THE Creightons are well-known in equestrian circles as sponsors of the hunter championship at Balmoral Show but it was horse power of a different sort which drew some of the family, and friends, to Wales last weekend.

Niall Creighton and his wife Margaret (nee Tolerton) travelled to Llandudno for the sixth and final round of the British Rally Championship which their son William went into with a 16 and a half point lead. Having suffered a costly spin last year, the 27-year-old took a cautious approach in the Toyota Yaris Rally 2 but, while finishing fourth, picked up enough points to hold off his rivals.

While this was the British championship, rallying is an all-island sport and, having first paid tribute to co-driver Liam Regan and Melvyn Evans Motorsport, Creighton stated: “It is just fantastic and it has all been achieved with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy.” The new title-holder didn’t have much time to celebrate at home or check on the cattle he inherited from his late grandfather Richard Tolerton as, on Monday, he headed over to Poland to mentor a young Academy driver.

The support party in Wales also included William’s sister Charlotte, the former event rider, while former Olympic event rider and international show jumper Margaret had her own personal support team in Ann Cully and Vicki White who, too, are well-known on the equestrian circuit.