WITH undaunted youngsters jumping through rings of fire on tiny motorcycles, last Thursday?s Chagford Show was not one for the faint-hearted. Organising one of the county?s most popular one day shows must have its nervous moments, but that is surely nothing compared with the courage displayed by the boys and girls aged from five to 18 from the motorcycle display team who performed a variety of spectacular stunts on their 50cc to 250cc machines in the main ring. The team, whose youngest rider was just five and had been riding for only a few months, kept visitors to the show hugely entertained with their bike-handling skills. Despite poor weather forecasts which resulted in smaller crowds than in previous years, the show at Mill End was still a huge hit with the public, exhibitors and traders alike. The message from show president Timothy Garratt was that the show ? now in its 106th year ? must be kept alive for future generations. In his address, Mr Garratt said: ?Chagford Show, like all country shows, and many other rural pastimes, is a tradition of the countryside. ?Tradition is what has made and shaped the countryside over centuries. It is tradition that binds country folk together and tradition that will ensure the continuance of a country way of life. ?Tamper with or destroy traditions and the countryside itself will be destroyed. It is therefore up to all those who love and respect the countryside to do their utmost to resist changes to country traditions. ?Attacks on country traditions come from many quarters; political expediency; the modern compensation culture; the nanny state; political correctness; reliance on someone else picking up the bill. ?Chagford Show is one of those traditions; so thank you all for coming today, to support a great tradition and to help ensure its survival in the modern world.? Mr Garratt said having been involved with the organisation of the show for more than 30 years, he wanted to say a special thank you to the officials and stewards whom he described as the ?unsung heroes? of the show. Mr Garratt said he had experienced a ?terrific day? as president of the show. ?Lots of people are here having a wonderful time. I haven?t heard the slightest moan, even about the weather,? he said. Mr Garratt said the standard of the livestock being shown was excellent: ?The champion pony is probably the best example of a Dartmoor pony I have ever seen.? Show secretary Sally Hutchings said: ?Entries were up in all sections, they did not all come ?some were put off by the weather ? but that hasn?t done us any harm. It is a good day out for the family.? She said the organisers again laid on a bus from the town centre to the Mill End site, which proved popular with visitors. There had been many highlights, but she wanted to give a special mention to the Solent Eagles children?s motorcycle display team who travelled to the show all the way from Hampshire. ?We are grateful that they are here. It is the first time we have had something like this and everyone seems to have enjoyed watching them,? she said. As well as showcasing a wide range of horses, from Dartmoor ponies to heavy horses, the show also features sheep and cattle classes, a children?s pets corner and a dog show. John Jordan from Gidleigh followed up his success at last week?s Okehampton Show by winning overall horse champion with Hisley Cravat, as well as the best calf prize. The result completed a double for Mr Jordan and Hisley Cravat who won supreme horse champion at Okehampton. In the sheep classes, Ivor Mortimore from Chagford won the supreme champion with his Scotch Blackface as well as a number of other rosettes. Mr Mortimore said he was pleased to have performed well at his local show. ?I have been coming to the show for more than 70 years. I have never missed one,? he said. In the horticultural section, Chagford youngster Kat Malseed won three cups, including the Worzel Gummidge Cup for best scarecrow. Other attractions included the ?Blue Horse Natural to Classical? horsemanship display, terrier racing and a vintage car parade as well as the food hall tent and a wide variety of trade stands.
