MOST of the rain missed the Cheshire Show this week, but an overnight thunderstorm created the first serious traffic problems since the event moved to Tabley.

Easy access from the main A556 road from Northwich to Manchester has been a feature of the fast-growing showground and cars using this approach had no problems on Tuesday and Wednesday, with crowds pouring in on the opening day to touch the re-cord set two years ago.

But the problems came on Wednesday for the heavy traffic working round the back of the show-ground through Pickmere and, after a series of problems with horseboxes slithering and sticking in the mud, the organisers had to organise an emergency towing service, causing long delays as horse boxes were hauled in one at a time.

The delays were made worse when a horsebox broke down on the approach road and was difficult to reach to clear, so a number of the morning events were held up with judges, competitors and special teams queuing for up to a couple of hours.

In general, the 260-acre ground stood up very well to a series of heavy downpours in the days that saw the final preparations for the £500,000 presentation, now established as the largest and most successful of its kind in the country. Continued investment in the internal roadways by the organising Cheshire Agricultural Society meant most visitors could manage in ordinary shoes on the first day.

But the damage was done by a final cloudburst on Tuesday evening, after most visitors had left. This left serious mud which was churned up by thousands of heavy vehicles and caravans, all on the northern side of the ground.

'This has been a very serious problem and it was the rain on Tuesday night that has caused the problem,' was the comment by chief executive Nigel Evans, running his second show and speaking on Wednesday morning as he planned the haulage programme for lines of jammed lorries working through from Pickmere.

'We have taken emergency action to deal with the situation and we are getting on top of it, but it has been very difficult, particularly because this is the first time we have ever had any difficulties with access from the road.'

Show chairman John Platt, handling his 30th event, said:'Considering how much rain we have seen in the week before the show, we reckon the ground has stood up very well.

'But this Tuesday night storm came after we had several thousand heavy lorries and caravans churning up the ground and that has created the problem.'

But Mr Platt said estimates for the opening Tuesday showed a promising attendance, likely to be close to the record 40,000 set in 2005.

Cattle entries now up to nearly 600

THERE was a welcome echo of last year's successes in the cattle rings at the show on Wednesday.

Wardle farmer John Williamson repeated his fine performance with the cow that was reserve interbreed champion in 2006 - and also secured the exhibitor bred award.

John and his son Ian run a major Holstein herd at Wardle Bridge Farm, at Wardle, near Nantwich, and have had many successes at the show over the years, always against strong competition from neighbouring Lancashire and Staf fordshire.

They won the Holstein championship on Tuesday with veteran show performer Wardle Stormatic Winnie, now coming towards four years old, who opened with her class for cows in milk and was finally pipped for the interbreed supreme dairy spot by a fine Ayrshire cow shown by Mr E H Tomlinson from Stoke-on-Trent, who is another regular winner.

The welcome increase in cattle entries continued this year, with the total approaching the 600 mark, almost 100 up on 2006, with keen competition for prize money now standing on £30,000.

The allied Guernseys title went to John and Sue Hope, operating from Tiresford Farm at Tarporley, where the herd was originally developed over many years by John Posnett.

Herefords still hold their place, having once been the main beef breed, but now face strong competition from the many French and German strains, and the breed championship went to Wythenshawe Farms, but with reserve for Dennis and David Heath, from Hockenhull, near Tarvin.

The winners say 'Cheese'

NEAR neighbours enjoyed close competition in the flourishing cheese tent at the show when the judges set to work on Tuesday morning.

Malpas-based Cheese Company dominated many classes, but lost the championship to Belton from Whitchurch.

There were also plenty of fine cheeses on the table from Windsor's, also of Whitchurch, so the final results saw all three enterprises with an impressive prize list.

Windsor's made first and third for the single white farmhouse Cheshire, with Belton in second place,

while for the colour version, the Cheese Company were the winners, with Belton third, and second spot for another regular, Joe Heler, who makes Cheshire at a major farm between Whitchurch and Nantwich.

The Cheese Company went on to secure three more successes with Red Leicester, traditional and hard speciality types.

Judges commented on the general quality and range of the exhibits and show chairman John Platt welcomed the steady increase in cheese entries which has continued over the last five years.