A WEATHER-BEATING system has been installed for today's Nantwich and South Cheshire Show.
Anti-mud tracks have been laid down nearly all the main aisles in a determined bid by show officials to ensure there is no repeat of last year's mudbath.
Show chairman John Broomhall said yesterday: 'We are doing our best to make sure people can get around the showground much more easily than last year, when everyone was slipping and sliding everywhere.
'We saw a different type of tracking at a show some of us went to down south and we have installed that down as many of the aisles as we can.'
But the weather has still caused problems. Mr Broomhall added: 'On Friday, we had to cancel all vehicles' movements on the show-ground when the heavy rains came.
'Fortunately, since then we have had some sunshine and a drying wind - and if we don't get too much rain, we should be OK now.'
If the weather holds, joint secretaries George and Adrian Lawrence expect the attendance to top the 30,000 mark for the first time.
They think they would have topped it last year but for the rain.
There are two new attractions at this year's event, which is being staged at Dorfold Park, just a short distance from Nantwich town centre.
The Food Hall will be packed with 30 stands displaying the very best food and drink available - much of it produced in Cheshire.
Also on the showground for the first time will be the Country Pursuits area, where there will be displays throughout the day featuring gun dogs, ferreting, archery, falconry and numerous other rural activities.
Cattle and horse classes are packed and there will be hundreds of trade stands on the ground and in the Chronicle Town and Country marquee.
Main ring attractions include displays by The Royal Signals motorcycle display team, the White Helmets, the King's Division Waterloo Band and Crewe United Coop Band.
A 'must' for visitors is the massive cheese marquee, which houses the biggest cheese show in the world, with hundreds of exhibits from up to 20 different countries.
