The Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the Three Counties Agricultural Society have agreed that the two cattle Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies will now be presented at the 2024 Royal Three Counties Show.
Bluetongue control zones in Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk were lifted in February, but the decision was taken to offer the trophies to a Show in the west of the country as a precaution.
David Grint, CEO at RASE, shares the thinking behind the decision.
“The Burke Trophies attract higher numbers of cattle from a wider area to enter at the show where they are hosted, so moving the cattle trophies to be hosted in the west of the country is the appropriate decision given the recent history of bluetongue cases in the east,” he said.
The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association will still be hosting the machinery Burke Trophy this year and will host all three trophies together in 2025.
“We thank the respective teams at both The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the Three Counties Agricultural Society for their support in this timely decision, which is enabling the cattle Burke Trophies to be awarded this year without residual concerns around animal health and biosecurity.”
Mark Nicholas, Managing Director of The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association says “We are delighted that the Burke Machinery Trophy will be awarded at this year’s Royal Norfolk Show. The RNAA and the Norfolk Farm Machinery Club (NORMAC) – a leading innovator in farm machinery solutions – are working to ensure a strong field of outstanding new innovations from manufacturers.
“It will be a great privilege to then reunite all three Burke Trophies and host them at the Royal Norfolk Show in 2025, reflecting the RNAA’s longstanding commitment to innovation and excellence and the importance we place on livestock at the heart of the Show.”
David Prescott, Chief Executive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, says “Everyone at the Three Counties recognises the prestige attached to the Burke Livestock Trophies and so we are all exceptionally pleased that RASE have asked us to support them and our friends at Royal Norfolk in offering an alternative venue for this year’s presentation.
“The Royal Three Counties Show is hosting a record 17 National Breed Society Shows this year along with the largest gathering of rare and minority breeds in the country. The presentation of the two cattle Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies will be the jewel in the crown to our three days of outstanding livestock showing and we are delighted to be able to host them.”