Quirky but brave horse triumphs in Cock o' the North jump-off

"He's quirky but he's brave. He likes big fences so this course suited him and I think it's the best he's ever jumped for me," said Mr Luckett.

The Banbury-based rider has been competing at the Great Yorkshire since the late 1980s and this is a competition he has always wanted to win.

He was placed third last year with Val Blank Van Het Panishof but it was Tiger, as he is known at home, who put in a faultless performance to take the championship and the 7,000 first prize.

Tim Davies had a well deserved second place with Salome 11. "I just wanted to qualify, I never thought she would do this well," he said.

Dave Quigley and Ulot were third, Ben Mayer and Oscar were fourth and Robert Whitaker with Rooney IV came fifth.

Last year's winner Will Funnell returned to defend his title with Mondriaan but retired without completing the course. Eight riders had gone clear in the first round but only four made it through to the final jump-off, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats as the jumps got higher and the course more difficult.

Course designer Bob Ellis said afterwards he thought the competition had been "an absolute cracker".

The new Top of the North Supreme Ridden Championship went to delighted Yorkshire owner Rosemary Hetherington and her six-year-old cob, Hallmark IX.

The horse was ridden and produced by Jack Cochrane, from Worksop, who was also responsible for the reserve champion, the small hunter Sir William John, who was ridden by owner Victoria Clayton.

Rosemary Hetherington, from Middleham, bought the cob two years ago and has had a great deal of success with him. He won the lightweight cob class at the Horse of the Year Show and was also reserve champion.

He has been unbeaten so far this year – the Great Yorkshire was his sixth championship – and Rosemary was thrilled to win this inaugural championship which is sponsored by TopSpec.

She added: "Jack has done a fantastic job to produce both the champion and the reserve."

The Top of the North proved to be a keenly contested event in which the champions from the ridden classes competed. Six riders came forward for the final judging which took place in the main ring in front of a packed grandstand.

They showed off their paces in front of the judges, Mrs D. Whiteman and Mr D. Walters who finally decided to make the award to the champion ridden cob, Hallmark IX, whose lap of honour was loudly applauded,

The Cuddy Supreme in Hand Championship, another highlight of the show, also went to Yorkshire owners. Paul Smith and his wife Dawn Gant pronounced themselves to be "absolutely ecstatic" when their Welsh section C mare, Kirkhamgate Lady, won this prestigious competition.

The couple, from Normanton, Wakefield, have had many successes at the show but have never won this championship.

The mare has been a section champion at the Great Yorkshire before and has been competing there since she was a foal. They will now go on to compete at the Horse of the Year Show.

The reserve champion was Suzanna Welby of Grantham's home produced riding pony brood mare, Ainthorpe Countess.

In the heavy horse turnouts the winning combination was driven by Hugh Ramsay, of Newton Stewart, Scotland, with his Clydesdales.