Published at 08:39, Friday, 13 August 2010

A Cumbrian family are celebrating after their Shetland pony was named the second finest example of the breed in the world.

Susan Nicholson with Berry Moor Bramble

• Video: Berry Moor Bramble at home with Susan Nicholson

It was at the International Shetland Pony Show hosted in the UK for the first time in a decade, on a showground in Hickstead near Brighton.

Despite 600 ponies from around the world coming to compete in the event, the Heads Nook newcomer left with the reserve supreme champion title.

Berry Moor Bramble, a five-year-old female pony owned by retired Heads Nook farmers Joe and Eleanor Nicholson and their daughters Susan and Judith, picked up the second-place prize ahead of animals which had travelled across the globe to take part.

Susan Nicholson said: “We went a long way to a show we have never thought about entering before and were up against ponies from Germany, Sweden, France, Australia.

"We went straight through to win the reserve supreme champion. We thought we would give it a go but we have never been that far away from home before. I’m not even sure that winning has sunk in for any of us yet.”

The family began keeping ponies when cattle farmers Joe and Eleanor sold their stock and retired.

First of all they acquired one pony for Mrs Nicholson to keep as she missed her stock but have since amassed 28 of the animals which they have previously shown at local events.

Along with the top award winner, they also had 18-year-old stallion Wells Royal Gold and two more females in Allengrove Bliss and Kinness Susan and all four picked up awards.

Susan added: “The stallion is so well bred it’s unbelievable but he was really down and out when we bought him."

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk