A COUNTY Durham breeder has seen her skewbald show pony take the supreme title at a northern show for the second year running.

Two-year-old Brookfarm Heaven Scent, alias Poppy, won the title at the British Skewbald and Piebald Association's Star of the North show.

She took a championship and a reserve championship to compete for the in-hand title, which she also won. Then judges gave her the best in show over the champion ridden horse.

Poppy, owned by Clare Martin from Stainton, near Barnard Castle, will now go forward to the BSPA's Superstar championship at its national show in Bedfordshire in August.

Mrs Martin's ten-year-old skewbald, Merrigan, is on lease to the Dell Park Stud at Ascot to be ridden by Natalie Lintott, who won the Royal Windsor Show on him.

Mrs Martin said: "It was a tremendous result for them on their home territory and she also won the ridden horse on her other horse, Gosh."

Natalie is being trained by Jerome Harforth of Stanley Grange, Great Ayton.

Merrigan will be competing again at the Royal International Show at Hickstead, where he has twice taken the supreme coloured horse championship.