THE 27th annual working of the North Yorkshire vintage machinery society had mixed weather fortunes at the weekend.

Cars, lorries, vans, fire engines, tractors, military trucks and motorcycles representing bygone eras converged on Hornby Castle park, near Bedale, for the two-day event on Saturday and Sunday.

Static displays of vintage vehicles and stationary engines were complemented by arena events, including tests of skill for the drivers of supertrucks, and ploughing competitions with cups for the oldest owner and machine in action.

Rally secretary Mrs Margaret Mould said: "It was quite bright on Saturday and rather dismal on Sunday but this didn't seem to affect the exhibits. We didn't do too badly considering the weather and the fuel situation.

"Just after the prizegiving on Sunday the heavens opened, so we just got the event out of the way in time."

This year's event went ahead without one of the leading figures in the society, Mr Graham Wilcox, who died in June aged 52 after a short illness.

A minute's silence was observed in memory of Mr Wilcox, who was taken on his last journey to his funeral in Bedale on a Morris Commercial light lorry built in the 1940s.

Mr Wilcox, of Ash Tree Close, Bedale, was a committee member of the NYVMS and a steward for its commercial vehicle and steam sections.

He and his second wife, Angela, gave a trophy in their name for the furthest driven vintage commercial at the NYVMS events and this will continue. This year, however, Mrs Wilcox also presented a one-off award in her husband's memory for the best Foden lorry.

Other special awards for this year only included that for the best Nuffield tractor and stationary engine cups given by Mrs Mould and Mrs Linda Capstick.

AWARDS

D Crusher cup, oldest person ploughing: E Bainbridge. W Turnbull trophy, oldest tractor ploughing: J Swales. Kverneland UK tankard, best NYVMS trailer ploughing: D Thompson. Kverneland UK trophy, best NYVMS mounted ploughing: R Thompson. R Thompson cup, best open trailer ploughing: J Swales. R Thompson cup, best open mounted ploughing: K Smith. C Mould cup, best working tractor: M Littlefair. P Capstick trophy, best Fordson tractor pre-1958: P Capstick. N Roberts trophy, best Ferguson TE20: R Middleton. Wilkinson cup, best David Brown tractor pre-1960: G Bourne. Reeds Engineering cup, best Nuffield tractor: G Bourne. M Gill cup, best overall static tractor: R Kearton. P Capstick, best tractor on iron traction: N Walker. C Mould cup, best working stationary engine: R Walton. D Capstick cup, best NYVMS junior member stationary engine: S Adams. Kath Dearlove trophy, best enclosed crank stationary engine up to 3hp: N Carr. D and E Capstick trophy, best enclosed crank stationary engine 3hp and over: C Sant. R H Hornby cup, best stationary engine overall: D Mashiter. M Mould cup, best stationary engine up to 3hp: D Mashiter. L Capstick cup, best stationary engine under 3hp: R E Roberts.D E Mould trophy, best working vintage machinery: E Mellor. Skippers of Darlington trophy, best car: D Grayson. T W Pearson trophy, best presented car 1940 onwards: K Breckon. Bilwood Motors cup, best presented car up to and including 1939: B Kitching. O Alderson cup, best presented commercial: P Dykes. NYVMS trophy, best presented light commercial: R Toas. NYVMS trophy, best presented petrol miniature: J Hutchinson. Angela and Graham Wilcox trophy, furthest driven vintage commercial: W Thorpe. Graham Wilcox trophy, best Foden: D Scholey. C Chapman shield, best presented military vehicle: Waterhouse. A Fogg cup, best presented fire engine/appliance: Dr Hutchinson. F MacGuine cup, best presented motorcycle: R Butler. E Capstick cup, best presented pedal cycle: W T Hutchinson. K Deacon cup, best presented model: J Davison and G Reed. D E Mould trophy, best presented miniature: A Foster. Anne Moody award, best demonstration: Mrs B Mason. Eric Moody award, best collection: Mrs S Bramham. Alf and Susan Bramham award, best overall junior: I Vanner. Mervyn Hammell memorial cup, best overall exhibit by NYVMS member: P Capstick. Ecology building society rose bowl, best horticultural exhibit: K Vickers. Aiskew Mill trophy, best horticultural collection: J Lowes. Skipton building society trophy, best restored two-wheeled garden: M Houseman. H and GMC club trophy, best horticultural ploughing: B Carter. John and Ray cup, best kit car: D Risby