Picking up the Breed Championship at the 2023 Royal Norfolk Show held on Wednesday 28th June was maiden heifer Woodbastwick Sorcha, bred and exhibited by Norwich-based breeders Rotac Farms. Also winning the Female Championship, Junior Championship, and the Norfolk Special prize for best animal bred in the county of Norfolk, this heifer went all the way to the top under the watchful eye of judge Richard Hartshorn, an experienced breeder of South Devon cattle in Shropshire, who also helps to maintain a strong native breed cattle section at the Shropshire County Show where he is the current Livestock Secretary. Rounding out another successful show season for the Woodbastwick herd, the winning heifer is sired by Lordswood Shelby (VG85).
Taking the Male Championship, along with the Reserve Breed Championship and the Reserve Junior Championship, was the March 2022-born bull Alcroft Goliath, bred and exhibited by Sarah Cook, Cambridge. This young bull is sired by Nidderdale Alladin (EX91) and out of Alcroft Georgia (EX90), herself a former Female Champion at the Royal Norfolk in 2017 and the mother of last year's Male Champion and BWCS Bull of the Year 2022, Alcroft Gunslinger (VG87).
In an exact repeat of the Reserve Championship placings a year on from the previous Royal Norfolk Show, it was senior heifer Woodbastwick Babycham from Rotac Farms and senior bull Fromus Mac from Philip Baskett which took the Reserve Female and Reserve Male Championships respectively.
The final breed class of the day was for the best exhibitor-bred group of three animals which was won by the St Joseph family, Maldon, and comprised their senior heifer Tollesbury Pistachio along with two young bulls Privateer and Pythagoras, all three of which happening to be derived in their dam line from the same cow - Tollesbury Pebble (EX90) by Tollesbury Quercus - and which exhibited tremendous consistency of type.
Congratulations and many thanks go to all of the breeders for bringing their animals forward for another wonderful show of the British White cattle, and for putting on a good display to support the full compliment of interbreed competitions across both days of the event, which included the spectacular Heygates Team of Five competition along with six further interbreed classes, plus a royal visit to the cattle rings by HRH The Prince of Wales! We look forward to the next Royal Norfolk Show, to be held on Wednesday 26th & Thursday 27th June 2024.
RESULTS
Date Wednesday 28th June 2023
Judge Mr R Hartshorn, Shropshire
Breed Champion, Female Champion, Junior Champion, Norfolk Special Woodbastwick Sorcha, Rotac Farms
Reserve Breed Champion, Male Champion, Reserve Junior Champion Alcroft Goliath, Miss S Cook
Reserve Female Champion Woodbastwick Babycham, Rotac Farms
Reserve Male Champion Fromus Mac, Mr P Baskett
Heifer, born on or after 1st January 2022 1st Woodbastwick Sorcha, Rotac Farms; 2nd Alcroft Wallflower 5, Miss S Cook; Alcroft Pepper, Miss S Cook
Heifer, born in 2021 1st Woodbastwick Babycham, Rotac Farms; 2nd De Beauvoir Smart Sally, Mrs A Dunn; 3rd Tollesbury Pistachio, Dr V St Joseph
Bull, born on or after 1st January 2022 1st Alcroft Goliath, Miss S Cook; 2nd Tollesbury Pythagoras, Dr V St Joseph; 3rd Albany Octavius, Mr L Cook; 4th Tollesbury Privateer, Dr V St Joseph
Bull, born on or before 31st December 2021 1st Fromus Mac, Mr P Baskett
Group of three animals, bred by the exhibitor 1st Tollesbury Group, Dr V St Joseph; 2nd Alcroft Group, Miss S Cook
Norfolk Special, for best animal born and bred in the county of Norfolk Woodbastwick Sorcha, Rotac Farms
GALLERY
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