W HAT a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago and by lunch time the Manifold Show committee had pulled up stumps and had to call the event off as the rain was coming down so hard it was just impossible to carry on.

A year on, without any shadow of a doubt it was one of the best shows in the Manifolds 30 year history.

There were crowds several deep around the main ring all day being entertained by a varied number of different events from the giants of the equine world, the shire horses, to the ever popular Peter Hallam show with his exciting young dog Lad, and not forgetting the performing ducks.

The High Peak Hunt paraded their hounds and hundreds of mums and dads, grandparents and kids enjoyed meeting this wonderful pack of hounds. The High Peak Hunt are one of the oldest packs in the country but still found time in their busy calendar to come to the Manifold.

When it came to show jumping in the main ring a new record was set when a horse and rider cleared over five feet.

I can't mention local shows without talking about Gwen Floyd who, for many years, has organised the private driving. These are the horses and carriages, many of them dating back 100 years, ever popular with the visitors to shows.

I could write a whole paper about the Manifold Show because it is so special. Don't ask me why but the organisers just seem to get it right year after year.

It isn't just me, everyone I chatted to at the end of the day all agreed that come rain or shine the Manifold Show just goes from strength to strength.

What better way to end the day than to be entertained by the terrier racing. Hundreds of people were still there as evening arrived to see these wonderful little terriers going hell for leather the length of the show ground chasing show Chairman Bruce Daniel's penguin.

What other show would use a penguin, even though it is a toy one, as a substitute for a hare. It certainly caused a few eye brows to be raised and a great many laughs.

Terrier racing is becoming a fixture at the show and it certainly holds the crowds until the final curtain falls. After almost an hour's racing a Jack Russell terrier called Blue received a standing ovation as one of the fastest dogs on earth.