Recession threat to charity horse show

A CHARITY horse show that has been running in a village near Worksop for almost two decades may have to be axed because of funding problems.

The Oldcotes Charity Show was last held on the Osberton Estate over this year's May bank holiday, but organisers trying to arrange next year's event say that the recession has hit hard.

Since it was established in 1981, the horse show has regularly attracted about 150 showjumpers each year and has also held popular horse, dog and Shetland pony showing classes that have attracted the crowds.

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Show organiser Liz Attwood, said: "We're reliant on our sponsors for funding and lots of local companies have given money. However, this year – due to the recession – everybody has tightened up.

"People are giving half of what they used to give because everybody's finding it hard."

Mrs Attwood, who runs a stables in Firbeck, said that the show was also looking for volunteers, as well as a new site closer to the show's traditional home of Oldcotes.

She said: "We need to find a better venue that's not too far away.

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"It needs to be local so that all the organisers and volunteers can get there.

"The current site is a little bit too far away from the original site, and we need to bring the show back to Oldcotes."

"Next year's show will only happen if we can at least get the same amount of sponsorship that we got this year, if not hopefully more.

"We also need more volunteers, people who are able to join the committee or else put up fences and help out during the show.

"This year it was very hard work," she said.

Over the years, the Oldcotes Charity Show has raised more than 100,000 for local causes.

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