The Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the Three Counties Agricultural Society have announced that the Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies will be presented at the Royal Three Counties Show.
The trophies were set to be presented at the Royal Norfolk Show, however the outbreak of bluetongue earlier this year across Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk led to the decision to move the presentation to the west.
David Grint, CEO at RASE, explained: “The Burke Trophies attract higher numbers of cattle from a wider area to enter 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.”
The machinery Burke Trophy will still be presented at the Royal Norfolk Show, and the event will host all three trophies in 2025.
Mark Nicholas, managing director of The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association said: “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.”
For more information go to www.rase.org.uk