Shire who enjoys a pint is crowned champion at the Great Yorkshire Show
Shire horse King’s Hurricane celebrates Great Yorkshire Show championship with a pint of Thwaites Original
Thwaites’ King’s Hurricane ruled in the Shire ranks at the 2026 Great Yorkshire Show, where he exuded presence and power while handled by Thwaites’ head horseman Richard Green to land the breed tricolour.
Known as “Duke” at home, he joined the Thwaites Shire Horse team as a three-year-old after being crowned junior champion at the National Shire Horse Show.
“From the moment he arrived, his education began as we started the process of breaking him to drive, with the aim of him becoming one of our working promotional horses,” explained Bev Holland, who works alongside Richard and Jonathan Jones to care for the team.
This is not Duke’s first success this term. Earlier in the season he won the four-year-old and over gelding class at the Shire Horse Society’s National Spring Show and was crowned champion gelding, before going on to claim the breed tricolour at Royal Lancashire.
Meanwhile, Duke’s driving training has continued alongside his showing, and he also competed in the driving ranks at Harrogate – his second show pulling the carriage.
Away from the show ring, Duke has spent the season representing Thwaites at hotels, inns and pubs across the country.
“He has quickly become a reliable and impressive ambassador for the company, taking everything in his stride as he continues to develop into a first-class driving horse,” said Bev.
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“In the stable, Duke is a much-loved character with a wonderful personality. He’s always the first to greet everyone in the morning with a cheerful whinny, usually accompanied by a gentle bang on his stable door to remind us that breakfast is due.
“And after a busy day’s work, it’s fair to say Duke enjoys his own Thwaites tradition too – a pint of Thwaites Original, which he thoroughly appreciates!”
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Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.