VISITORS turned up in their hundreds for Huish Champflower’s late summer fete and dog show.

Sheep racing and Whack-a-Rat added new dimensions to the festivities, as did Mike White’s 1927 Packard, fresh from North America and looking straight out of Al Capone’s car fleet.

The dog show was as popular as ever, attracting more than 120 entrants across ten classes, as well as a dog agility contest in the second ring.

The usual stalls selling books and bric-a-brac did a roaring trade in the September sunshine and profits from the event exceeded £2,100, with proceeds going to local charities, including the village hall and St Peter’s Church.

Prize winners were: Murdoch Cup (most points overall) – Gill Fleming; Crabtree Cup (cookery) – Gill Fleming; Coombe End Cup (produce) – Kim Chapman; Rose Bowl (flowers) – Gill Fleming; Gormley Cup (children’s classes) – Bea Martin; Craft Cup – Bea Martin.

In the dog show, Sarah Shepherd’s eight-month old Golden Retriever Charlie was overall champion, while Reserve Best in Show was Freya Sealey’s ten-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, Poppy. Poppy also took the red rosette for Best Rescue and – with Freya, aged nine – Best Child Handler, while Charlie was judged Most Handsome Boy.

The organisers were grateful to three dog show sponsors – W H Hendy, who provided the prize rosettes; Skinners Pet Foods, who supplied the delicious – for dogs – food prizes; and Verm-X Natural Animal Health Products, who provided cash awards for the winners and Verm-X prizes.

Thanks were also owed to the judges – Paul Yates of Deane Vets, Wiveliscombe, in the show ring, and animal behaviourist/dog trainer Janet Auton, who set up and managed events in the agility ring. Other dog show category results were:

Best Working Dog: 1 Prince (Ollie Power), 2 Lily (Rosie Hayward), 3 Lily (Simon Bailey), 4 Badger (Margaret Hill). Best Terrier: 1 Pudding (Peter Goodwin), 2 Rolo (Steven Foxwell), 3 Spotty (Luke Wescott) 4 Sage (Naomi Hurford). Best Puppy: 1 Hank (Joe Humphries), 2 Charlie (Lorna White), 3 Cooper (Tracy Pearce), 4 Spotty (Jess Westcott). Best Child Handler: 1 Freya Sealey (9) with Poppy, 2 Naomi Hurford (5) with Sage, Maisie Kidner (10) with Bean, 4 Billy Thomsett (12) with Willow. Best Six Legs on Display: 1 Honey and Susan Bailey, 2 Rusty and Bob Williams, 3 Lily and Rose Power, 4 Sage and Naomi Hurford. Prettiest Girl: 1 Fly (Joe Humphries), 2 Snowflake (Margaret Hill), 3 Poppy (Freya Sealey), 4 Bridget (Sam Armstrong). Most Handsome Boy: 1 Charlie (Sarah Shepherd), 2 Bertie (Pat Fox), 3 Hank (Joe Humphries), 4 Ollie (Mandy Tenbeth). Most Inspiring Veteran: 1 Pudding (Peter Goodwin), 2 Lily (Susan Bailey), 3 Hugo (Peter Krijgsman), 4 Clover (Nicola Warner). Best Rescue: 1 Poppy (Jo Sealey), 2 Rusty (Bob Williams), 3 Ellie (Linda Sharp), 4 Millipede (Maggie Gill). Dog Most Like His/Her Owner: 1 Meteor (Sarah Shepherd), 2 Bertie (Pat Fox), 3 Rolo (Steven Foxwell), 4 Sage (Naomi Hurford).

Overall winner of the agility competition was Bob Williams from Oxford with Rusty, who completed the course in 16.35 seconds. Runners-up were Hobbs (Emma), Toodle (Rachel) and Bean (Lucy Kidner). The good handling award went to Jess Westcott with Spotty.

Fete co-ordinator John Moore declared the event to be one of the best ever, helped by the good weather but most of all by enduring local enthusiasm for the event.

“We would like to say a big thank you to our sponsors, volunteers and visitors for making this such an enjoyable day,” he said.