THE sun shone, steam engine whistles blew, dogs barked – it could only be the Huish Champflower late summer fete and dog show – and it was a cracker.

Old favourites such as the Golden Bucket – which reached a prize value of £48 – skittles, Find-the-Fiver and Whack-a-Rat were joined by a new addition in Play Your Cards Rights. This was situated between Daisy the cut-out cow, on whom visitors could polish their milking technique, and a defibrillator training tent where they could learn to save lives. The village hall at Huish hosts one such device, donated by the British Heart Foundation and available 24/7.

Books, bottles, plants and bric-a-brac stalls did a roaring trade, while hundreds of fete-goers kept the kitchen volunteers busy for three hours, serving tea and yummy jam scones. They also cleared the WI table of its delicious home-made cakes, pickled eggs and other produce.

Mike White’s steam engine rides delighted those brave enough to sample the complex pleasures of old-style travel, complete with squirts of oil and ear piercing shrieks from the whistle. ‘Hair-raising,’ was one comment.

Competition prize winners were: Murdock Cup (most points overall) – Sue Biss; Crabtree Cup (cookery) – Joe Lewis; Coombe End Cup (produce) – Sue Biss; Rose Bowl (flowers) – Thomas Kennen and Caroline Adams; Gormley Cup (Craft) – Alan Cooke; Children’s Cup – Eva Cooke.

In the Dog Show, Arnie Priest’s two-year-old Patterdale Terrier Maggie was overall champion, with Reserve Best going to Rachel Hurford’s five-year-old Spaniel, Toodles. Maggie was also named Prettiest Girl and Best Terrier, while Toodles came top in the agility and won the red rosette for Most Handsome Boy. Tommy Pincombe and Kerry Pincombe led the judging in the main ring, with Caroline Green and Jo Hutter running the agility classes. The dog show was sponsored by Skinners Pet Foods, W H Hendy and Verm-X Natural Animal Health Products.

Winners were: Best Working Dog – 1 Lily (Paul Power), 2 Toodles (Rachel Hurford), 3 Keddie (Tiffany Jobson), 4 Kim (Di Shepherd).

Best Terrier – 1 Maggie (Arnie Priest), 2 Sage (Leonie Hurford), 3 Raddy (Michael Winterton) 4 Beau (Jay Lawley).

Best Puppy – 1 Sidekick (Joe Humphries), 2 Red (Emma Bettridge), 3 Honey (Melissa Clark), 4 Tolly (Paul Tam).

Best Child Handler – 1 Leonie Hurford, six, with Phoebe, 2 Heidi Wilkinson, five, with Duggy, 3 Scarlett Humphries, seven, with Fly, 4 Jake Perry, ten, with Tann.