A mixed team of British Blue cattle rose to the occasion to secure one of the top livestock prizes on day one of the Royal Norfolk Show

This year's winners of the Heygates Country Feeds Beef Interbreed Competition comprised a junior bull from V & G Bowring in Nottinghamshire, a junior heifer and a commercial cross from J & W Laight in Lincolnshire, and another cross from C & L Beck in Bramfield, near Halesworth, in Suffolk.

The animals were led into the Grand Ring by Katie Burgess, Chris Beck, Wendy Laight and Will Ludgate to accept the Colman's Mustard Perpetual Trophy.

Also in the team was Victoria Bowring, who said the victory had made the trip from Nottinghamshire worthwhile – despite the wet weather.

'We seem to always be the bridesmaid and never the bride – we always seem to get second place,' she said. 'So we are very pleased to win.

'They are such a well-matched team, and nothing overpowers any of the others.

'It was worth the three-hour drive. The weather has not been on our side, but we don't mind. Winning makes this weather better.'