IT’S been two years since St Mellons & District Farmers Association held a show at Tredegar House in Newport and this year, the organisers are trying something totally new.

They will be putting on a horse and pony show and open dog show at the David Broome Event Centre, Crick, Chepstow on June 30, from 9.30am. The usual classes for the horse and pony section will be held, including hunters, riding ponies, Welsh ponies in hand and ridden, show hunter ponies, classes for the novice rider, racehorse to riding horse, veterans and coloured, and new to the show this year are classes in dressage.

Entry forms and schedules can still be downloaded from the show’s new website www.stmellonsshow.co.uk The dog show will be held under Kennel Club rules and regulations.

There will be 150 classes, including obedience, utilities, gun dogs, spaniels and setters, toys, pugs, collies, terriers and hounds and junior handling classes. Entries are now closed.

However, the Greyhound Rescue Charity will be running an open show for dogs of all shapes and sizes, entries for which can be taken on the day.

St Mellons Show is one of the oldest shows in South Wales, with 136 shows being held in the past, up to the last show in 2010. In recent years, a run of bad luck meant shows having to be cancelled due to the poor weather, foot and mouth disease and the unavailability of usual site. These cancellations left a big dent in funds.

Today’s economic climate has made it very difficult for societies to put on events such as this and organisers rely heavily on sponsorship and physical help from within the local community .

The organisers are always looking for suggestions for events to be held throughout the year, whether they are competitions or social events. If anyone has any suggestions or wishes to get involved with the society, contact the secretary on 01495 755267 or by e-mail karenjmeakin@aol.com