THOUSANDS braved the rain and flocked to Monmouth last week for the annual Monmouthshire Show, held for the last time on a Thursday ahead of its new date in 2017.

Despite the driving rain, there were still good crowds at the event, with umbrellas lining the Main Ring to see acts including the Stampede Stunt Company, who wowed crowds with their stunt display, along with show jumping, scurry racing and the traditional grand parade of horses and livestock.

There was variety too in the popular Countrymatters Ring, with displays from falconry to heavy horses and alpacas to basset hounds, with activity in the ring closing with a vintage and classic car display.

This year’s absent horticulture tent was missed, but visitors were also able to explore a wide range of entrants including art, photography, wines and cakes. The food tent was also a hit, with many sampling the locally-sourced food and drink that was available, while at times sheltering from the weather.

There was also a full programme of events in the horse rings, with six rings featuring a wide variety of classes and championships, including qualifiers for this year’s Horse of the Year Show, the retraining of racehorses class along with working hunter and sports horses and show ponies.

The day finished with the Inter Hunt Relay, and visitors left the show ground with the hope that next year’s event on Saturday 1st July 2017 will be just as successful.