SUNSHINE and an early completion of the harvest combined to make Moreton Show a spectacular success.

The Batsford Road showground was packed with visitors and show secretary Tim Gardner said: "There were at least the same number as last year and probably more."

He added: "This is an agricultural show and we got the people there we wanted - those from the farming community. We also like to cater for the general public and they were able, as well as seeing the cream of the country's livestock, to enjoy a day-long entertainments programme and a full house of trade stands."

Mr Gardner said there were competitors and visitors from a wide area but added: "We need to be careful not to lose our local identity and become just another show on the circuit."

Entries in the horse showing classes broke the 1,000 barrier and Mr Gardner said there were so many horses and riders taking part that classes went on much later than usual.

Long-time supporters of the show recorded some spectacular successes in the livestock rings.

A senior ewe from a flock of 90 pedigree Suffolks at Rookery Farm, Broadway, took supreme honours with the sheep championship for Chris and Di Holmes and their daughter Sally.

Mrs Holmes said: "It was her first time in the show rings. We just pulled her out of the flock when we saw what a good ewe she was and in such good condition. She had no special feeding or anything special done to her and so it was even nicer to win."

The Holmes family have over the years won the breed championship eight times and the inter-breed title four times and Mrs Holmes said: "We've had a good year and it's always that little bit extra to win on our own doorstep."

Margaret and Keith Plain, of Foxhole Farm, Kinsham, Bredon, were just pipped at the post for their sixth successive South Devon breed championship with their cow Foxhole Martha with her calf at foot. The show's female champion was placed runner-up to senior bull Upper Norton Duncan from M & S Kettlewell of Over Norton, Chipping Norton,.

"She wasn't quite at her best today and Mike Kettlewell's bull was very good," Mrs Plain said.

In the impressive line-up for the inter-breed beef championship, the British Charolais champion, Penfold Rosebud, shown by Richard Hassell, of Lower Brailes, was named the winner.

The dairy championship was won by John Froggatt, of Rugeley, Staffs, with a Jersey cow Jonsdun ZB Rebater, fighting off the hot challenge of the Holsteins of Long Partners, who have 200 milking cows and 200 followers at Halford, Shipston. Robert Long led the breed champion , the cow Wagtail Gibson Lucky Lady and the heifer champion Wagtail James Bonnie.

He said of his champion cow: "She's been showing now for two years but this is the first major success she's had. She's probably looking the best she has ever looked today and winning is a great thrill."

A Long Service Award was presented to Chris Baggaley, of Paxford, who has been assistant show manager since 1985. A keen engineer, Mr Baggaley has used his expertise over the years to produce a great deal of equipment for the show.