A stunning performance by the team at the 6,000 acre Shadwell Estate saw it sweep the board in two beef cattle contests at the Suffolk Show on Day 1.
The estate, based near Thetford, took the breed and reserve breed titles in both the Aberdeen Angus and the Hereford competitions. Herefords Shadwell I Blossom N874 and Shadwell I Blossom N900 took top and runner-up positions in their category, while Shadwell Red Boaz R826 and his sister, Shadwell Blue Belle R822, were champion and reserve in the Aberdeen Angus contest.
Shadwell herd manager Robert Clarke said the Angus winner also scooped top prizes at the English Winter Fair and the Smithfield show. 'This is only the second show he's done and he's been breed champion twice.'
He was 'long and powerful', he said, and big for his age. 'I'm very pleased,' he said.
Stud director Richard Lancaster said while the estate's Angus herd was established to help with the rotation at the stud, the smaller Hereford herd came about because Robert originally worked with the herd which produced a top cow called Blossom. When the herd at Ely went up for sale, the estate snapped up Blossom and her progeny have continued a 'fantastic family', he explained. The animals will go on to compete at national level, raising the profile of East Anglian herds.
'Obviously, the Aberdeen Angus are our main herd and are very much there to help us in the management of the paddocks - that's Shadwell's main activity. I know that Robert was very keen on the Herefords, and when that herd dispersed, I gave him some money. Unfortunately, we could only buy one cow but we came home with the one and she's proved a great investment.'
The wins were testament to the work of Robert, his team and everyone involved, he said. 'They produced the animals in fantastic condition.'
He added: 'I know it's easier because of the backing we have, but we have made best use of the backing we have and these results speak for themselves.'
Meanwhile, Natasha Mann, of Iken, near Snape, celebrated a breed win with her Lincoln Red, Yarn Hill Viper. Natasha, who keeps around 110 breeding cows, described the win as 'fantastic'. She added that she was 'a bit shell-shocked'. Lincoln Red judge Pat Beginn said: 'It was a hard decision because the quality was exceptional.'
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