Captain Hornblower was the impressive winner of the King George V Stallion Championship 2008.

The 16.2hh premium Cleveland Bay stallion is owned by Mr and Mrs David Anderson, of Braithwaite, near Harrogate, and is by Oaten Mainbrace

His progeny have had many successes in the show ring, including champion and reserve champion at the Yorkshire Show in 2004 and also best foal in 2005 and 2007.

Said delighted owner, Dave Anderson, who also exhibited the stallion: "We are absolutely thrilled to win this prestigious championship. It has been knocking on the door for a few years and now we have finally done it. Despite Hornblower coming up to 16 years of age, he has proved he is still at the top of the tree and is a credit to the breed."

The reserve champion was Penrhyn Dictator, owned by Joanne Firth, of Dewsbury, who also claimed the best turned out prize with her other stallion, High Park Schoffield.

This annual competition to find the champion stallion was held at the University of Lincoln, where the premium stallions were judged on conformation, breed type and movement by James Stephenson, of York.

The campus at Riseholme was a great choice of venue, having well-established connections with the Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) through the university's own Cleveland Bay breeding programme, which uses its own home-bred stallion, Lindon Principal, which won a prize.

This year, there were also some additional classes, as well as a parade of hounds from the Burton Hunt, with huntsman, Jim Lang, who is due to retire in three weeks' time after 41 years of hunt service.

The young stock in-hand (1-3-year-old Cleveland Bay colts) was won by Kirkmoor Elderberry Flower, owned by Heather Ketley.

The ridden class for registered Cleveland Bays (four years and over), was split into two sections for pure and part-breds. The pure-bred section was won by Lindon Principal (Lincoln University), with Harrington Gala and Pamela Shipley claiming second place.

The part-bred section was won by Jemoon Moneymover with Jane Moore and It's William, on loan to Lincoln University and shown by Gwen Kemp came second.

The CBHS, which is a registered charity, was set up to protect and promote the Cleveland Bay horse which is Britain's oldest breed of horse and remains on the Rare Breed Survival Trust's critical list.

The breed is known for its strength, stamina and temperament. They make ideal leisure and driving horses and, when crossed with thoroughbreds, produce wonderful sport horses.