ORGANISERS of a popular country show which was cancelled last year have their fingers crossed for sunshine this time around.
Up to 12,000 visitors are expected at the 33rd Cowpie Country Show at the Betchworth showground on May 12.
Heavy rain left the Wellhouse Lane site waterlogged last year, forcing organisers to take the difficult decision to cancel just a week before the scheduled date.
Publicity officer Sue Clipperton said: "It was such a shame, it was so hard to have to cancel. But there's only a couple of weeks to go now and the weather has been much better this year.
"It's going to be sunny, I'm positive. We're all going to be out there doing a sun dance. We've got our fingers crossed."
Sure to draw eyes upwards on the day are the Royal Navy Freefall Display Team, who will jump from a plane at 4,000 ft, allowing just 10 seconds of freefall before opening their parachutes to land.
Stunts from motorbike trials rider Steve "Showtime" Colley will also keep crowds entertained, including some particularly daring action on the "mono bike", which has no front wheel or front brake. To those disappointed last year, the line-up for 2013 will be very familiar.
Mrs Clipperton said: "We have booked all the people back that we had to cancel last year.
"It was important to us to have them back because it was a real shame to cancel on them. We are desperately hoping to avoid that ever happening again."
Nobby the Norfolk Horn and Belinda the Blue-faced Leicester will also make an appearance at the Betchworth field as part of a unique sheep show all the way from New Zealand.
Animal-lovers will be spoilt for choice with The Mole Show, Sheridan the animated sheepdog, a birds of prey demonstration, pony rides, pets' corner and a dog show all on the schedule.
A free circus skills workshop, vintage vehicles, a climbing wall and bungee trampolines will ensure boredom will not be an option.
Mrs Clipperton said: "I always look forward to it. It's the first show of the year so we feel we get the ball rolling."
The Cowpie Country Show is organised by Surrey Young Farmers and sponsored by Scats Countrystores.
The show will open at 10am, with adult tickets costing £10, children's tickets £5 and OAPs £8. A family ticket for two adults and two children will cost £25. Car parking will be free.
For more information call 01483 769786 or 07896 286021 or visit www.cowpie.co.uk