Last updated at 12:57, Thursday, 02 August 2012

BRAVE show-goers battled through the mud yesterday at Cartmel Racecourse.

• Related article: Cartmel Show 2012 results and slideshow

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Bad weather had threatened the event but organisers of the Cartmel Show were determined not to let it spoil the day.

Heavy rain the night before the show meant the ground was wet and after a dry morning the rain resumed early in the afternoon.

Alterations were made to the schedule and the usual grandstand was absent this year, but everyone made the best of the situation as crowds of people descended on Cartmel for the show.

Cartmel Show secretary, Linda Clarkson, said: “The committee have worked very hard to be able to stage a show against all the odds.

“It was very touch and go at one point but there was never a time when we didn’t hope it was going to go ahead.”

The muddy conditions made vehicle access difficult, and there was no ringside parking this year, but it caused no major problems.

The mud seemed didn’t seem to pose any safety issues and provided another source of entertainment for the children.

Although the combination of the weather and heavy footfall appeared to take its toll on the field, Lord Cavendish, who is a regular at the Cartmel Show, said it would recover quickly.

However, it meant organisers had to be careful what they allowed on the field – for fear of causing too much damage.

Mrs Clarkson said: “We couldn’t get the grandstand on the field as the lorry would have made too much mess, so we have had to compromise.

“But everything seems to be working fine and the public have been a lot happier because we have provided alternative seating.”

The showjumping event was cancelled due to unsafe ground conditions but organisers said the show went well in spite of the circumstances.

Mrs Clarkson added that the support for the show had been “tremendous” and thanked everyone who had got involved.

She said she was unable to say how many people had attended this year’s event but pointed to bumper entries in the sheep categories as signs of the show’s success.

She added: “There has been a really good showing of livestock and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

Trade stand applications were also higher than normal, although regular visitors to the show suggested the poor weather had affected the turnout.

Several people commented the show wasn’t as busy as in previous years when the weather had been nicer.

First published at 12:54, Thursday, 02 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk