Farm family's double joy as supreme champion cow wins praise from a prince

There was double joy for a Norfolk farming family as their trophy for the supreme beef champion at the Royal Norfolk Show was presented by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Marcus Searle and his twin sisters Helen and Fiona run the Guiltcross Simmentals herd at Kenninghall, near Attleborough.

They received the show's ultimate cattle prize from Price Edward in just their third show season.

The winning animal, a five-year-old Simmental cow named Brandane Kirsty, was bred by Scottish breeder Jim McMillan and shown with her calf, Guiltcross Ritzy.

The overall interbreed title added to the breed championship won the previous day - repeating her achievement at the Suffolk Show last month, and completing an impressive "double double" for the farm.

Mr Searle said: "Everyone has that show they aim for and, as we're Norfolk born and bred, the Norfolk Show was the one we wanted to win when we started with the cattle.

"I cannot believe it has happened so soon. Our mentor Jim and our parents were hear to see it - we couldn't be prouder.

"I chatted with Prince Edward and he said how lovely it was to see such a quality show of animals. He stroked the calf and said what a baby she is."

For more stories and award-winners from the Royal Norfolk Show, see Saturday's EDP Farm and Country pages.

The Duke of Edinburgh presented the trophy for the Royal Norfolk Show's supreme interbreed beef champion to Kenninghall cattle farmers Marcus and Helen Searle (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Kenninghall cattle farmers Marcus and Helen Searle with their supreme interbreed beef champion at the Royal Norfolk Show (Image: Denise Bradley)