Run by Malton, Norton and District Rotary Club and with the top prize donated by Rotarian and local businessman Tim Tate-Smith in memory of his father, Tom, the competition open to primary and secondary schools, had seen the number of entries fall in recent years.

Mr Tate-Smith had talks with local head teachers after last year’s show and it was agreed to give it a rest.

Speaking at Sunday’s show, Mr Tate-Smith said it was “disappointing” but the club was happy to abide by the schools’ wishes.

He said: “The competition was launched 22 years ago after my father’s death but we really struggled for entries last year. I think there’s so much pressure on schools and the curriculum at the moment that they couldn’t find time to fit it in.

“We haven’t abandoned it altogether – we’re just giving it a rest for a couple of years and then we’ll review it.”

In its place, Rotary mounted an exhibition highlighting hobbies available in the area. Exhibitors included Malton and District Camera Club, Ryedale Sub Aqua Club and Rotary itself, highlighting the charitable work the organisation does nationally and internationally. This includes fundraising to provide fully-equipped tents for disaster areas, costing £490 each and feeding 200 orphans in an African village.