Twee Seuns Claims Top Honours at Royal Suffolk Championships
Tjaart Steenekamp (centre) of Twee Seuns Suffolk, pictured here with Jovaan Cloete (left) and Henri Naude (right), secured the Grand Champion Suffolk Ram at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Showm which was also named Supreme Champion Suffolk on Show.
Twee Seuns Suffolks secured both Grand Champion titles and the Supreme Champion Suffolk award at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, while Vredesig claimed Reserve Grand Champion Ewe alongside six class victories.
The Suffolk Regional Show, held at the new Royal Showgrounds at Tweedie, near Howick, brought together established breeders to compete under judge Henri de Jager.
For Tjaart Steenekamp of Twee Seuns Suffolks, based in Barkly East in the Eastern Cape, the competition delivered another successful chapter in the stud's longstanding association with the Royal.
Tjaart Steenekamp (centre) of Twee Seuns Suffolk, pictured here with Jovaan Cloete (left) and Henri Naude (right), also secured the Grand Champion Suffolk Ewe at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, which was named Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe on Show at the RAS Standard Bank Gold Cup Awards.
A Double Grand Championship for Twee Seuns
Twee Seuns Suffolks claimed both the Grand Champion Ram and Grand Champion Ewe titles, with its senior ram going on to be named Supreme Champion Suffolk on Show.
The winning ram had earlier taken first place in the 24–36-month class before securing the Senior Champion and Grand Champion Ram titles.
The stud enjoyed similar success in the ewe division, where its winning entry in the 36-month-and-older class progressed to Senior Champion and Grand Champion Ewe.
The ewe subsequently earned an even greater distinction at the Royal Agricultural Society's prestigious Standard Bank Gold Cup Awards, where she was named Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe on Show, competing against the leading ewes of the other breeds.
Twee Seuns also secured the Reserve Senior Champion Ewe and Junior Champion Ram awards, rounding off an impressive championship performance.
The results continue a distinguished history at the Royal for Twee Seuns Suffolks, which previously produced the Supreme Champion Ewe on Show in both 2016 and 2024.
Twee Seuns Suffolk’s Grand Champion Suffolk Ewe was named Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe on Show at the RAS Standard Bank Gold Cup Awards.
Twee Seuns Suffolk also secured the Senior Champion Suffolk Ram at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show.
Reserve Grand Championship and Six Class Victories for Vredesig
Johnny Forbes' Vredesig stud also enjoyed a highly successful Suffolk Regional Show, recording six class victories, the highest number of first places in the competition.
Its standout achievement came in the ewe division, where the winner of the 12–18-month class was named Junior Champion Ewe before progressing to Reserve Grand Champion Ewe, finishing runner-up to the senior champion from Twee Seuns Suffolks.
Vredesig also claimed Reserve Junior Champion Ewe, completing a particularly strong showing among the younger breeding animals. The stud secured first and second places in the 9–12-month ewe class and filled all three leading positions in the 12–18-month class.
Success extended to the ram division, with Vredesig claiming Reserve Junior Champion Ram and recording class victories in both the 9–12-month and 18–24-month divisions.
The stud added further honours in the group competitions, winning the 6–12-month lamb group class and the Junior Pair class.
These results added to an already successful 2026 Royal Show for Forbes and the Vredesig team, whose entries across several sheep breeds demonstrated the breadth of their breeding programme.
Vredesig secured the Junior Champion Suffolk Ewe, which went on to be named Reserve Grand Champion Suffolk Ewe.
Vredesig also secured the Reserve Junior Champion Suffolk Ewe at the Suffolk Championships at the Royal Agricultural Show.
The Reserve Junior Champion Suffolk Ram at the Royal Agricultural Show was also awarded to Vredesig.
Further Recognition for Hatari Farming
Hatari Farming, represented by Marius Eksteen, also featured prominently in the Suffolk results.
The stud secured first, second and third places in the ewe class for animals aged 24–36 months, while also winning the ram class for animals aged 36 months and older.
Hatari went on to earn the Reserve Senior Champion Ram award.
ES Suffolks also featured among the prizewinners, taking second place in the 9–12-month ram lamb class.
Recognising Excellence in Suffolk Breeding
The 2026 Suffolk Regional Show highlighted the quality of breeding stock presented by established studs, with championship honours reflecting excellence across different age groups.
The Royal Agricultural Society congratulates Tjaart Steenekamp and Twee Seuns Suffolks, Johnny Forbes and the Vredesig team, Marius Eksteen and Hatari Farming, and all participating exhibitors on their achievements.
The Society also thanks judge Henri de Jager for his contribution to the championships, and the breeders whose continued support helps sustain the Royal's longstanding tradition of recognising excellence in livestock breeding.
