A DALE'S last link with an ancient rural tradition is helping to keep other country customs alive at a traditional agricultural show.

Trophies collected over years of hunting with the now disbanded North Pennines Foxhounds were given to the Weardale Agricultural Society at the weekend and used at their annual show at St John's Chapel.

They were presented to winners in a terrier and lurcher event on Sunday, which was organised with help from foxhounds' supporters.

Former master huntsman Mike Tones and his wife, Lorna, who kennelled the hounds at their Daddry Shields home, now have only 13-year-old Lifter, who was too old to move to Scotland with the rest of the pack.

Mr Tones said: "We used to run terrier and lurcher shows ourselves for 17 years and had regulars who came back every year because they knew what to expect. We didn't want all that to be lost.

"St John's Chapel Show needs supporting. It is a lovely show with a long tradition and it is doing well."

Farm animals and traditional country crafts and produce set the theme for Saturday's main event on the Vicarage Field.

Among the winners were:

Horses - Dales Ponies, R and F Longstaff; Dales best gelding, A Taylor; Fell Ponies, E A Mothersole; Mountain and Moorland large breeds, E A Mothersole; Mountain and Moorland small breeds, Mr and Mrs Stewart; Handy Pony Lead Rein, William Hudspith; Fancy Dress, Alice Moralee.

Tack and Turnout Lead Rein, Anna Layfield; Tack and Turnout Open, Charlotte Wilkinson; Best Combination Lead Rein, Anna Layfield; Best Combination Novice, Jennifer Atkinson; Best Combination Open, Charlotte Wilkinson; Tack and Turnout and Best Combination Champion, Charlotte Wilkinson; Mounted Games Lead Rein, William Hudspith; Mounted Games Novice, Beth Collingwood; Mounted Games Open, Jennifer Atkinson.

Tudor Thunder Memorial Cup, A Taylor; Daley Cup, R and F Longstaff; Lycett Cup, A Taylor; Fell pony Shield, E A Mothersole.

Cattle - H S Craig Perpetual Championship Cup, S Jordan; Kings Arms Perpetual Trophy, M and B Coulthard; Judith Jackson Perpetual Shield, Dennis Craig.

Sheep - J R Peart Cup, Ian Collinson; Arthur Dent Perpetual Memorial Trophy, Ian Collinson; Chapman Perpetual Cup, F Raine.

Flower and vegetable classes - Percy Johnson Trophy for best floral art, S Woodcock; J P and M Makepeace Trophy for best flowers and best in show, Frank Walton; the Proud Trophy for best dahlias, Steve Hodgson; the B and W Peart Trophy for best vegetables, Alan Swinburne.

Challenge Cup for the best fruit or vegetable exhibit - classes one to 27, D Hunt; Jim Ryder Trophy - collection of four vegetables - class 15, D Hunt; Caris Shield for best fruit exhibit - classes 24 to 27, D Starr; Cross Keys Trophy for best leek - classes 22 and 23, C Burley; J.S Kenyon Trophy for best flower exhibit, LM Blades.

Silver Cup for best floral arrangement, A Pratt; Miss Brown Trophy for best rose in show, R Clark; Society Trophy for best show of four pansies, K Hebden; Jefferson Trophy for best pot plant, J Towers.

Produce and Industry - Best Baker, E Bell; Lena Dent Memorial Cup for best preserves, E Bell; Dora Craig Memorial Salver for most pints in Industrial, D Egglestone; Upper Weardale Shield for best co-operative effort, Westgate WI; Juniors, four and under, Jack Ringland; eight and under, Euan Ringland; 14 and under, Catherine Ringland.

Crafts - Silver Cup for ladies arts and crafts, E Harris; RF Spalding Cup for men's crafts, E Hogg; Society Trophy for children's arts and crafts under five years - classes 86 and 89, C Dods; Society Trophy for children's arts and crafts - five to eight years classes 87 and 90, J Bailey-Withers; Father Stanley Trophy for junior arts and crafts - nine to 12 years classes 88 and 91, N Brown; Society Trophy for senior arts and crafts - 13 to 16 years - classes 92 and 93, D. McCandlish.

Cookery - Silver Cup for best cookery exhibit, M Foster; W.I. Home and Country Cup for most points in adults cookery, M Foster; John Caris Trophy for children's cookery classes, C Mason; Beryl Avison Trophy for most points in children's cookery, J Rutter.

Photography - John Tinkler; juniors, Nicole Rowley; Goodliffe trophy for photography, J Bird.

Davis Cup, show exhibitor with the most points overall, LM Blades.