Organiser's Report - 2007

We hadn’t had a really wet Fair since the very first at Barncrosh in 2002 but oh boy we certainly did this year!! As with many other events this extremely wet summer the weather caused so many problems.

 The decisions made by Sarge and Jane and with the help of their very loyal team of family and friends to battle on have been criticized by a few but praised and thanked by the majority so  here’s to 2008 hopefully with the sunshine and see you there!

THE DIARY!

The sixth Galloway Country Fair was an uphill struggle against the elements from the weekend before, when we arrived on site to start preparations. HQ was erected and things were going ok until Saturday night when the heavens opened, Sunday morning saw the main show field flooded but soon rectified when blocked ditches and burns were cleared and water disappeared in front of our eyes! Then as they say a spring had sprung!! At the end of the trade road a spring was bubbling up and causing concern but never beaten a few phone calls later, JCB to be delivered on Monday and new drainage pipe would solve that. Beginning of week saw beautiful sunshine and ground drying so we decided unlike a lot of other events we needed to carry on as so many peoples livelihoods depended on the Fair taking place.

The constant change in weather reports all week saw us going for sourcing tracking roads which were horrendously expensive and well out of budget to receiving news weather would be showery and not too bad. WHO SAID THAT?!

By 9-45pm Friday evening most of traders were in position and things seemed fine. Until heavy rain began after 10pm, a phone call from Amanda of Chariots of Fire to say she would be arriving at 5am in the morning with 2 28ton artics and how was the ground? We promised her tow in and would ask her to set stables up by pedestrian entrance on car park to save ripping the ground through main show field – not really the place to put your star attraction but decision had to be made!

For organisers and their loyal helpers sleep is badly needed Friday night for the few hours you get in bed but with the constant pounding of heavy rain on the caravan rooves  was virtually impossible, what had any of us done to deserve this? 4-30am saw us sat in HQ with coffee awaiting the arrival of Amanda’s lorries, a tractor on each guided them quite easily into position and hardly a track made, if only it would stop raining! From 6am a constant stream of traders arrived all greeted with a smile and thanks for coming weather should get better!

So many public arrived donning their waterproofs and wellies and by lunchtime the car parks were filling nicely the rain had eased and everyone seemed to be happy. The full main ring events and attractions all thrilled the crowds and traders reported brisk trade……….. but it had to rain again all Saturday night.

Emergency ‘staff’ meeting very early Sunday and decisions taken, with 4 P&O Irish sea trip coaches already on route and several competitors expected for stick show and terrier shows etc we had to run. We would only open top cark park and have one way in and with several tractors available for pulling out if required., (sincere thanks to Twynholm Vintage tractor club, local farmers and their sons for all their help) The entry road was extended with hardcore and soon a steady stream of vehicles were entering the field, unfortunately due to many things out of our direct control -cars were abandoned and parked incorrectly making access to good ground impossible and the exit gate was opened in panic to clear the backlog of traffic causing congestion and confusion much of which should have been avoided if original plans had be followed.

These are not excuses and serious lessons have been learnt and with new roads throughout the car parks and trade areas already under construction 2008 should be the event that was expected this year………… without the rain hopefully!