ABBERTON Marshall Beau, bred by Alec and Catriona Sutherland in their small herd of Aberdeen Angus at Manor Farm, Abberton, Pershore, took on and beat a lot of the big names at the Royal Show.

Son of another bull bred by the Sutherlands, Marshall Beau, just 14-months-old, started his successful show by taking the class for the best bull born after March 1, 2004. He went on to be best Aberdeen Angus bull, reserve champion Aberdeen Angus, best Aberdeen Angus of the opposite sex to the champion and best yearling Aberdeen Angus.

Then to round off a great four days, Marshall Beau was the Junior Beef champion of the native breeds.

A delighted Mrs Sutherland said: "He was the only one we took to the show. It was particularly pleasing as we bred him from another home-bred sire and the mother we bought as a heifer three or four years ago from George Simpson as Wyre Piddle. So it is a real local success."

Mr and Mrs Sutherland moved to the farm at Abberton 10 years ago and started breeding Aberdeen Angus on the 260-acre mainly arable farm eight years ago.

"We have only a small herd of 15 cows alongside the arable enterprise," Mrs Sutherland said, "and we do sell Aberdeen Angus beef."