A deluge last year left organisers with big cash losses, but the crowds returned to the showground at Scampston Park, near Rillington, this year despite a heavy shower in the early morning and another at about 2pm.

Malton Agricultural Society chairman Ian Hamilton said numbers were not as high as in 2003 but it was pleasing to see a crowd of just under 10,000.

He said: "I think the weather might have put some people off because apparently there has been a lot of localised heavy rain in the area, but the attendance has been a big improvement on last year."

Entries in many of the classes, especially the horses and the dog show were well up, but those in the cattle section were "disappointing", said Mr Hamilton.

He thought this was because the Royal Show in Warwickshire started on
Sunday.

Mr Hamilton said: "If exhibitors come to Malton they can't go to the Royal because Defra regulations say the livestock has to have six days at 'home' before it can move again."

But Steve Midgley, of Thorpe Bassett, near Malton, was showing and took the supreme champion in the dairy cattle
classes.

The show also provided a platform for a fundraising drive to support farmers devastated by flash floods in the Helmsley area just over a fortnight ago.

They have lost at least 60 miles of uninsured fencing and hedging leaving livestock to roam free and a flood appeal has been launched to help pay for reinstating them.

Other attractions at the show included a record display of vintage
farming machinery, horticulture and produce exhibits, children's art work, a bird of prey flying demonstration, sheepdog trial, terrier racing and heavy horse-drawn drays and turnouts – including a glass-sided hearse.

Events continued into the early evening with junior showjumping
classes.