THE Mid Devon Show, not so long ago voted the Best One Day Show in the UK, lived up to its reputation and staged a fine show, despite a soggy start and moving the event to a new venue!

Heavy rain the day before caused difficulties for exhibitors gaining access but drying conditions throughout the day and remedial action by volunteers helped to dry out the ground at the new Knightshayes/Chettiscombe site.

Show visitors had to be careful where they walked in some avenues but most were clear.

Show organiser, Carolyn Branton, said there had been just a few teething issues with the move but added that visitors flocked through the gates, numbers so high that every inch of overflow parking had to be used.

Not only did she say the turnout was excellent but also that the the weather went from sticky in the morning to dry out quickly.

The Broke FMX Freestyle motorcycle display was spectacular and other highlights included the grand parade of livestock, the parade of hounds and children racing hounds, the Pony Club games, impressive agricultural machinery and animals, live music, hundreds of trade stands and competitions, including YFC, flowers and gardens, cavies, poultry and rabbits, vintages machines, archery and much more.

Food stands saw some long queues including ice creams, which saw a roaring trade.

A real town meets country event, friends were reunited and many people complimented the show on its move to the new venue on its 22nd anniversary.

Local exhibitors fared well, none more so that John May of Priorton Barton, Crediton, who took the Champion Devon title to win the Crediton Courier Perpetual Challenge Bowl and Devon Cattle Breed Society Sash with three-year-old Devon “Boskenna Donal”, a 1120plus kilos bull. He also took the Reserve Native Breed Championship.

John has had previous success with “Boskenna Donal” at the Devon County Show where he won the Breed Championship and Reserve Interbreed Championship.

At the Mid Devon Show John also took the Inter Breed Pair Championship with twin Devon heifers and the Reserve Breed Championship in the Simmentals cattle classes.

See this weeks issue of the Crediton Courier for more photogaph.