LOCAL stables had a very successful day at the North East Counties Show at the Kirkleatham showground, Redcar earlier this month.

Highmead Graduate, produced by Jerome Harforth of the Stanley Grange stud, Great Ayton and ridden by Hayley Patterson, was champion open show hunter pony and qualified for the Royal International Horse Show. Reserve open show hunter pony was Crafton Pink Panther, ridden by Sarah Hodgson.

Mr Harforth also produced the novice riding pony champion Starlyte Bright Emerald, ridden by Becky Patterson and the novice show hunter pony champion Fairholme Rosetta's Rhapsody, bred by Mrs Linda O'Malley of Sandhutton and ridden by Anna Morton.

Another Royal International qualifier from Stanley Grange was Charn Kingfisher, the winner of the 128cm show pony, owned and bred by Mrs Pam De Pree and ridden by Elizabeth Toulson.

Champion novice horse and reserve champion hack was Spellbound, partnered by Emma Cowell.

Claire and Peter Emmerson also had a successful day with ponies produced from their yard at Kirkby in Cleveland. Winners from the yard included Marchemanor Red Star, ridden by Natalie Atkinson, the novice show pony Megland True Temptation, ridden by Alex Jones, and Thimbleby Georgina, ridden by Cornelia Papiez.

Yvonne and Maurice Newton bred the winner of the 138cm show pony, Goldsborough Princess Royale, ridden by Kaydee Urwin.

Mr and Mrs D Champion of Castleton were at the show to watch their Ainthorpe Graceful Symphony win the home produced section. The pony, bred by Mr Champion out of the 1987 Pony of the Year Groundhills Amazing Grace, was ridden by Robbie Haw and produced by his mother Mrs Lesley Haw.

The winner of the home produced lead rein pony was Joshua Jones, while Alice McCullagh from Saltburn qualified two ponies for the Royal International, Little Storm and Starlyte Orinoco.

The Dales Kilmannan Black Pearl was champion ridden Mountain and Moorland pony, with Welshpool Ranger, ridden and produced by animal artist Philippa Porley from Castleton, reserve champion.

The Connemara Bonnie Doon Lady, ridden by Virginia Furness from Thirsk, won her class in the NPS Mountain and Moorland working hunter pony. Another winner in this section was April Hugill riding Talachuddu Celebrity Son.

The lighweight Beamish III, owned by June Warner and ridden and produced by David Bartram, was hunter champion.

Other qualifiers for the Royal International were Gillian Clifford's home-bred May Kitten, ridden by Sam Deary, and Emma Richards with the working hunter Island Dancer.