Catching Fire lifts King George V trophy at National Shire Show

 Taking the male championship and King George V trophy was Herkules Catching Fire from Christer Paulsson, Sweden. The six-year-old by Moorfield Ted, out of West Winds Cari Ann, produced by Paul and Matthew Bedford, Thorpe Hill stables, North Yorkshire, lifted the top award last year and will remain in Yorkshire to cover mares this forthcoming season.

The reserve male championship went to Manor Farm Magic Mike from the Callwood family, Ollerton, Cheshire. This three-year-old, which had earlier lifted the junior championship, is by Penrhos Braveheart, a former King George trophy winner and out of Horsmans Sunshine.

The final day saw the females take to the ring and it was the four-year-old filly, Batley Pepper Gray, which came out as supreme champion. Owned by Robert Bedford, Liversedge, Pepper Gray was bred by the late Arthur Smith, West Yorkshire, and is by Toc Hill Sir George, out of Batley Alison Gray and was taking the top award for the second year in succession, having lifted the Horse of the Year Show final championship in between.

Mark Richardson, Hull, East Yorkshire, stood reserve in the female championship with his five-year-old mare Bewholme Glenda, a home-bred daughter of Hillmoor Double Trouble out of Bewholme Blue Smoke.

In the gelding classes, Janet and Matthew King, Cotebrook, Cheshire, took the championship with Cotebrook Alistair's Whats Wanted. Bred by the late Alistair King, this four-year-old gelding is by Leverton Leonardo, out of Cotebrook Loch Laggan.

Standing reserve gelding was Woodhouse Twenty Four Carat,a  three-year-old from Danny Roberts, Devon. By Woodhouse Rainman, out of Woodhouse Miss Dynamite, it had was bred by Martin Fountain, Ashbourne, and had earlier lifted the junior gelding championship.

The ridden championship went to Abigail Wagstaff, York and her five-year-old mare, Sutton Forest Elegance, a daughter of Acle Challenger. The following day's HOYS qualifying class saw victory for David Drake aboard Acle Mojo, a horse owned by Neil Wray.

The turnout championship went to the single turnout of Thwaites Brewery, Blackburn, Lancashire, driven by Richard Green, while Elaine Ramsay, Wigtown, took the cart championship.

Pip Read, Norfolk, had the champion traditional harness set, worn by Hillmoor Armani, while the champion floral set came from Charlotte Webb of Alton, Hampshire.

It was 16-year-old Jamie Croot, Derbyshire, who was picked out as champion young handler, while the reserve championship went to 12-year-old Kayden Barnett, Cheshire.