Golden-rosetted party supporters rushed to congratulate their candidates, particularly pleased at the success of new Tavistock councillor Roy Connolly who defeated Conservative John Taylor by just 51 votes.
Cllr Connolly, a Tavistock town councillor, said he was 'doing this for Harry', referring to the late Harry Pearson, a former Liberal Democrat member of West Devon Borough Council.
'I've had tremendous support, particularly from where I've been involved with people on previous issues, as at Boughthayes,' he said.
'Tavistock really needs a voice at county level. I think it's good to be a town councillor too, in that you really know things at first hand.'
Cllr Connolly said he hoped he would 'measure up' to the work done by previous Tavistock county councillor Roy Cook.
'He will be a hard act to follow,' he said.
Cllr Gretta Madigan said she was 'absolutely delighted' to be returned as the Yelverton Rural division's county representative.
'I'm delighted mainly because it's taken me four years to really grasp the best way to represent the people of this area — now I really feel I will be able to help local people,' said Cllr Madigan.
She paid tribute to the Liberal Democrat team for their support and particularly her daughter, Pippa, for her help despite being in poor health.
There was brighter news for the Conservative party in the Okehampton Rural seat — Christine Marsh, the town's mayor, took the seat from retiring Liberal Democrat councillor Coleen Herriman.
The countywide elections left no political party in overall control of Devon County Council. The Conservatives now have 22 seats, Liberal Democrats 21, Labour five, Independents four and Liberals two.
Overall, the Conservatives gained nine seats and lost one, the Liberal Democrats gained one and lost nine, Labour gained one, the Independents lost one and the Liberals remain unchanged.
Tavistock Rural:
Roy Connolly, Liberal Democrat, 3,024
John Taylor, Conservative, 2,973
Penny Keen, Labour, 841
Michael Pithouse, Liberal, 358
Yelverton Rural:
Gretta Madigan, Liberal Democrat, 2,813
Robert Tait, Conservative, 2,463
Lyn Woodham, Labour, 791
Philip Davies, Independent, 735
Okehampton Rural:
Christine Marsh, Conservative, 3,340
Kenneth Williams, Liberal Democrat 2,650
Rebecca Richards-Mole, Labour, 690
Holsworthy Rural
Desmond Shadrick, Liberal Democrat, 4,314
Geoffrey Broyd, Conservative, 2,776
Ian Knight, Labour, 628