A BEAUTIFULLY decorated heavy horse was the Champion of Champions at Northumberland County Show on Bank Holiday Monday.

Mick, a 16-year-old Clydesdale, was led into the ring by John Fairbairn from Berwick and his seven year old son, also called John.

It was the first time Mr Fairbairn had shown horses for eight years and the first time an equine entry had won the overall title in more than six years.

Mr Fairbairn said: “We were going to compete in the driving classes, but we lost a horse during a foaling this week so we dusted off the decorations, and little John has done all the work,” he said, “This is a wonderful end to a difficult week.”

Judge Geoff Hubbuck said: “The family have brought this animal up from a foal, worked hard on him and I respect the time, effort and love that goes into that. This is a family team who deserve to have their dedication rewarded.”

The supreme beef title went to Ronick Honey, a Limousin heifer and former Royal Highland Show champion, owned by the Gordon Brooke Trust, of Kelso.

February 2012-born Honey was bought for 20,000gns by the late Mr Brookes after winning Red Ladies Day at Carlisle last December.

In-calf to Sympa, she also took Continental and overall pedigree titles.

Reserve supreme was the commercial champion, Vodka Bleu, a 12 month-old steer by the British Blue Pengelly Elite, owned by Julie and Gordon Sedgewick, of Aycliffe, and prepared by Neil Slack, of Penrith.

Weighing in at 499kg, he was bought from W Richardson and Son, Dufton, for 3,200 after being champion at Penrith mart in March.

The reserve Continental champion was Croftends Georgia, a three-yearold British Blue heifer by Empire D’Ochain, and in-calf to Hazelwood Freshman from J E Bellas and Son, of Appleby.

Interbreed dairy champion was Hailstone Goldmedal Joy Maid, a third calver giving 45kg from Mark and Diane Wilson, of Appleby.

The sheep Interbreed title went to Goldies Supreme, a three-shear Texel ram by Livery Predator.

Shown by T Nesbitt and Son, of Darlington, it is owned with Arnold Park’s Drinkstone flock and J and S Wilkinson’s Langlands flock.

Reserve sheep interbreed was a three crop Suffolk ewe from Glynnis and Jane Soulsby of Penrith.