THERE was a fantastic turnout for the 67th Ashwater Agricultural Show held on Saturday, August 18.

The show was presided over by this year’s presidents Mr and Mrs Garth Martyn.

There was an array of beautifully turned out stock in the cattle and sheep classes with excellent entries this year, while 31 farmers of the future demonstrated their skills in the young handler’s classes. Family pets, including Guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and ducks, were showcased in the ‘Fur and Feather’ tent, while numerous dogs took part in the family fun dog show.

Horse classes commenced bright and early — the morning saw strong competition in the horse, pony and novelty classes, while children enjoyed taking part in the gymkhana. The horse events were rounded off in the afternoon with show jumping competitions.

The show was officially opened by the president at 1pm, followed by a parade of vintage tractors in the main ring where Mr and Mrs Martyn awarded the ‘President’s Choice Award’ to a beautiful John Deere tractor owned by Mr Paul Tucker from Coads Green. This was sponsored by Pat May Drainage ad Groundworks and raised £76 for the Air Ambulance. A parade of the South Tetcott Hunt hounds followed. Then people competed to see who could stay on the ‘bucking bronco’ for the longest.

The show was held in conjunction with the Ashwater Horticultural Show, where people from across the parish demonstrated their skills in a range of classes from flower arranging to homemade preserves. The craft tent was bursting at the seams with a showcase of local products and the various village organisations were represented including the church, the parent teacher association with a cake stand and the Community Shop showcasing their goods.

The show committee expressed its thanks to all those who supported the show, the judges, programme advertisers and donors as well as the presidents for carting our their role admirably.

The chairman Mr Paul Moon said: “Thank you to everyone involved, the members of the committee and all those non-members, family and friends who also generously give up their time to make the show a success, helping in preparation, setting up, fetching and carrying, selling dance tickets, selling draw books, lending equipment, providing refreshments, running bars, parking cars, cutting verges and hedges leading up to the show ground, as well as clearing up afterwards!

“Finally a very big thank you to everyone who came and supported the show on the day, entered classes and took part in activities. Without the help and support of so many people, the show would not be possible.”

In the evening everyone let their hair down with the after show party, packed with locals and supported for a great community get together dancing to ‘Archive’ and a disco.