A FAMILY who has striven to keep the Dales pony breed alive for five generations finished the show season on a high, picking up the overall supreme championship title at Eggleston Show on Saturday.
Three generations of Daley family, from Tudhoe, were on the showfield, but their association with the traditional horse, native to Teesdale, extends back another two generations.
Their pony, Highcroft Dream took the overall championship ahead of the cattle class champion, Simon and Emma Haley’s Highland heifer Milis Third of Seam, and the sheep champion, a Swaledale ewe exhibited by Michael Allinson .
Lee Daley, who judged the Dales ponies at Eggleston last year, said he was “overjoyed” with the win.
The nine-year-old mare is a third generation Dales pony champion for the Daley family who themselves had three generations at the show, held at Hayberries Farm, near Mickleton.
Highcroft Dream won best brood mare with foal at foot before being named supreme champion Dales pony and overall horse champion. Her four-month old Highcroft foal, led by Mr Daley’s son Lee, won the best colt or filly class.
After picking up the supreme horse title he said: “We’re overjoyed. We’ve had a right good day. She has surpassed what her mother [Highcroft Ella] did.”
The pony, with foal at foot, has had a very successful season, also winning the Dales championship title at Stanhope and Brough shows as well as at the breed show.
He added: “There are four generations of horse to get here. We weren’t expecting to pick up overall supreme, so we’re overjoyed., but she’s a fine example for her breed.
“I remember the show growing up, it was always the next big show aside from the breed show so it makes it very special to win up here.”
The cattle classes were highly contested, particularly with a boosted number of entries in the beef cattle classes, which was welcomed by show president Geoff Wilson.
The championship for the best pure bred-continental went to Miachel and Thomas Brannen.
The Souter family had a good day in the shorthorn cattle classes picking up the championship with Jodame Cara Rio and reserve champion with Jodame Suzie Q.
But it was Simon and Emma Haley who took the top honours by exhibiting the overall cattle champion with their Highland, Milis Third of Seam. They also exhibited the reserve Highland with Fionnghal of Culloden.
Judges had a tough time in the sheep classes, but eventually award Michael Allinson the overall championship title for his magnificent Swaledale ewe. The judges points were split on the reserve title allowing for it to be shared by Peter and Susan Addison’s Zwartbles ewe, and Paul Brannen’s gimmer shearling texel, which was also the short wool champion.
Mr Wilson said the show had seen a large increase in support over the past year, with more trade stands and more than 100 extra horses on exhibition.
He paid tribute to the committee, non-committee members and supporters for helping to bring the show together.
The president said: “They started putting this up on Wednesday and by tomorrow (Sunday) it will all be gone.
He also thanked the many visitors on the day.
He said: “It makes all the effort worthwhile.”
