Shrewsbury’s West Mid Show has been been hit by the surprise resignations of two committee chairmen, with one blaming health and safety fears.
Chairman of the horse committee, Sharon Thomas, and chairman of the membership committee, Caroline Stockings, informed the council and trustees of the West Midlands Agricultural Society of their decision on Monday night.
Mrs Stocking was not present at the meeting and did not wish to discuss her reasons for resigning.
Concerns about health and safety issues at future shows led Mrs Thomas to leave her position as she feels that the 59-acre showground, off Berwick Road, is too small to cope with all the attractions and the large number of horses that compete in events.
She said: “I have resigned because of health and safety issues. I gave a report to the chairman, David Tudor, after last year’s show with recommendations about how to improve health and safety problems that occurred.
“However, it fills me with dread that the showground is not large enough for all these attractions that the public like and the horses.
“Top riders and horses come to the show to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley and there were nearly two serious accidents last year. I wrote the report which I asked to be shared with the council but it wasn’t.
“I said that if they didn’t take on my recommendations I couldn’t be responsible for the future health and safety of the show, so I had to resign.”
Mrs Thomas has been involved with the horse committee for the last five years and is also treasurer of the British Show Pony Society.
Chairman David Tudor maintained that both members had resigned for personal reasons.
He added: “We did have a problem last year because the horse show overran and with the main ring attractions distracting the horses. We decided we had to contract the horse classes. ”
Showjumping will not be a feature at next year’s show and Mr Tudor said it would be held at a separate event.