Equestrian activity, including the second running of The Horse Show, will be the main focus at the Essex showground next year with news that major roadworks along its frontage have forced the cancellation of the 2001 Essex County Show.
Showground owner John Holmes reluctantly made the decision to shelve the county show until 2002 after comissioning a study of the health and safety issues arising from imminent commencement of the A131 Great Leighs by-pass, north of Chelmsford.
This will effectively close one third of the site¨s 12 entrances for most of next year and reduce usable trade stand space while the works take place.
“We have struggled for the past three months to find ways around this with the highways authority, but the prospect of trying to set up the county show with limited access and miles of traffic tailbacks is horrendous.
“Norfolk showground, which went through the same sort of nightmare, advised us that, in hindsight, they should have postponed their county shows for a year.”
“I feel badly for all the exhibitors who have helped us put Essex County Show back on its feet during the past few years, but hope that they will understand and look at this as an opportunity to plan an even better county show for 2002.”
Meanwhile, plans are well in hand for the second running of The Horse Show in July 2001. Britain¨s first outdoor international show jumping venue in 40 years is expecting to announce an increased prize-fund and a new concept competition early in the New Year.
