ALL aboard for Widecombe Fair. No standing on the upper deck. Ding, ding!br>For many years visitors' first taste of the legendary Dartmoor fair had all too often been inching along boggy lanes in queues of traffic. All that was changed on Tuesday thanks to a new park and ride system.br>Instead, visitors arriving at this year's show were treated to a magical moorland bus ride, St Pancras church tower, village and showground marquees, revealing themselves as the bus crested the hill.br>It is one of several innovations introduced this year aimed at boosting visitor numbers while staying true to its rural roots.br>All the traditional elements were there: the gruelling Uncle Tom Cobley downhill race, vintage machinery, terrier racing, livestock classes, not to mention the family dog show, with a prize for the dog with the most appealing eyes.br>Organisers were spurred into looking at their 'offer' after making a £2,000 loss in 2010, but think they have broken even this year.br>'I think it is buzzing. Talking to everybody, it feels we have turned a corner without alienating a lot of people,' said committee member Sue Bottomley.br>A new website is credited with having doubled the number of stalls, while alterations in layout eased circulation around the showfield. A new charging system, where people are charged to park their cars, rather than an entry fee, has organisers hope, encouraged more people to visit the showfield from what was traditionally the 'free' entertainment offered in the village centre.br>Also new this year and an instant favourite, was the Pantomime Horse Derby, to raise money for this year's charity Farm Crisis Network.br>'The whole horse has to cross the finishing line, both parts of the horse have to finish,' explained commentator Tim Faulkner at the starting post.br>Widecombe's pantomime dame, Dame Shameless, heightened the comedy, chasing her fleeing mount around the course.br>Also new was the Shepherd's Challenge, in which Young Farmers could test their mettle at essential farming skills such as stock handling and trailer reversing.br>A sharp shower mid-morning saw visitors take shelter in the lamb-shearing tent. Tony Dallyn, one of the most experienced commentators in the business, explained the shearers' skill in positioning the lamb, to cause it least discomfort and stop it getting away.br>At the heart of the show are the horse, pony, sheep and cattle classes. Devon has long attracted generations of hobby farmers. Ex-teachers, Annette and David Martin, hobby farmers with a difference, had particular reason to celebrate, when their grey faced Dartmoor sheep won a clutch of rosettes.br>'The first in group was probably the best accolade. You've got to have three identical sheep with similar traits, similar sizes, fleece quality and identifying marks. That to me is one of the very best achievements in the show,' Annette said.br>The Martin's bought Palace Farm in Chudleigh 11 years ago to provide a home and work for ten young people with learning difficulties.br>'They learn how to look after the sheep, as well as learning how to look after themselves. It's very important for people with autism to learn how to give of themselves, because they're so insular and so self-centred. They love bottle-feeding the lambs and the grey faced Dartmoors are incredibly gentle and docile and good to handle,' she said.br>The fair continues to attract people from around the world. One of the furthest-travelled was Peter Entwhistle, who emigrated to western Australia 42 years ago, over here for a family wedding.br>Busily inspecting a 1951 three-wheeled tractor, he was also picking up tips to take back for his own country fair in Kulin, 200 miles from Perth.br>One of their most popular events is unlikely though to take off here – camel racing.br>

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