TWO events marked the start of the season's round of agricultural shows in south Shropshire. Sheep returned on Sunday to be judged at the Bishop's Castle Agricultural Show for the first time since foot and mouth while poultry made their first appearance altogether.

Show vice-chairman, Will Oakley, had no hesitation in rating the day a success, with an army of volunteers all playing an important and vital part.

More than 3,500 paying spectators attended and there was a large contingent of children from local schools using free tickets. The weather also behaved and the rain held off until after the major ring competitions.

With 66 individual classes, from one year-old Suffolk rams to Primitive and Shetland rare breeds, the sheep were back in force. There were also 77 classes of poultry and eggs. The show committee is talking of doubling the size of this new section next year.

Fringe events included a donkey derby, a tractor display, motor cycle trials, a vintage vehicles show and the increasingly popular Farmers' Market of local produce.

Suffolk: Mr & Mrs Reg Davies Challenge Cup: S Barden; The John Sherrat Cup: M Mostyn;Texels Registered MVA: The Cwm Wintles Challenge Trophy: B & EA Gutteridge; Bluefaced Leicester: The R P Williams Challenge Cup: Mrs M Day; Welsh Mule: The Albert Wright Perpetual Cup: J L Leeke; Kerry Hill: The Olde Byre Perpetual Cup: C Tibbott; Cross Bred Untrimmed: The Chamber of Trade Cup for Champion Cross bred: M D Watkins; pet Lamb: Ceri Storer. Interbreed Champion: The Walters of Ludlow Perpetual Challenge Cup: Mr Potter; The Harry Tuffin Perpetual Challenge Cup for champion Group: B & E Gutteridge. Commercial Lambs: Morgan Griffiths Cup Champion lambs: Mr & Mrs Davies; lamb Carcase: The Nilsan Farmore Perpetual Cup for best carcase: Martin Hudson.

The Bishop of Hereford Cup: Show Champion: Mr J D Pitchford (female Black Orpington Bantam); reserve champion: Mrs M Hands (White Silkie Cockerel). Best soft feather bantam: Mr J D Pitchford. Best large soft feather: Mrs M Hands. Best large hard feather: Mr B Adams. Best bantam hard feather: Mr Stuart Campbell. Best rare breed Black Sumatra Game: Angel Poultry. Best True Bantam Black Rose Combe: Angel Poultry.

SHIRES: Yearling colt, filly or gelding: 1 Mr & Mrs T Lloyd (Wheatland Knight), 2 A C Human (Leap House Rebecca). C J Hotchkiss Challenge Cup: Mr & Mrs T Lloyd. Two Year old filly, colt or gelding: 1 A C Human (Leap House Seren) 2 Mrs L F Young (Mawstone Hollie). Stallion, mare or gelding, 3 yrs old and over: 1 John Day (Ellerdine Lady Anast-asia) 2 T Breeze (Monark). Colt or filly foal, Mr & Mrs T Lloyd (Wheatland Lorna Doone). Champion-ship of Classes 1-4: G Wellings and son Perpetual Cup: Champion: John Day (Ellerdine Lady Anastasia); reserve: A C Human (Leap House Seren). Decorated horse in shaft gear: 1 T Breeze (Monark) 2 A J Green (Katie).

SECTION A: Yearling colt, filly or gelding: 1 J H Gwynne (Burea Joules) 2 PE de Quincey (Crestwood Cherokee). Two or three year old filly or gelding: 1 S Yardley (Oldhope Bronwyn) 2 Griffiths & Mills Family (Tryfel Teela). Mare, filly, colt or gelding having not won first prize: 1 Rosita Hamar (Crossways Penelope) 2 V Layton (Siwan). R A Swain Perpetual Cup: Rosita Hamar. Mare, four year old or over with or without foal at foot: 1 G R Swain (Bushmoor Mayflower) 2 Rosita Hamar (Crossways Penelope). Class 76a: 1 G R Swain (Crossways Maggie May) 2 Yarnold-Wright (Doddenhill Coral Buttons) Stallion, 2 yrs or over: 1 Yarnold-Wright (Fayre Popcorn) 2 Nicholls Family (Waithwith Casino). Championship Tray: Champion: G R Swain (Bushmoor Mayflower) Reserve: Rosita Hamar (Crossways Penelope).

SECTION B: Yearling colt, filly or gelding: 1 J E Pipe (Eyarth Kiara) 2 A Butler (Hanmere Showman). Two or three year old filly or gelding: 1 Mrs D Tolliday (Dymock Evensong) 2 Mrs E M Jones (Bunbury Charlotte). Mare, filly, colt or gelding not having won a first prize: 1 Fletcher & Owen (Oakhouse Kittewake) 2 Jane Duppa (Birtley Queen of Diamonds). Mare, 4 yrs old and over with or without foal at foot: 1 A Butler (Eyarth Poppy) 2 Mrs D Tolliday (Scrafton Garland). Colt or filly foal: 1 Mrs E M Jones (Bunbury Cottonwood) 2 Mrs D Tolliday (Dymock Gabrielle).Stallion, 2 yrs or over: no entries. Duppa Goblets: awarded to winners of classes 78-83. Will Jones Perpetual Rose Bowl: Champion: A Butler (Eyarth Poppy); reserve: Mrs D Tolliday (Dymock Evensong). Bishop's Castle YFC Agricultural Show Challenge Cup: A Butler (Eyarth Poppy). The Llanarch Perpetual Challenge Cup: G R Swain (Crossways Maggie May).

RIDDEN HUNTERS: Ridden hunter, open, horse over 15hh, to be ridden: 1 Barbara Atkins (Kings Advisor) 2 Ray Atkins (Subject to Contract). The United Pack Challenge Cup: Katie Aspinwall (Bartie).Riding horse class. Horses over 14.2hh, ride over 16 yrs: 1 David Bebb (Ruby 111) 2 Barbara Atkins (Kings Advisor). Perpetual Challenge Trophy: Champion: David Bebb (Ruby 111); reserve: Barbara Atkins (kings Advisor). The Doc Wallace Challenge Cup: David Bebb (Ruby 111). Ridden cob open: Diane Evans (Porridge)

SHOWING CLASSES: Tack & Turnout, open, leading rein permitted: 1 C Moss (Oakhouse Roc) 2 James Painter (Adencroft State of the Art). Showing class, leading rein: 1 Laura Dowbiggin (Stoak Fleur) 2 Tracy Jones (Finger Post Maestro). Showing Class: Eleanor Rogers (Finger Post Maestro). Showing Class: 1 Annabel Window (Westhill Footloose) 2 Eleanor Rogers (Sycamore Thyphoon). Champion Perpetual Cup and Rosette for classes 88-90: Champion: Laura Dowbiggin (Stoak Fleur) Reserve: tracy Jones (Finger Post Maestro)

OTHER CLASSES: Family horse/pony: 1 Katy Aspinwall (My Little Promise) 2 Sally Ripp (Lynard Rocket). In hand veteran horse/pony: 1 Ray Aspinwall (Bartie) 2 Hanah Walker (Winnaway Manhattan). Mountain & Moorland: 1 Helen Leather (Hodini Rex) 2 Sally Ripp (Lynard Rockett). Coloured horse (any breed): 1 Nicki Jones (Holly) 2 Susan Mardzynsky (Smokie). Ridden veteran horse/pony: 1 Ray Aspinwall (Bartie) 2 Katy Aspinwall (My Little Promise). Ridden Mountain and Moorland: 1 James Painter (Crossways Mystic Meg) 2 A Brisbane - Warrington (Jazzy-Bee). Ridden Mountain and Moorland: 1 N J Edwards (Tirclyn Ovation) 2 Sally Ripp (Lynard Rocket). Mounted Fancy Dress: Katy Mellor (Clover).

HANDY PONY: Handy Pony, rider under 10 yrs: 1 Harvey (Dusty) 2 Aisha Gethin (Honey) 98b: Handy Poney, rider 11-16 yrs: 1 Katy Aspinwall (My Little Promise).

SHOW JUMPING: Midland 12 yrs and under championship qualifier: 1 Richard Lewis (Foxy) 2 Felicity Williams (First Choice). Mini open: 1 Felicity Williams (First Choice) 2 Emma Roberts (Lucky). Midland novice pony championship qualifier: 1 Angharad Lewis (Star), 2 Eluned Tibbott (Sparkling Western). Midland small open pony championship qualifier: 1 Angharad Lewis (Star) 2 Eluned Tibbott (Sparkling Western Edition). Midland very novice horse championship qualifier: 1 Estelle Kenswell (Gold Lucien) 2 Lorna Martinali (Woodhouse Poppy). Mini open 1 Joanna Davies (Crazy Star) 2 Sarah Smith (Happy Flannigan). Midland novice horse championship qualifier: 1 Joanna Davies (Crazy Star) 2 Lucy McFarlowe (Sara). Midland small open horse championship qualifier: 1 Joanna Davies (Crazy Star) 2 Sarah Smith (Happy Flann-igan). Peter Harris Cup: Joanna Davies (Crazy Star).

RUNNER BEANS: 1 T Rowlands; 2 C & J Yapp. Broad beans: 1 T Rowlands; 2 T Rowlands. Globe beet: 1 S A Orden; 2 E Pryce. Two heads green gabbage with roots: 1 S Stanyer; 2 T Rowlands. Three carrot stumps rooted with foliage: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 T Rowlands. Three carrots long rooted with foliage: 1 T Rowlands; 2 C & J Yapp. Four culinary herbs (named): 1 W Poole; 2 S A Owen. Two lettuce with roots: 1 L Bennett; 2 T Rowlands. Three onions grown from sets: 1 T Rowlands; 2 S A Owen. Three onions grown from seeds: 1 T Rowlands; 2 T Rowlands. Tomatoes: 1 W Poole; 2 Mrs A Chislett. Pair of courgettes: 1 W Poole; 2 S A Owen. Six pods of peas: T Rowlands; 2 T Rowlands. Five potatoes, round (named):1 T Rowlands; 2 C & J Yapp. Five potatoes, kidney (named): 1 T Rowlands; 2 L Bennett. Shallots - red: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 W Poole. Shallots - white: 1 T Rowlands; 2 L Bennett. Cauliflower with roots: 1 T Rowlands; 2 T Rowlands. Collection of five kinds of vegetables:1 T Rowlands; 2 W Poole. Pair of marrows: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 T Rowlands. Top tray: Garden News Top Tray Class: Gold award Mrs A Chislett; Silver award C & J Yapp; Bronze award: Stanyer. Three vegetables: Gold award: T Rowlands; Silver award: W Poole; Bronze award: S A Owen. Delwyn Parker Bowl - Ladies, a floral arrangement: 1 E Pryce; 2 Mrs A Chislett.

SOFT FRUIT: Blackcurrants dish between 7-9 ozs: 1 S Chislett; 2 T Rowlands. Red or white currants 1 dish between 7-9 ozs: 1 A E Martin; T Rowlands. Gooseberries : 1 T Rowlands; 2 S A Owen. Raspberries: 1 T Rowlands; 2 T Rowlands. Best collection of 3 dishes of soft fruit: 1 T Rowlands; 2 S A Owen. The Pritchard Cup: Mr T Rowlands.

FLOWERS: Vase of 3 stems, 1 variety annuals: 1 Stanyer; 2 L Bennet. Vase of 3 stems, 1 variety hardy perennials: 1 Stanyer; 2 E Pryce. Pom pom dahlias, 1 vase of 5 blooms: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 C & J Yapp. Small bloom dahlias, 1 vase of 5 blooms (4" to 6"): 1 C & J Yapp, 2 C & J Yapp. Sweet peas, 1 vase of 4 blooms: 1 L Bennett; 2 C & J Yapp. Sweet peas, 3 vases of 4 blooms - different varieties: 1 L Bennet; 2 B Chislett. House plant, flowering - not fuchsias: 1 Stanyer; 2 W Poole. House plant, foliage: 1 Stanyer; 2 Stanyer. One H T Rose: 1 A E Martin; 2 S Williams. Three H R Roses: 1 C & J Yapp. One Spray H T Roses: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 A E Martin. One spray floribunda roses: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 - . Six pansies: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 S A Owen. Three Gladioli: 1 Stanyer; 2 B Chislett. Top flower class: see top tray. Fuchsia any variety: 1 S Williams; 2 S Williams. Hosta plant in pot: 1 Stanyer; 2 Stanyer. Any patio plant: 1 E Pryce, 2 E Pryce; Bowl of sweet peas: 1 C & J Yapp; 2 S A Owen. Bowl of roses any variety with foliage: 1 B Chislett; 2 J Richards. Vase not more than 6" diameter mixed flowers: 1 S A Owen; 2 Stanyer. One specimen HT Rose, named: 1 A E Martin.

C J Bryan Perpetual Challenge Cup presented to Mr A E Martin; Delwyn Parker Bowl for Senior Citizens: Ladies Floral Display: Mrs E Pryce; E C Davies and Son Perpetual Cup to be held for one year by the competitor gaining the highest points in the vegetable section: Mr T Rowlands.