Classic vehicle show off due to wet ground

Club chairman John Bichard said Agriculture & Land Management Services had strongly advised it not to go ahead at Saumarez Park.

There was flooding in quite a few places and the weather forecast indicated it would not get a chance to dry out.

‘It’s Mother Nature one, Classic Vehicle Club Show nil,’ he said.

‘We’ve been advised that vehicles could sink even driving across it. We would have to pay to have any damage repaired and we just can’t afford to take that risk.’

Mr Bichard said he hoped the event could be rescheduled for later in the year. Club members are already committed to Seafront Sunday and the Vintage Agricultural Show, so those dates could be ruled out.

The 2020 show fell victim to the pandemic and on a previous occasion, the show had been cancelled at 7.30am on the day due to overnight rain.

The show has attracted up to 300 vehicles in previous years.

‘We ask exhibitors to let us know if they are coming the day before, but they can turn up on the day, and most will wait to see what the weather is going to be like,’ said Mr Bichard.

‘It’s frustrating to get so close – three or four days ago the ground would have been fine. It’s a shame too for the food vendors, who might have stocked up.’

A lot of new things were planned for this year too.

The club has its roots in the 1970s when people would meet on an informal basis.

The first public shows were held at Sausmarez Manor. The club reformed in its current guise in the mid-1990s.