Brian Guilmant's famous 009 Society Member's Sales filled one of the classrooms and was under siege all day. This view was taken just a few minutes after the show opened.

The 7mm NGA attended Sparsholt in some strength for the first time and filled another classroom with a good selection of 7mm layouts and trade stands. This view shows the Association sales stand, which was just as busy as the 009 one when the show warmed up!

A good variety of 009 models on show in the Society display cabinet. (I grabbed the top shelf for my own stock, but eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot one of Charlie Insley's railcars amongst my own!)

The North London (Buccabury) and Tyne-Tees Groups of the 009 Society have awarded a new trophy to be awarded annually in commemoration of the late Paul Morris, a member of both groups, who passed away last year. The popular recipient of the inaugral award was Phil Savage of the Sussex Downs 009 Group for his layout "Tuppenny Handley". Phil is seen here with 009 Society Chairman, David Burleigh.

The Paul Morris Trophy, awarded jointly by the North London (Buccabury) and Tyne-Tees Groups of the 009 Society.

And this is Tuppenny Handley by Phil Savage! The "layout" is fully signalled and operates automatically with the train stopping at the station. It is built in a French cheese box and is mounted on top of a wine bottle. Who hasn't got room for a layout after seeing this? The inside rail of the circular track is a 2 pence piece (12mm radius curve!)

A more conventional award was the Certificate of Merit awarded to Charlie Insley for this very attractive "Swindonisation" modification to the Roxey Cyprus Government Nasmyth Wilson 2-6-2T for Charlie's W&LLR inspired layout: Winter Overcotes.

Dr Alan Gee brought the very popular 00n3 Donegal for an outing to Hampshire all the way from its home in Halifax.

A CDRJC class 5 2-6-4T on the turntable at Donegal.

Phoenix shunts at Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal

Railcar 10 backing onto a van at Donegal, Alan Gee's popular 00n3 layout.

A view across the loco shed at Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal. A visiting loco from the Cork, Blackrock & Passage Rly sits in the bay platform.

The Wimborne RS, who own the large modular 009 Tarrant Valley, showed their other large layout - the 0-16.5 Gretton & Wenlock

The canal wharf, an atmospheric scene on the 0-16.5 Gretton & Wenlock, by the Wimborne Railway Society.

Gretton & Wenlock, 0-16.5 layout by the Wimborne RS

Trains cross on the Gretton & Wenlock layout by the Wimborne RS in 0-16.5

Simon Coward has built a new extended module of his Isle of Mudd 009 layout called Port Elizabeth.

Simon Coward's Isle of Mudd features the larger end of the 009 spectrum with large colonial diesels providing the bulk of the motive power. This American GEC 36 tonner is a good example.

Whoever told you that DCC means simple two-wire connection should be made to study this photo of the underside of one of Simon Coward's Isle of Mudd baseboards!

Patrick Collins with his tiny but very professionally presented Wintoncester Waterworks

A regrettably slightly blurred view of Patrick Collins' attractive 009 Wintoncester Waterworks

009 News Editor Mark Howe with his Austrian HOe Bad Heidrichstein

A scene across Bad Heidrichstein station area. HOe in Austria by Mark Howe

A very attractive modification of the Dapol Drewry diesel loco on Mark Howe's HOe Bad Heidrichstein.

What a pleasant way to spend a summer afternoon in the Austrian Tyrol! Fresh air, bier steins kept full by the serving mades and a rousing oompah band! Bad Heidrichstein by Mark Howe in HOe

John Reid's 009 Cornish mining scene in 009, Wheal Kate.

Wheal Kate, Cornish mine in 009 by John Read

Phil Savage of the Sussex Downs 009 Group discusses a point of detail with John Perret about his working incline on the 009 Mendips (Somerset) mining scene, the Benter Railway.

The incline at Moorewood Colliery on John Perret's 009 Benter Railway. I have a baseboard joint on my own layout that looks similar!

It was a pleasure to see Chris O'Donoghue's classic 009 layout Nottery Quay, a layout that has been exhibited for some 20 years, but does not come out so often nowadays

Nottery Quay by Chris O'Donoghue is still a highly inspirational 009 layout after some 20 years of exhibition appearances.

The "rural" end of Chris O'Donoghue's Nottery is this small terminus at Shell Bay, inspired by Camber Sands.

Graham Ive and John Griffith of the Fareham MRC showed their very popular 09 Watt Estate, a Heywood style estate railway that many of us would have serving our mansions should we win the lottery! Well I would anyway!

A very nice Ransom & Rapier vintage ic loco, based on a 2ft gauge example at Amberley, passes through the yard at Watt Estate. 09 by Graham Ive and Ian Griffith of Fareham MRC

Mark Holland's 009 Temark Valley, representing the Sussex Downs 009 Group, was a very popular layout throughout the show.

A busy and attractive scene at Mark Holland's 009 Temark Valley.

Spotted at Nigel Lawton's 009 trade stand. Those that have been searching for tiny industrial stock in 009 for many years have had their prayers answered by Nigel with his brass kits featuring an innovative power and drive system.

Willie Smith operates Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine, an 009 layout a long way from home, representing the Tyne-Tees Group of the 009 Society.

Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine is one of the most photogenic 009 layouts on the exhibition circuit, as can be seen in this view.

An unusual method of presentation by Martin Moss with his 009 Threwntygetthyr. The "roof" covers an innovative lighting mechanism that changes the scene gradually from night to day.

Threwntgetthyr by Martin Moss represents the lighter hearted side of 009 modelling. This train, hauled by an attractive "bash" from an old Jouef tank loco, is carrying pot noodles, which eagle-eyed viewers may be able to just make out from the lettered plaques on each pot!

The North London Group brought their well known and popular 009 layout Buccabury Town

A scene across the station yard at Buccabury Town, 009 by the North London Group.

John Gilby and Andrew Hall operating Buccabury Town.

P&L Spiegelhalter brought their G scale Brucksbahnen, drive it yourself shunting puzzle, which provided in innovative exhibit for those who like to "get stuck in" rather than simply stand and watch.

Howard Martin with his Avalon Lines 7mm scale stand. Howard is Chairman of the 7mm NGA

Howard Martin's 7mm scale Tor Farm is a triple gauge (16.5, 9 and 6.5mm) working diorama that shows his Avalon Lines range of resin kits to good effect.

Always co-located with Howard Martin at shows is Steve Bennett with his 09 Black Dog and Gn15 (plus Gn9 Sidelines now!) Big Cat range of resin kits.

Steve Bennett's very attractive Gn15 demonstration layout.

Mike Reed with Hatch End, a good example of a small 0-16.5 layout.

Brian Cameron's (that is not Brian operating!) very attractive 0-16.5 Bodgit and Much Pottering.

A scene on Brian Cameron's Bodgit & Much Pottering. 0-16.5 and Brian's first layout.

One of the larger 0-16.5 layouts representing the 7mm NGA was Baker's Bridge, by Small & Delightful Group member Barry Baker.

A scene from Barry Baker's 0-16.5 Baker's Bridge.

For those who like large continental alpine layouts, then look no further than David & Linda Coates' HOe Wildschonau.

A feature of Wildschonau, a most attractive HOe Austrian alpine layout, is the superbly blended mountain backscene.

Wildschonau, by David and Linda Coates in HOe is a most attractive representative of the continental ng model scene.

Another packed-with-detail view of David & Linda Coates' HOe Wildschonau

It was good to see Shelley and Barry Thomas return to Sparsholt after a gap of a few years. Barry & Shelley specialise in entertaining 009 layouts that are packed with detail and movement and they regularly exhibit at mainstream model railway exhibitions around the southwest.

River Mead, Barry & Shelley Thomas's latest entertaining 009 essay - full of animated detail, colour and movement.

Tony and Ann Reeves were billed as being an "overseas layout" - well they came over from the Isle of Wight! Tyde End is their first exhibition layout and it was good to see it making its debut at Sparsholt

An attractive railcar at Tyde End, an 009 layout making its exhibition debut by Tony and Ann Reeves

Paul Thomas showed Chapel Falls, a most attractive little 009 layout that very well demonstrated that you don't need a lot of space to create a convincing 009 layout - continuous run as well!

A very inspirational scene at Chapel Falls, 009 by Paul Thomas, with a convincing and simple "bash" of the ubiquitous 15 pound Bachman 6wh diesel providing a very good example of convincing economical 009 modelling.

On the 5.5mm Scale Association stand, Francis Stapleton demonstrated his White Elephant Mining Supply Company resin range

The 5.5mm Scale Association was ably represented by Francis Stapleton with his Ty Bach

Peter Binns and Nigel Smith exhibited the 009 Glyn Valley Tramway that was originally built by Tim Tincknell

An attractive scene on the Glyn Valley Tramway, 009 by Peter Binns and Nigel Smith

Peter Binns and Nigel Smith's Glyn Valley Tramway is a very good example of a simple track layout that is totally convincing due to the very high standard of the model.

A Beyer Peacock loco brings a loaded granite train along the Glyn Valley in Peter Binns & Nigel Smith's excellent 009 layout.

And how's this for imaginative modelling! Richard Bennett showed an innovative choice of baseboard for Taesreparc Folly, which should be read backwards in true Dylan Thomas "Llareggub" fashion. And if you still can't work out the name, there is a clue with the backscene fittings!

A close-up view of the attractive Taesreparc Folly in 009 by Richard Bennett.