THERE was sunshine and smiles at the 192nd Stithians Show on Monday (July 13).

The horse and horticulture classes enjoyed with record entries, while the livestock sections had some impressive beasts on display.

Derek Jenkin and Jo Compton, from Manaccan on the Lizard peninsula, won a rosette for their three-year-old South Devon home-bred cow Landrivick Mimosa 6, which had already brought home silverware from the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge. “I love showing,” said Jo. “I grew up with it and go all over the country. It’s for the cattle – that’s why we love coming here.”

Liz Bunkum from Tregarrick Farm near Liskeard was up at 4.30pm, preparing to come to Stithians. “It’s a lovely show,” she said. “People are so interactive here – they want to learn, and at a time when there is quite a gulf between rural life and young people, it’s nice for us to be able to answer their questions.”

Merryn Philp, from Polyphant near Launceston, had left equally early to make the show with her gilt and boar saddleback pigs, both of which won rosettes separately as well as together. “I like to support local shows, and the atmosphere here is very special,” she said. There are lots of local people, and the community is like a family.”

Poppy King, 10, was runner-up in the young handler section of the sheep classes with her super-woolly, two-year-old Swiss Valais Blacknose ewe lamb named Nigella from the small flock at Trelobben Farm in Mawnan Smith.

“I like the prizes, and showing off the breed,” she said. “When Nigella was born, her mum didn’t like her very much, so we had to bottle-feed her and walk her using a head collar. I’d like to be a farmer when I get older.”

The supreme cattle champion was Limousin heifer Foxhill Farm Arabella, shown by Stithians first-timer Steve Loveless from Bridport. Reserve champion went to Guernsey breeder James Warren of Penzance with Tredinney Charming Brenda.

Brandon Roth of Seaview Farm in Redruth took the supreme sheep champion for the fifth year running with his Tolgus Suffolk shearling ewe, which also won at the Royal Bath and West. The reserve champion sash went to Terry Simmonds’ Hampshire Down ewe lamb.

Over in the pig tent, five-year-old Large Black Delilah, who travelled to Stithians from Builth Wells in Wales with owner David Lang, scored her third supreme champion rosette this year. “I came down to support the boys who run the pig section, as they always come up our way,” he said. “I’ve been here since Saturday and enjoyed a very nice weekend in the Cornish sunshine.”

There was plenty of trade in food, drink and crafts. Liam Phelan, from Nanny Wendy’s Fudge in Bude, said: “There has been a lovely mix of people here today. We have travelled all over for shows, but generally find the Cornish shows are best.”

Show secretary Claire Watters said: “The show has gone really well. The showground is buzzing, with ideal show weather - a bit of a breeze to keep things cool – and entry numbers have been positive across the board.”