.
Shadwell head stockman Robert Clarke said he was “chuffed”. It was a second accolade for the estate’s heifer, bought in as an embryo, which has already scooped the inter-breed champion prize at the South Suffolk Show.
Mr Stovold said: “You have probably got two herds here in Suffolk who are up there with the top in the country.
“The numbers were small, but the quality was very good.
“He’s a really good bull actually. He’s got very good Angus traits. The heifer who was reserve champion will do very well wherever she goes.”
In the Red Poll section, husband and wife team Tony and Ann Barratt, who are Sandringham estate tenants, took top spot with Castlefields Spud.
“When I was a boy, some people in the village had some and it stuck with me.
“Although I wasn’t lucky enough to go into farming straight away - I was an auctioneer and estate agent for 40 years, I changed my role and became a full-time farmer.
“We got a tenancy at Sandringham seven years ago and the rest is history.”
He was “thrilled”, he said.
“The bull is nine years old. The last time he won was when he was two.”
Red Poll judge Stephen Prescott, himself a Red Poll breeder based in Yorkshire who keeps around 100 Red Polls, said: “The bull is nine years old.
“You have to give age a bit of respect. When you get an animal as good as that it’s a credit to the breed.”
He welcomed the revival of the once very rare Suffolk breed and said it was nice to see so many at the Suffolk Show.
“The last time we exhibited here was 20 odd years ago. I think we had three breeders,” he said.
“We are getting quite a revival with animal numbers and breeders which is the main thing,” he said.
Jason Salisbury of Suffolk Farmhouse Cheeses, Creeting St Mary, was celebrating after his Wellingham Lillywhite was crowned Guernsey of the Year at the show.
There were top accolades for some Waveney Valley-bred cattle early on as Crawford & Co, of Topcroft, Bungay, took the title in the Any Other Dairy Breed category with their Ayrshire, Longwood Flash Crummie.
Sue Crawford said she was “delighted”, adding that it was “a total surprise”.
“I didn’t expect the heifer would take a championship so delighted about that,” she said.
The reserve prize in the category went to Burroughs and Son, of Oaklands Farm, Aldeby, Beccles, with Oakalby Vienna Sheila 41, a British Friesian.
Judge Blaise Tomlinson said: “There were some nice cattle to judge this morning.
“The Ayrshire heifer was an extremely good heifer, extremely well balanced.”
The Friesian in second place was “a really lovely, sweet cow”.
“Again, with super bone quality, and again a great udder under it,” he said.
Crawford & Co celebrated a double top win after Topcroft Sam Cameo scooped top honours in the Holstein breed section.
Virginia Crawford, daughter of Sue, said: “We are very pleased.”
227: Stallion, mare or gelding, 5 years and over, between 122-138cms: Samantha Darlington
228: Stallion, mare or gelding, 5 years and over, exceeding 138cms: Mrs A Sylvester
229: Stallion, mare or gelding, 5 years and over, exceeding 143cms: D Smith and A Jones
230: Champion best exhibit: Jane Armson
FIRST RIDDEN MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND
231: First ridden Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland and New Forest: Lisa Simms
232: First ridden Welsh: Mrs A Burchell-Small
233: Champion best first ridden: Lisa Simms
DARTMOOR and EXMOOR
245: Dartmoor male, stallion or gelding, 4 years old or over: Mrs HJ Shave and D Knights
246: Special - best Dartmoor foal from previous class.
247: Exmoor male, stallion or gelding, 4 years old or over: Miss Victoria Evans
248: Special - best Exmoor foal from previous class
249: Dartmoor or Exmoor filly, colt or gelding, 1, 2 or 3 years old: Mr and Mrs M Wooderson and Miss M Lee
250: Special - best yearling in previous class: Mr and Mrs Rupert Thornely-Taylor
251: Special: Mrs HJ Shave and D Knights
252: Special- best Dartmoor: Mrs HJ Shave and D Knights
253: Special: best Exmoor: Miss Victoria Evans
DALES, FELL AND HIGHLAND
254: Mare, stallion or gelding, 4 years old or over: Mrs Malim
256: Filly, colt or gelding, 1, 2 or 3 years old: Mrs Tricia Jenkins
258: Special - The Donald of Altnacriche Perpetual Challenge Trophy: Mrs Malim
259: Special - best Dales pony: Sue Burwood
260: Special - The owner of the winning pony to be a member of the Fell Pony Society: Samantha Bloomfield
261: Special - best Highland pony: Mrs Tricia Jenkin
CONNEMARA AND NEW FOREST
262: Mare, stallion or gelding, 4 years old or over: Michelle Larkin
264: Filly, colt or gelding, 1, 2 or 3 years old: Jane Somerset
265: Special - best yearling in previous class: Emma Tiley-Nunn
266: Special: Michelle Larkin
267: Special - highest placed Connemara: Michelle Larkin
268: Special - best New Forest Pony: Mrs HA Barber
WELSH MOUNTAIN (Section A)
269: Stallion, 4 years old or over: Mrs SI Powell Jones
270: Mare or gelding, 4 years old or over: Mr R Powell
271: Special - best foal in previous class
272: Filly, colt or gelding, yearling: Mr and Mrs C Abel
273: Filly, colt or gelding, 2 or 3 years old: RW Eastwood
274: Special: Mrs SI Powell Jones
275: Special - best gelding: Mrs V Dyvig
WELSH PONIES (Section B)
276: Stallion, 4 years old or over: Mrs J Filmer
277: Mare or gelding, 4 years old or over: Mrs RM Perrin
278: Special - bes foal in previous class: Mr and Mrs JR Greenleaf
279: Filly, colt or gelding, yearling: Mr MHR Butters
280: Filly, colt or gelding, 2 or 3 years old: Mr and Mrs RM Rodd
281: Special: Mrs J Filmer
282: Special - best gelding: Miss LA Calcutt
WELSH PONY (COB TYPE) (Section C)
283: Stallion, 4 years old or over: GD Deller
284: Mare or gelding, 4 years old or over: Miss H Nelson
286: Filly, colt or gelding, yearling: Miss N Musson
288: Special: Miss N Musson
289: Special - best gelding: Miss H Nelson
WELSH COBS (Section D)
291: Mare or gelding: Miss Julia Knight and Mr Stephen Tubb
293: Filly, colt or gelding, yearling: Mrs H and Mr B Hall
294: Filly, colt or gelding, 2 or 3 years old: E Bagnall
295: Special: Mrs H and Mr B Hall
296: Special - best gelding: Miss Julia Knight and Mr Stephen Tubb
297: Special - best female Welsh: Mrs H and Mr B Hall
WELSH PONY AND COB SOCIETY GELDING INCENTIVE SCHEME
298: Overall best gelding: Miss Julia Knight and Mr Stephen Tubb
SHETLAND (Registered Only)
299: Stallion or gelding, 4 years old or over: Mr and Mrs M Wooderson and Miss M Lee
300: Special - Best gelding in previous class: Maria Vaughan
301: Mare, 4 years old or over, with or without foal at foot: Jenna Land
302: Special - best foal in previous class
303: Filly, colt or gelding, 1, 2 or 3 years old: Mrs Belinda Jacques
305: Special - The Perpetual Challenge Cup: Mr and Mrs M Wooderson and Miss M Lee
306: Special - best Miniature Shetland Pony: Angela Fox
IN-HAND MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND CHAMPIONSHIP
307: Champion best exhibit: Samantha Bloomfield
BEST IN-HAND PONY
308: Special - best in-hand pony: Samantha Bloomfield
SHOWJUMPING COMPETITIONS:
318: The speed derby: Carol Toliver
319: The international trial: Julie Slade
PIGS
PEDIGREE PIGS
665: Breeding sow born before July 1 2012: MJ Kiddy and Son
666: Gilt born in or after July 2012: MJ Kiddy and Son
667: Gilt born in or after September 2012: MJ Kiddy and Son
669: Champion white pig: MJ Kiddy and Son
670: Special - best Large White: MJ Kiddy and Son
674: Special - best British Lop: Mrs HJ Lake
675: Boar born in or after July 2012: Mrs Teresa Cook
676: Boar born in or after January 2013: Adrian Melrose
677: Breeding sow born before July 1 2012: Redborne School Farm
678: Gilt born in or after July 2012: MJ Kiddy and Son
679: Gilt born in or after September 2012: Mrs Teresa Cook
680: Gilt born in or after January 2013: PE Churchyard and Son
681: Champion coloured pig: Mrs Teresa Cook
682: Special - best Gloucestershire Old Spots: Mrs Teresa Cook
Suffolk Show 2013: County’s Aberdeen Anguses are just champion
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