Royal Show crowns supreme champions
06/07/06

Limousins have been crowned the champion beef breed at the Royal Show. The winning pair that received the prestigious Burke trophy was Samy, from Stirlingshire breeder R & J Graham, and Kaprico Ultimate from Tyne and Wear-based AK & C Stafford.

Winners - Burke Trophy

The presentations were made in the Grand Ring on Tuesday, July 4, by Sir Stuart Hampson, president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

The beef shorthorns were the highest placed native pair, with the winners bred by MA Holmes in the West Midlands and James Biggar and Croxton Park Partnership in Scotland.

Meanwhile it was the Holsteins that were celebrating the Burke dairy cattle championship win. The winning pair came from SL and PS Bell in Cumbria and TH Cope and son in Staffordshire, with the presentation made by Sheika Noora Bint Isa Al Khalifa.

It’s the seventh year in a row the Holsteins have won the award, and spirits were running high at the Holstein building. “We’re absolutely delighted the Holsteins have again won this prestigious award,” said president of the Holstein Association Drew Sloan. “It has been a superb event this year – the quality of livestock has been outstanding, which shows that the Royal Show has retained its title as the premier agricultural show.

“The animals have been turned out superbly in very trying conditions – the herd stockspeople have done a marvellous job. We had one farmer who commented that the high standard of the beasts on show had, in itself, made his trip to the Royal Show worthwhile, which is very gratifying feedback.”

And he added praise for Sheika Noora, who donated a £10,000 prize fund to be distributed among dairy exhibitors at the event. “Her support for Holsteins has been excellent. It has generated much more enthusiasm among exhibitors and bolstered confidence in the industry – we’re very grateful.”

Royal Show chief cattle steward William Cumber agreed the standard of show animals had been high: “Once again the quality of the cattle this year has been excellent, and we’re pleased to report that the number of entries is slightly up on last year.

“A win at the Royal is extremely prestigious and can be a huge boost for business. A Burke trophy win is the ultimate accolade. The beef breed winning pair is the one considered by the judge to have the best conformation and meat-producing capability, while still displaying the traits of the breed.”

The cattle parade in the Grand Ring was shortened due to the high temperatures, which again touched 30°C. “We halved the length of the parade in the interests of both the animals and the people leading them – it can be quite a job to lead round half a tonne of champion beast at the best of times!” noted Mr Cumber.

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