According to initial reports the Midland Game Fair at Weston Park last weekend was attended by 85,000 people. I was there and I can confirm that there wasn't much room for any more!

We certainly had the most successful Midland we have ever had on the Shooting Gazette stand and it was great to meet so many readers and contributors in the relaxed atmosphere of a well-run show. The weather helped too, as it stayed dry and bright until going home time on Sunday evening.

Many people thought that the cancellation of the CLA Game Fair would have a positive effect on the Midland and I think this theory was proved correct. Although in truth it is a show that has steadily improved over the years, while retaining its primary focus on field sports. And this year's success was as much a recognition of that as it was of the unfortunate circumstances earlier in the summer.

Look out for the November edition of the magazine for pictures from the show.

It was great to read that Simon Hart has been selected as the Conservative party's prospective candidate for Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire South in the next general election.

Conservative MPs are few and far between in Wales, but Simon goes into the contest in a strong position.

Unlike a lot of politicians who remain anonymous for four years, Simon has an in-depth knowledge of the issues which affect people in rural areas and would be fiercely fighting their corner at local and national level. This passionate conviction which will come out during campaigning will not go unnoticed when the time comes to fill out the ballot paper.

Nick Ainger MP will be a tough opponent, but the seat is a marginal one and could go either way. However, come election day, wouldn't it be something for Wales and the countryside at large if one of the countryside's leading figures was sitting a short distance of the PM once black rod comes knocking?

This weekend (September 15-16) sees the Midland Game Fair at Weston Park in Shopshire. This event is always held on the third weekend of September and is traditionally the last major event of the summer country show and fair season. Some years we are blessed with warm sunshine and others it is definitely welly weather, either way it's always a successful event.

This year there is an extra emphasis though, because of the cancellation of the CLA Game Fair, which was to be held at Harewood House near Harrogate on July 27-29. The CLA is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of the summer season, but with its cancellation the mantle has been passed on to the Midland.

Countryman Fairs are the organisers and following the cancellation of the CLA they had a surge in interest from exhibitors who wanted to be at the Midland. So we can expect to see a few records broken this weekend.

But, more than that, it will give us the chance to catch up with a lot of the people we were unable to meet at the CLA and to make new friends too. These events are so important to our sport, as for one all-too-brief weekend we can all gather in the same place and seriously mix business with pleasure.

Please visit the Shooting Gazette stand while you are there to say hello and take advantage of what will be a great subscription offer and to enter our great competition to win the superb Ian Greensitt sculpture of a snipe. This really is a beautiful piece of work.