Suffolk Showgoers enjoyed a glorious display of South Devon cattle on the opening day of the event as the breed organisation staged its national show.
The supreme champion honours went to Cornwall at the prestige roving annual event, organised by the South Devon Herd Book Society, which attracted around 60 competitors.
Oliver Laity, 15, of Truro, took top honours with Z Poringhorne Bentley who was crowned supreme beast, while reserve went to Connor Whitehead with AI Z Eyton SAS Lolita 10 from Shropshire.
Oliver’s is a family business and the cattle have been home-bred over five generations. He was “pleased definitely”.
Judge Mervyn Rowe said the quality of the competition was good.
“We are privileged to be here,” he added. “I’m encouraged by the number of cattle that have come forward, because there aren’t too many cattle in this area but the show has been very welcoming to use and when we had the invitation we were pleased to accept.
“The standard of the cattle is excellent. The way they have been presented - every exhibitor has brought their cattle forward and turned them out in a very professional manner. I’m a little embarrassed that the champion came from Cornwall. I did look hard at the bull that came from Shopshire.”
What separated them was that the winning animal moved better and was ‘tidier’, he explained. The winner at the ninth national show was a “very tidy bull”. “His head was full of flesh and had a very good top line. He had character and was presented perfectly.”
Society secretary Caroline Poultney was pleased at the way the show had gone. “I think it’s gone really, really well. Everything has gone very smoothly. Everyone has enjoyed themselves and there has been a tremendous class of cattle. The conditions have been perfect. The cattle have wanted to show themselves.”
Society president Mark Thomas said it had been a “fantastic” show. “It really has been a good show. We were just saying how well presented and turned out the cattle are. The overall championship has gone to Cornwall and is a real credit to the exhibitors. It’s made his journey worthwhile. That bull has been running with 20 odd cows up until about 10 days ago.”
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