Famed Dales Pony breeder David Eccles has won a Great Yorkshire Show championship for an historic 11th time.
Westwick Lady Rose was crowned overall breed champion and earning the Peter Lawson Perpetual Challenge Cup, after winning the gelding or mare class ahead of 18 other exhibitors.
The eight-year-old mare also won the GYS breed championship in 2022. The breeder and his daughter Emma also claimed fourth place in the class with Westwick Polly.
The Middleton-in-Teesdale based Westwick stud first won the sought-after trophy in 1994 and continued to have success in 2002, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015. 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022.
Mr Eccles said: “There were very good entries at the Yorkshire Show and it was a decent judge. There were entries from all over, some from Scotland and from down country.”
The family also enjoyed success in the colt or filly class where three-year-old Westwick Secret Message ahead of 15 other entries.
Mr Eccles said: “That little Secret Message is coming behind Lady Rose, and she’s beaten her a couple of times. There are some nice yearlings coming along as well.
A yet unnamed Westwick foal won its category and Westwick Daisy came third in the brood mare category.
Mr Eccles described winning the breed championship as a “shop window” for the stud.
He added: “That is our pleasure and hobby. We get a lot of pleasure out of it.”
