WELSH Section C colt Neebro Rising Sun capped an excellent season for his North Yorkshire owner with a highly successful appearance at the recent Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Winter Fair.

The three-year-old homebred chestnut colt was judged reserve supreme Welsh champion after taking the Section C championship and a bronze medal.

His delighted owner, Carl Nee of Brompton on Swale, said: "I was really pleased to win against the top Welsh people as I've only been breeding Welsh ponies for just over four years."

Rising Sun, who has taken 16 first places at shows this year, is by local stallion Tynybryn Bobby Dazzler out of Felinmor Pearly Queen, which is by Nebo Brenin.

He went on to be champion Section C at the North East Counties Welsh Pony and Cob Association Show at Richmond Equestrian Centre.

His numerous other successes this season included being the youngstock champion and reserve overall champion at the Northern All Welsh Medal Show and the reserve Mountain and Moorland stallion champion at the North Yorkshire County Show.

He was also the Mountain and Moorland in-hand champion at the Cleveland Show and qualified for the NCPA Championship Show.

Mr Nee's black Welsh Section D stallion Brynithon Royal Knight has also enjoyed a successful year, along with his roan stallion Ruska Mr Pearly King, which was the highest priced stallion when bought from the Royal Welsh Cob sales for £6,600 guineas in 2001.

But it has not been all plain sailing for Mr Nee, whose mother, Belle, produces all his ponies.

The year started badly with the death of a Welsh Cob stallion, Neebro Flash Jack, which had won Mr Nee's first bronze medal. He also lost a half brother to Rising Sun, which succumbed to colic.

His younger sister and brother, 12-year-old twins Katie and Peter, have also been making their mark in the showing ring.

Katie has had a good season riding her Welsh Section B Woodend Toffee Apple, the highlight being winning the ridden championship at Lanchester Show and being awarded a Welsh performance medal