Post show report: East of England Show 2010

Livestock entries continue to increase year on year at the East of England Show with the quality of stock forward in the championships as strong as ever.

We welcomed some well travelled expert breed judges from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and throughout England. Taking centre stage in the sheep interbreed ring was the Texel and Continental interbreed champion from Henry and Tina Ashley's Lincs flock from Boston, Lincolnshire.

This aged ewe, which was unbeaten as a shearling ewe, is by Meinspride Lord and is out of a homebred ewe from the father and daughter's 50-ewe flock. Interbreed judge Johnny Aitken, Dromore, Co Down, described this ewe as being very correct on her legs and incredibly showy with great cover and backend. Mr Aitken found his reserve interbreed in the form of the native interbreed champion, a Suffolk ewe lamb from John Gent, Oundle, Peterborough.

Having purchased semen off Strathisla Speed, Mr Gent described this ewe lamb as the best he's ever bred. She is out of a homebred ewe from his 100-ewe pedigree flock. The reserve Continental interbreed championship went to Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire-based Charles Sercombe and his Charollais ewe, while the reserve native interbreed title went to local exhibitors Charles and Sally Horrell's Hampshire Down ewe lamb.

The dairy interbreed was taken by the Holstein champion from John and Sue Arrowsmith, Bourne, Lincolnshire. Pastures New Axiom Christus, born March 2006, is a VG85 young cow by Canyon-Breeze Axiom out of the VG88 Pastures New Rubens Christus. On her last lactation she gave 9102kg at 3.4% fat and 3.2% protein. Taking the reserve championship title was the Jersey leader, Woodbine Ballerina Devotion, a September 2005-born cow from Jo, John and Katy Stubbs of Coldeaton Jerseys, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. By Woodbine Masterberry Jedi Knight, she is out of Woodbine B Elanna Devotion.

Leading the way in the beef interbreed championships under Ruby Red Devon breeder Jeff Thomas, Penzance, Cornwall, was the Shorthorn champion Glenariff Brave Bonnar from Nick and Andrew Barrett, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. By Glenariff Washington, this April 2008 bull also took the native interbreed championship and was described by Mr Thomas as: " a bull with great locomotion and growth for age. He has a great top and plates and is well fleshed; he'll definitely be a bull for the future."

The reserve beef interbreed title went to the Simmental champion Greenfields Wonder from Beauchamp, Leicester-based Giles Green. Born January 2008, this two year old heifer is by Curlieu Knight and is out of Hockenhull Rachel 13th, who is by the ET-bred Hockenhull Norman. She was praised by Mr Thomas as; " a sweet and stylish heifer which moved incredibly well."

It was double celebration in the beef commercial rings for Paul Barwood and Anita Padfield who took the champion and reserve spot. Having won the steer championship their overall champion was Diesel, a 610kg Limouisn cross bought in September from Thainstone. By Bailea Tyson he has already taken championship tickets at Essex Show, Suffolk and reserve champion at Deeping Show. He next heads to Lincoln and Norfolk shows. Their reserve and overall heifer champion was Daisy Duke, another Limousin cross bought out of Thainstone. She weighed 580kg.

The pig championship was won by a Welsh boar Siskin Emperor from David Finch, Ben Fleet, Essex. Born August 2009, this one is by Bircombe emperor 45th and is out of Siskin Theresa 8th. The reserve overall title went to John and Mary Wreakes, Stainford, Doncaster, with their August 2007-born sow Victoria Lottie 306, by Prestcombe Grand duke 5 out of Victoria Lottie 110. The commercial pig championship went to Harleston, Norfolk-based Peter Mortimer with his single bacon pig weighing 80-92kg.