A PALOMINO pony based in County Durham made a stunning debut in a national show earlier this month.

Brynbella Twm Twm, a three-year-old Welsh Section A colt owned by Karen Dickinson, from Eggleston near Barnard Castle, returned with an impressive haul of prizes from the national palomino championships held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

The pony, which was only inspected and registered as a palamino on the morning of the show, was judged overall supreme champion.

He also won best Welsh exhibit, was the champion Mountain and Moorland under 14.2hh and the champion youngstock.

The pony, known as Tum, was purchased from his breeder, Mr Thomas, in Wales last September.

Mrs Dickinson said: "We travelled 240 miles through the Saturday night, so arrived pretty exhausted Sunday morning. The pony travels very well, so lost no zest for the showring.

"We did think, at a big show like this, we'd be happy with a few placings, but by the end of the day he'd collected 12 trophies, 14 rosettes and three sashes. Definitely a day we'll never forget."

Mrs Dickinson has been involved with Welsh mountain ponies for 14 years, but has only been a member of the Palomino Society for a month.

She added: "Tum will be going for ridden production later in the year to Wayne and Melissa Merryweather's yard in Stokesley, so we look forward to seeing him under saddle in 2005."