BLUSTERY winds and occasional showers of heavy, driving rain failed to dampen the spirits of visitors to the opening day of the Three Counties Show at Malvern.

After the clouds cleared, the show went on and although the weather brought the cancellation of the Red Devils parachute display and the carriage driving classes because of waterlogged ground, the programme of competitions and attractions kept remarkably to schedule.

“This is Britain, after all,” said show spokesman Sharon Gilbert. “There was never any question the event might be cancelled. I think the last time that happened was in the 1920s when it was on Pitchcroft at Worcester and the river flooded. Over the winter we have done a lot of new drainage and resurfacing and that has undoubtedly helped.”

The first display on the main arena by the White Helmets motor cycle team from the Royal Signal Corps caught a particularly heavy downpour and had to be cut short after two riders came a cropper. Fortunately both escaped unscathed. The second display was cancelled because of the state of the ground. The team hopes to complete two displays today.

A landowners’ meeting at the show was told that Worcestershire farmers ought to be able to make money from rain that falls on their land. Water expert Dr Louise Manning, a lecturer at the Royal Agricultural College, advocated the scrapping of the high speed rail link HS2 and the money used instead to create a water network across the UK to avoid future droughts.

“Farmers ought to be able to trade and sell water the same as any other commodity,” said Dr Manning addressing a ‘Big Breakfast’ meeting of the Country Landowners and Business Association. “Foreign countries look at us with incredulity for allowing so much water to drain away to the sea.”

She said the money saved from the HS2 link could provide between 1,000 and 1,500 reservoirs to store water aready for sale in areas when there was a shortage. “The advantages of a system like this would far outweigh the benefits of a high speed train,” Dr Manning said. Henry Robinson, CLA vice president, said at times of drought the public should not get the impression farmers were using vital water on their crops while they were having to use standpipes.

“Recent figures show that only one per cent is used by farmers for irrigation,” he said, “whereas Severn Trent has recently admitted to a leakage rate of 20 per cent.”

Show president, the Very Rev Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, presented long-service awards to four Herefordshire farm workers with the long service cup and silver medal going to 63-year-old David Ridgway, who is employed by Robert Andrews at Webstone Court, Kingston. When Mr Ridgway, who lives at Marden, began his service 40 years ago, Webstone Court was a mixed beef and corn holding, but it is now mainly fruit with 120 acres of cider apples. “Farming is much, more technical today than when I started,” he said.

A silver medal also went to Roystone Rogers, aged 58, who has notched up 40 years service at Wyevale Container Plants at King’s Acre, Hereford.

There was a fairytale return to the show’s main arena for Worcestershire harness racing legend 70-years-old David Shellam, who was born at Powick, lived for many years at Callow End and later Leigh and is now based near Hereford.

Although retired from the sport for two years, David took the drive with Kentucky Joe, a six-year-old blue roan gelding, when the horse’s official pilot was held up in traffic and didn’t arrive in time for the first race.

Holding second place for most of the six lap contest, David took Kentucky Joe to the front with half a lap to go and went on to win. “It’s brilliant,” he said. “The last time I took part in a harness race was actually here two years ago. I’ve retired four times, probably more than Frank Sinatra, but when they asked me I thought I’d give it a go again. The horse pulled my arms out and I’m a bit tired, but you never get over the excitement of winning.

“I’ll probably have to go and have a rest now.”

West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire brought her mobile surgery to the show to meet farmers and landowners. She said: “Reform of the CAP is firmly back on the political agenda as the EU gears up for the next round of changes, scheduled for 2013. I want as many British farmers to be involved in the consultation process as possible, as ultimately any changes could severely impact their ability to do their jobs.”