TOP skewbald Merrigan has taken the supreme coloured championship for the second year running at the Royal International Horse Show.

His County Durham owner, Clare Merrigan-Martin from Stainton, near Barnard Castle, said Hickstead was swept by torrential rain for the Friday event.

Merrigan, produced by Jerome Harforth of Great Ayton, had to beat 119 other horses, with the top two from each of four sections battling it out for the supreme title.

Mrs Merrigan-Martin paid tribute to his talented 20-year-old rider, Simon Charlesworth, who also took the reserve supreme show pony championship with Dutch Dame.

Simon had more success with Abbey Bells Sister Philomena, a Welsh Section A pony belonging to Margaret Williams of Nunthorpe which won the mini Mountain and Moorland lead rein trophy.

Mrs Merrigan-Martin said the ridden judge at Hickstead, Tim Wiggett, encountered Merrigan for the first time and said he was the best horse he had sat on out of more than 1,000 this year.

"Merrigan is just a true professional," she declared.

The next event on their calendar is the Horse of the Year Show in September and, if Merrigan gets top honours there, she is contemplating his retirement.

"If not, then we will be back again to have another crack at it," she added.

* More local success stories from the Royal International Horse Show next week.