The cheers from the ringside at the Royal Cornwall Show showed support for hunting in the countryside is still as strong as ever.

A good crowd turned out to watch the popular local hunter class which saw 12 Cornish hunters, all keen to capture the prestigious title on home turf.

It was Paul Bowden's bay gelding Brewin which gave a great gallop to catch the eye of judges Pippa Moon and Rosemary King to stand top of the line-up.

"He was looking for the hounds in the ring wondering where they were," said Fiona Jones, who was beaming from ear to ear after receiving the red rosette on the horse she fieldmasters with for the Four Burrow on Saturdays.

"It's his first time in a county showring, so we are delighted with him," said Paul who has done 26 seasons with the Four Burrow. "It was lovely to see such a good strong class and crowd out here today and proof that hunting is still as popular as ever since the ban."

Other Cornish hunts made their presence known in the line-up with the bay mare, One Vision, of the North Cornwall filling second place with Michelle Sanders.

Katie Hurst and Lemon Twist flew the flag for The Western in third while it was back to the Four Burrow for fourth-placed Sue Brighty and Trenwheal Gollie.

The latter partnership won best bred horse in Cornwall for owner Juliet Shore.

As the heavens opened for the championship it was the winner of the previous class – Master Fiddler Look At Me, ridden by Howard Cooper – that claimed the title.

The crowd showed their approval as the big grey, owned and bred by Margo Harwich, gave his victory gallop with Howard who whips-in with him for the Taunton Vale Foxhounds.

"He's nice enough to be a show horse but he's also a great work horse," said Howard, who combines hunting with running a busy showing yard in Exeter.

"He really is a fantastic ride.

"I prefer to use him on timber days out in the field, rather than hedge days, as he suits the tighter country even though he is a big horse."

Later in the day the eye-catching grey went into the Ladies' Hunters class sidesaddle with Alison Mel-Huish.