Anne Maltby, longest serving member of the show's committee and the secretary, is due to retire. She says it will be heartbreaking to see the gymkhana discontinued - but there may be no choice if new members can't be found to help.

The 75 year old, who lives in Monks Risborough, has been involved virtually since the show was born in 1977. "We do not want to close it down," she said. "However, only two families are involved in it now and I am leaving too because I am getting old. We are trying to find new members and have put notices out.

"We are hoping to get names at the show and are asking for people to make themselves known to us at the show.

"We have nine active committee members, but we need more people than that. We have other helpers who are not involved in the shows and need more people. So far we have had interest from four.

"It would be heart breaking to end the event because its been going for 31 years and because a lot of people look forward to it. Most of that time I have been the secretary. This means putting everything in place, sorting out the band and the 36 cups which we award every year. Getting the cups back can be a problem. It is an all year job which I do not think people realise. The committee has to have a chairman and a secretary and the latter is a time consuming job.

"Everybody would be really sad to see it go. Last year was a disaster because the field was flooded and so we tried to get another one finally we had to have it in September, but by the time that happened a lot of people were not coming out anymore as they were thinking of winter sports.

"Every year we are giving £1,000 to charity. Last year we did not make enough to give away so we want to make this one good. We are really sad to let it go but we do not have enough people to carry it off. We were a group of friends who formed it and had a social time together.

"If I can make £1,000 profit each year you obviously have the people who want to go. We have had 36 cups donated over the years by local businesses and individuals and not many people have cups at shows now which is why ours is popular."

An avid regular at the show, Wendy Pitcher has been attending since it started and still goes with her daughter who is riding this year. She first took Alison to the gymkhana when she was three years old.

Mrs Pitcher believes the show draws her back year after year because it is so friendly and there is something for everybody.

"You do not have to be top of the show to keep going as it is a good time," she said. "If you do win a class you feel that you have achieved something worthwhile. We always go because it is such a friendly and enjoyable day out. There's just no enthusiasm from people anymore."

The show takes place on Sunday July 20 at Laurel Farm in Longwick. It opens at 9am and finishes at tea time. To find out more call Anne Maltby on 01844 344318. For rules of the classes click on to www.chilternrider.co.uk

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