Last updated 13:43, Wednesday, 20 August 2008

FOR the second successive year, Keswick Show has been cancelled because of the weather.

A fading memory: Keswick Show 2006 – the last time the event took place

By Ross Brewster and Anna Burdett

The 2007 show at Crossings Field was cancelled because of water-logging and similar problems have caused next Monday’s event to be called off.

And Brough Agricultural Society today also cancelled its show scheduled for Thursday.

Chairman David Yeadell said: “We were optimistic last week that we would be able to go ahead, but inspection of the field on Sunday night and the promise of more rain, caused us to reluctantly change our minds and cancel the show.

“The field is waterlogged and there is no suitable alternative at this late stage.”

Keswick Show is one of the summer’s biggest crowd pullers in Cumbria, attracting up to 12,000.

This year’s programme was to have included the usual livestock parades, stalls and a Wild West Show.

However, one event which definitely does go ahead is tomorrow’s Threlkeld sheepdog trials and hound and terrier show.

It takes place on the Recreation Field alongside the A66 on the outskirts of the village and secretary Marjorie Mattinson said: “Thankfully the field isn’t too bad despite all the heavy rain.”

Grasmere Sports and Show will go ahead on Sunday when there will be wrestling, a military band and much more entertainment in a field just outside the village.

Skelton Show went ahead on Saturday without horses because the ground was so soft from the rain. While Skelton was blessed with sunshine, Appleby went ahead in torrential rain last Thursday.

Other events that have fallen victim to the weather have included a charity ploughing match in Allonby last Sunday while last week’s Rydal sheepdog trials was stopped by the rain.

Whatever the weather, thousands of people are expected to descend on fields near Aspatria on Friday for the sold-out Solfest event.