Showers fail to dampen a fun-filled day

Shropshire Star readers don’t let the rain stop them enjoying the show in the afternoon.

Thousands of visitors who flocked to Burwarton Show refused to let a few summer showers ruin their enjoyment of a fun-filled day.

About 20,000 people poured through the gates of the showground yesterday as the event made a welcome return following its cancellation last year due to torrential rain and flooding.

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Ken Vine, chairman of the Burwarton & District Agricultural Society, hailed the show a great success and paid tribute to the huge amount of visitors.

“The show went extremely well and even though we had one or two showers in the afternoon, fortunately they didn’t have any considerable effect and didn’t hurt the attendance or the enjoyment of the day,” he said.

“It was good to see the umbrellas going up, but no-one moving,” he added.

Judging of the animals started early, with an army of judges descending on the cattle and sheep pens.

There was an early start in the main ring too, as the judging of the horse classes took up most of the morning and carried on into the early afternoon.

As the crowds continued to build, visitors were able to watch Jamie Squibb Freestyle Stunt Team.

Elsewhere on the showground, people gathered to watch fly-casting demonstrations by the Mill Pond and the skills of the chainsaw operators who carved sculptures from lumps of wood.

Children were catered for in the Village Green area, where attractions included the Tropical Islanders Steel Band, Punch & Judy, Dusty the Clown, The Itchy Feet Appalachin Dancers and The Fiddle Workshop kept them entertained. A heavy shower at about 3pm sent people running for cover, but they soon re-emerged for the parade of the winners of the livestock, heavy horse and horse classes.

After the presentations of the trade stand and long service awards, there was a display from the David Seamark Sheepdog team.

A parade of vintage tractors and a further display by the motorcycle stunt team was followed by a parade of foxhounds and beagles, before dog racing and a human tractor pull.

Mr Vine said: “Everyone was here to have a good time and the rain didn’t spoil the day at all.”

Away from the main ring, the horses and ponies proved a great draw for the crowds.

The spectacular day started with the Mountain & Moorland class and continued with a procession of hundreds of animals, including Shetland ponies, Arabs and Shire horses.

The showjumping and gymkhana proved very competitive with events taking place throughout the day.

Other attractions at the show included a display of vintage tractors and stationary engines, sheep shearing demonstrations and a heavy horse parade.