MALTON Show was complete once again, as livestock returned to the popular celebration of rural life.

Hundreds of competitors hoping for rosettes, cups and trophies battled it out yesterday, as visitors basked in glorious afternoon sunshine.

After a cloudy start the sun broke through and shone down on a huge range of attractions.

Local trade stands stood side by side with traditional stalls offering good old-fashioned Yorkshire produce.

For the first time this year a farmers' market was held. It did a brisk trade in tasty sausages, cheese, handmade pork pies and freshly-caught fish.

Huby farmer John Piercy, from Yorkshire Ridings Produce, said: "I think it seems to have created a bit of interest and we have had a lot of people looking round and buying produce.

"We are still in our first year and we are just starting small and building up to see how it goes."

Show president Mike Knaggs said he was delighted with the day.

"I could not have ordered the weather better if I had tried myself," he said.

"It just shows I think that coming to Scampston Park was a wonderful move - it's a great day to prove it."

Mr Knaggs said it was good to see the traditional show thriving year after year.

"I want to remind people this is an agricultural show. It has been for as long as I can remember and this is my 44th year."

Vintage machinery was back for the second year running.

Kit Heselton, of Allerston, near Thornton-le- Dale, who was there with his beautifully-tended miniature steam engine, said it was good to see so many carefully-restored engines.

"I started working with steam engines in 1935 - in my era steam was there long before diesel," he said.

"I have known nothing else in my line of business."

But the show was not just about agriculture.

North Yorkshire Police officers Mike Pannett and Andy Marsden were manning a new stand all about wildlife crime.

Illegal traps, badger skins, rare birds' eggs and even crocodiles were on display - all confiscated by wildlife officers.

PC Pannett said: "Wildlife crime counts for something like £2 billion of crime each year, it's very big business.

"We are very fortunate here that we have not got many people who are breaking wildlife laws knowingly.

"We are looking to educate and inform people to stamp out bad practice and ignorance."

Local trophy winners:

HORSES

Best ridden hunter: Mrs J Banks, Bishop Burton.

Best part-bred Cleveland Bay: Heather Ketley, Sutton-on-Forest.

Best hunter in hand: Mrs M J Bennett, Monk Fryston.

Best heavy horse: P and W Bedford, Escrick.

Best heavy horse owner/exhibitor bred champion: P and W Bedford, Escrick.

Best heavy horse brood mare with foal: P and W Bedford, Escrick.

Best yearling colt: F W Stainthorpe, Whitby.

Private driving champion: Mr N Bavidge, Shipton-by-Beningbrough.

Best leading rein or first ridden pony: M Carr, Sleights.

Best mini champion: Emmersons, Stokesley.

Best yearling in hand: Mrs L Lawson, Beverley.

Best champion pony in hand: Mrs J Fox, Boroughbridge.

Champion ridden pony: Kerry Gibson, Burythorpe.

CATTLE

Best Aberdeen Angus: T A & P Johnson, Yearsley.

Best-presented Aberdeen Angus: T A & P Johnson.

Champion Limousin: Millington Grange Estate, Millington.

Champion Belgian Blue: S Hough, Pontefract.

Best British native beef breed: J S Harrison, Settrington.

Best cross-bred champion: Orme and Wilson, Leyburn.

Best Belgian blue steer or heifer: Anthony Swales, Melbourne.

Interbred pedigree champion: Mrs C Thompson, Helmsley.

Champion Holstein: S G Midgley, Thorpe Bassett.

The Yorkshire British Freisian Breeders Rose Bowl: S G Midgley, Thorpe Bassett.

SHEEP

Most points in sheep classes: Mrs D A and Miss E A Goodman, Hovingham.

Best Leicester: Mrs D A and Miss E A Goodman, Hovingham.

Best Suffolk: L & L Yewdall, Youlthorpe.

Best Suffolk of the opposite of sex: J T and G A Midgley, Kirby Underdale.

The Tom Midgley Trophy: J T and G A Midgley, Kirby Underdale.

Jacob Champion: J R Atkinson, Thirsk.

Interbreed pedigree champion: L and L Yewdall, Youlthorpe.

Best pen fat lambs: E M and J P Midgley, Kirby Underdale.

Best Texel: G Taylor, Thirsk.

Blue-faced Leicester: M J King, Knapton.

Best continental breed: J A Keith and daughter, Scarborough.

The John Goodman Cup: Mrs D A and Miss A E Goodman, Hovingham.

Champion rare breed: Mrs D A and Miss A E Goodman, Hovingham.

Best fleece: Mrs D A and Miss A E Goodman, Hovingham.

GOATS.

Best exhibit: Mrs Haigain, Halifax.

Best reserve in show: D and C Shipley, Acaster, Selby.

DOGS

Best dog: J Evans & S Rawlings, West Knapton.

Best puppy: CC Ledger, Shiptonthorpe.

MISCELLANEOUS

Best trade stand: The BCSS York Branch.

Best exhibit in the flower section: Mr R Rishworth, Filey.

Best rose exhibit: Susan Haigh, Raskelf.

Best floral art exhibit: Mrs G Ingram, Langton.

Best vegetable exhibit: Susan Haigh, Raskelf.

Best rabbit: AR Collier, Nawton.

Updated: 09:02 Friday, June 27, 2003