The King family of Cotebrook are celebrating a golden hat-trick after three of their beautiful shire horses were crowned as winners in this year’s prestigious national championships.

Husband and wife team Alistair and Janet King run Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre and Stud Farm, along with Alistair’s son Matthew of ShiresandClydesdales.com.

In a hard-fought championship held at Bingley Hall, Stafford Showground, the family were recognised with three wins.

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Twenty-four-year-old Moorfield Edward was awarded the prestigious Progeny Cup for the ninth time and was named Champion Stock Stallion. The Progeny Cup is awarded to recognise how many of Moorfield Edward’s sons and daughters have also gone on to be champions and win prizes.

Edward’s daughter, two-year-old Cotebrook Loch Anna, was crowned Junior National Champion Female and overall National Champion Female.

Edward’s son, Sparkland Hercules (owned by Matthew King), also took the title of National Champion Gelding.

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Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre is renowned as a national centre of excellence for the breeding and protection of shire horses and the Kings have bred some of the world’s top shire horses over the years.

After the championship results, Janet said: “People come from all over Europe to show their horses at the National Championships, so this result makes us very proud of our Cotebrook family. Alistair and Matthew worked incredibly hard in preparation for the show and so to receive this recognition means a lot.”

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Alistair added: “For Edward to have sired both the national female and national gelding champion was very emotional. It was especially nice to see my son Matthew lead our beautiful Cotebrook Loch Anna into the show ring – and having won the national championship female title, she really is our Miss World.”

For more information visit www.cotebrookshirehorses.co.uk or www.shiresandclydesdales.com.