I had not been to Suffolk before as we did not have a workshop in this region last year but 2010 has thrown forward some very enthusiastic participants.

The workshop was held at Bury St Edmunds, home of the Hawstead Lodge Aberdeen Angus herd, by kind permission of Andrew Brown and family and trainer for the day was Kevin Byford both fresh from their success at Suffolk County Show. Kevin had told me on my arrival that he was no teacher but I would strongly disagree as we had a great day and everyone went home having learnt lots including myself.

The day started with a look at the Hawstead Lodge herd show team. Kevin and Andrew ran through their feeding regime and explained how they halter break their cattle. They have a very interesting contraption that fits behind the Merlo that they take several cattle out on when first starting their training.

Kevin ran through some products that would be used to dress the cattle later in the day and everyone had a go at tying the quick release knot. He then demonstrated how to clip an animal, most of the attending participants had shown cattle but not clipped anything before, so Kevin explained where to clip and why we do it.

I only hope when I go to the East of England Show that I am not lynched by the Red Poll Cattle Society if their young Members get carried away and clip the Red Poll heads out. The morning sessions finished with half the attendees having some famous ‘hands on experience’ with clipping and Andrew took the other half to wash some animals. This was the most glorious job in the extreme heat.

Lunch was eaten in the fantastic and most importantly cool, Hawstead Lodge garden. It was great to get out of the sun and Mrs Brown looked after us all fantastically. While sat in the shade it seemed the ideal opportunity to have the talk on Health Schemes. Duncan Hole from Swayne and Partners came to talk to the group. Kevin had been told that Mr Hole was very nervous and when he was a little late we were worried he had done a runner, but all went well.

The afternoon sessions continued with the groups swopping around and more washing and clipping took place and even I got to give a hand with some clipping, it was great in the heat to be covered in little black hairs! Having washed and clipped some animals it was time for the dressing and ring craft session.

The youngsters were let loose with shaving foam, black soap and special ‘shine stuff’! Tails were fluffed and the cattle were tremendously quiet with all the fuss that was being made over them! Each participant had the chance to take a heifer out and show what they could do in the show ring, all of them showed with confidence and Kevin gave them some pointers to help in the future.

Another fantastic and friendly workshop with thanks to Andrew Brown and family and Kevin Byford.

A month now before the next workshops and then it will be the Republic of Ireland and South of Scotland in one weekend. I hope the good weather continues and thankfully I won’t have to go on the M25 to get to them!

Their champion came through from the junior bull class in the form of Hawstead Lodge Peter J221, a son of the senior stock bull Nightingale Panmure E281 out of Hawstead Lodge Petula F075.

Aberdeen-Angus champion Hawstead Lodge Peter from Andrew Brown

Andrew also took the reserve champion spot with his yearling heifer Hawstead Lodge Pamela J250, another daughter of Panmure, but this time out of their successful show cow from last year Hawstead Lodge Pamela E042.

Reserve interbreed group of three team from Andrew Brown, Hawstead Lodge

BULL, born before 1st January 2009

1st Andrew Brown with Nightingale Panmure, 22/03/2005, s. Nightingale Garfield

BULL, born on or after 1st January 2009

1st Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Peter, 14/01/2009, s. Nightingale Panmure

2nd A Hurn & Partners with Wickmere Prospect, 27/02/2009, s. Shadwell Black Baroque

3rd Shadwell Estate Company Ltd with Shadwell Jochum, 27/03/2009, s. Muirhall Total Deal

4th Meadowbrook Farm with Meadowbrook Perry, 26/03/2009, s. Curzon Proud Gregstar

5th Shadwell Estate Company Ltd with Shadwell Jordan Eric, 07/04/2009, s. Muirhall Total Deal

6th D K Jeary with Briston Bonus, 22/01/2009, s. Wedderlie Ebservant

Male champion

Champion: Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Peter, 14/01/2009, s. Nightingale Panmure

Res: Andrew Brown with Nightingale Panmure, 22/03/2005, s. Nightingale Garfield

HEIFER, born on or after 1st January 2009

1st Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Pamela, 28/04/2009, s. Nightingale Panmure

2nd A Hurn & Partners with Wickmere Belinda, 23/02/2009, s. Shadwell Black Baroque

3rd J Doyle with Foxleywood Promise, 07/03/2009, s. Foxleywood Elijah

4th Meadowbrook Farm with Meadowbrook Evita, 24/03/2009, s. Curzon Proud Gregstar

5th Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Bonny Bride, 05/03/2009, s. Nightingale Panmure

HEIFER, born on or after 1st January 2008 and before 1st January 2009

1st Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Buttercup, 02/08/2008, s. Nightingale Panmure

2nd D K Jeary with Briston Peggy Farthing, 09/01/2008, s. Netherton Kiwi Sam

3rd Meadowbrook Farm with Meadowbrook Lucy, 10/04/2008, s. Curzon Proud Gregstar

COW in milk or in calf, born before 1st January 2008

1st J Doyle with Grimston Fen Elane, 15/02/2007 s. Grimston Fen Peter

2nd Shadwell Estate Company Ltd with Shadwell Jayne Erica, 05/02/2004, s. Shadwell Emperor

3rd J Doyle with Grimston Fen Purspick, 25/02/2007 s. Grimston Fen Peter

Female champion

Champion: Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Pamela, 28/04/2009, s. Nightingale Panmure

Res: Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Buttercup, 02/08/2008, s. Nightingale Panmure

Overall champion and exhibitor bred

Champion: Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Peter, 14/01/2009, s. Nightingale Panmure

Res: Andrew Brown with Hawstead Lodge Pamela, 28/04/2009, s. Nightingale Panmure

Best Group of Three

Andrew Brown, Hawstead Lodge team

The Hawstead Lodge has been incredibly successful in the show ring over the last couple of years culminating in reserve female and reserve male championship wins at last year’s National Show in Newbury.

For more details on the workshop or other workshop dates please contact YDP co-ordinator Gayle Bersey on 07792 777889 or email on gayle@bersey.fslife.co.uk

This year’s show and sale will take place on Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th November and will be held at the Peterborough Showground.

Last year’s show was a huge success, comments livestock manager Kerry Buttriss. “We were particularly pleased with the numbers forward in the commercial classes, not to mention the quality of stock, with exhibitors coming from as far away as Wales, Derby and Somerset.

Judging all the commercial classes this year will be butcher Stuart Clatworthy from Highbridge, Somerset. No stranger to the showing scene, Mr Clatworthy has judged at many shows including the Great Yorkshire Show in 2008.

The pedigree offering will see official society sales taking place for Aberdeen-Angus and taking care of judging will be Society president William McLaren jnr, Perthshire.

Taking care of official sale proceedings once again will be Newark Livestock Auctioneer Paul Gentry. A substantial amount of prize money will be on offer for exhibitors thanks to generous sponsorship from ASDA, Biobest Herdcare and Caltech.

Schedules are now available for the East of England Winter Stock Festival and entries close on the 5^th October. For more information contact Kerry Buttriss 01733 234451; email kbuttriss@eastofengland.org.uk or visit www.eastofengland.org.uk