Calls for Welsh change to allow shows to restart

THOUSANDS of people have backed calls for Welsh lockdown restrictions to be eased so sport can restart safely.

Outdoor gatherings are restricted to 30 people in Wales, but the fact greater numbers can sit outside some pubs is among the inconsistencies causing frustration.

The David Broome Event Centre was forced to cancel the Welsh Home Pony fixture (23–28 July) due to the restrictions.

“To say we, alongside James Broome and his team at Wales and West, are disappointed would be a huge understatement,” said British Showjumping (BS) chief executive Iain Graham, adding that Mr Broome had been in touch with the local authority, so the ban was “devastating news”.

Mr Broome is working with BS on possible alternative dates, and with the council.

“It was extremely upsetting news for the entire team here to find out we were not being granted permission to run,” he said.

A petition calling for outdoor sport venues to be able to set their capacities based on risk assessments, as pubs do, has had more than 5,000 signatures.

A Monmouthshire County Council spokesman told H&H it is “extremely disappointing not to be able to support the Broome family to run these important events”, but that Welsh government guidance does not allow the shows to go ahead.