LIZ and Roger Titterington from the Birkrigg Stud at Endmoor had a highly successful timeat the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham, taking top awards, writes Malcolm Bewsher.

Liz Needham rode the stud's seven-year-old Shadow Blue, by Banner of Blue, to clinch the ridden stallion section and then went on to take the prestigious championship.

Liz, who travelled back to the NEC to compete in the supreme championships 48 hours later, qualified for HOYS at the North West Group Show and also took top awards in the Midlands.

Continuing the success, Louise Stanley won the ridden mares at HOYS on the six-year-old Shamzarah by Nazdromal, which had won at the Scottish Regional Show.

Louise should have ridden the stallion Nazdromal three years ago at Wembley, but unfortunately had to have a knee operation.

It was a great achievement for her, especially after having a bad showjumping accident eight years ago.

It was Louise's best performance since a second place in small hunter and a third in the hacks at Wembley a few years ago.

Liz and Roger were highly delighted with both of their mounts and it was the first time at that two horses from the same stable have won at HOYS.

Katie Heginbotham from Barrows Green triumphed at HOYS to cap a memorable season.

The 13-year-old carried off the 133cm working hunter pony of the year award on the 12-year-old Wrayton Monty by Desabre Nightfighter and bred by Stanley Metcalfe from Kendal.

Katie, a pupil at Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale, rode superbly in the jumping and conformation after reaching the last 12 in the country.

For Katieit was a dream end to the season and completed a marvellous hat-trick of wins following successes in the Summer Championships and at Burghley.

She acknowledged the help of trainer Pam Prickett and her parents Angela and Clive to reach this level.

Monty has had a distinquished career, starting with Marian D'Arcy before being broken by Jannet Bowness.

A ridden career followed with Gillian, William and Susan Hodgson, who were there on the day to support Katie.

Alexandra Hollings put in an excellent performance in the first ridden mountain & moorland pony at HOYS to finish second riding the ten-year-old mare Dykes Rosiemead.

Her mount is by Allandale Vampire out of top 1990 Dartmoor at Olympia, Dykes Daisymead, which was bred by Casterton School teacher Anne Rigby.

Polly Edsell from Lambrigg rode the Murphy family's nine-year-old Springtimes Mischief to finish fourth.

Gill Gale from Underbarrow was ninth in the heavyweight cob riding Harper, while Babs Ruchwaldy's Yealand Chapster was third in the show hunter pony.