‘Heartbreaking’ decision after days of torrential rain

KINROSS: Show organisers forced to cancel – but judging in cereals takes place

Kinross Show has rarely been beaten by the weather in its 179-year history but last weekend, for the first time in living memory, torrential rain stopped the organisers in their tracks.

Show president Andrew Turnbull said there had only been a break during the war years and for foot and mouth disease, but after days of torrential rain the “heartbreaking” decision to cancel was taken for public health and safety reasons – despite the committee hiring event matting and doing significant remedial work to improve access for vehicles.

“Everyone has been overwhelmingly understanding,” he said.

“We are very grateful to have received many positive messages of support.

“Hopefully, the weather will be better next year and everyone will come back to support the show again.

“We promise to make it an even bigger and better day out.”

The committee is using social media to ensure the scarecrow competition and the junior flower show will still go ahead on Facebook, and parents are being encouraged to photograph the exhibits and post them along with the number of the class entered.

The judging will take place later this week.

Some judging went ahead, including the cereals and potatoes and 400 entries for the Kinross SWI competitions.

Cereals: Spring oats – 1 G Paton, 2 WS Young, 3 W Paterson. Spring barley – 1 R Niven, 2 J Baillie, 3 A Turnbull. Winter wheat – 1 W Nelson, Brackley; 2 J Baillie, Colliston (Viscount); 3 J Smith, Hattonburn.

Winter barley – 1 WS Young & Son (Orwell); 2 J & J Russell, Mawhill; 3 A & S Lawrie, Cuthill Towers. Winter oats – 1 A Baird, Kirkness (Dalguise), 2 Hilton Estates, 3 A Harley.

Seed potatoes: 1 John Baillie with a crop of Hermes, 2 A Harley with a crop of Bambino, 3 Rob Doig with a crop of Osprey.

After days of heavy rain, Kinross Show had to be cancelled for the health and safety of the general public.