IT was with heavy heart that organisers of Okehampton Show had to make the reluctant decision last week to cancel the event ? caused primarily by the recent spell of adverse weather. The 102nd Okehampton Show was set to take place on Thursday, August 9, at Stoney Park Showground. But with parts of the venue saturated by recent downpours, car parks expected to be turned into a muddy quagmire, and unfavourable weather forecasts, the show committee had to think of the potential health and safety hazards to the public. It is only the second time the show has been cancelled in its history, apart from war years ? the last time was in 2001 because of the foot and mouth crisis. Last year, more than 15,000 visitors came through the gates of Stoney Park and the cancellation has caused heavy disappointment for everyone involved in one of the region?s premier agricultural one-day shows. The show is not the only event to be hit by extraordinary weather conditions ? the Mid Devon and North Devon Shows have also suffered. The committee had consulted the Met Office before making the decision last Thursday but the Exeter-based agency could not promise a warm front breaking through in the next two weeks to relieve the already high water tables levels. Gilly Oliver, the show secretary, told the Times: ?It is very upsetting. Lots of people have been working very hard to put on this show for many months. We have a super team who have put in a tremendous effort. ?The conditions of the car and lorry park fields had to be taken into consideration. The problems of having to get tractors and people to drive those tractors in order to get people in and out would have made it extremely difficult. ?Some of the committee members say they have never seen the showground in such a condition in the past 50 to 60 years.? Derek Webber, the show president, said: ?It is a sad day for us all; nobody wanted to cancel it but we had to think of the consequences. ?Every member of the show committee, hand on heart, wanted to carry on but at the end of the day the only sensible decision was to cancel.? The health and safety of the thousands of people at the show was considered as well as the many animals; there was also the long term state of the fields to care for. Organisers had lined up a bumper show this year with 360 horse and livestock classes, a shearing competition, a vintage display and all day entertainment,including the Essex Dog Display team. Other attractions included heavy horses and driving classes in the main ring, showjumping, poultry show, fur and feather, craft, open/WI, Devon Food Hall, terrier racing, family dog show, fly casting clinic, falconry displays, archery, Cogs and Wheels Morris Dancers, Victor Pitts? dogs and ducks, ferret racing, the Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band and the Plough Boy Jazz Band and much more. More than 300 trade stands were in place and an agricultural machinery section larger than ever and rural skills on display. But Gilly remained upbeat: ?It was a difficult decision and I hope people understand, but we very much now have our eye on the next show on August 14, 2008.? l People who purchased advance tickets for the show at Donald?s Menswear in Fore Street will be offered a full refund in exchange for the tickets. Refunds must be claimed prior to August 31 as money outstanding after that date will be treated as a donation to the show. l There?s still a chance to see one Okehampton Show stand, despite the cancellation of the event. Country Lanes garden centre is still planning to construct their show garden on August 9 but this year they will display it at their own premises on Exeter Road instead of at the showground. Having won ?best stand in show? four times, the garden centre?s owners, Mike Giles and Jane Metcalf, were determined to carry on the spirit of the show, regardless of the rain: ?The stand was all planned, so we thought, why not go ahead anyway?? Jane said. The theme of the garden, as always, will remain a secret until it goes on display. It will be open to look around between 9am and 5.30 pm on what should have been show day, and for the week after that.
