Many small local businesses were affected when the CLA game fair was canelled due to bad weather, but a new website is offering stall holders a second chance

IT was certainly a wash out of a summer. Floods and torrential rain caused endless problems for farmers and business, not least with the number of cancelled events.

Biggest to go was the CLA (Country Land and Business Association) Game Fair, due to be held at Harewood House near Leeds - the first time it's been cancelled in its 49-year history. The knock-on effect on local accommodation, shops and businesses was immense as they all became yet more casualties of the summer.

It was worse for exhibitors who had paid thousands of pounds for stand space as well as building up stock in anticipation of a bumper three days' business. Shows and fairs these days are as much about shopping and spending as country pursuits.

It's not just about guns and game, tractors, trailers or the latest line in ferret equipment, shopping at shows is increasingly sophisticated - fashion, fine food, jewellery, antiques, all take their place beside the down to earth country wear.

Because the game fair was in the north this year, there were more than the usual number of exhibitors from Yorkshire and Durham. Negotiations about the implications of the late cancellation are still continuing with the CLA.

In the meantime, there is now a virtual game fair. You can go online and visit all the exhibitors without even having to leave home.

Tugging on our virtual wellies, we've visited some of the stands.

Lisa Hodgson, of Loopy Lisa's Fudge in Evenwood, was left with 1,700 bags of fudge when the Game Fair was cancelled.

"And they weren't even the most popular flavours as I was leaving those to last to make," she says. "It was very disheartening.

"I started ringing round all my usual outlets to see if they would take extra and they were great, particularly The Orchard in Barnard Castle who did a special promotion for me. It was the first year I'd done the game fair and as well as the possible profit, it was a big chance for me to get better known, so it was a lot of effort down the drain really."

However, Lisa is not too cast down. As well as cheered by her local shops, she has just had her first order to supply Fortnum and Mason, the Queen's grocers.

"That's really good news, especially as they sell an awful lot of fudge."

Nice to think that the Queen could soon be tucking into a bit of Loopy Lisa's best.

As well as Fortnum and Mason and The Orchard, you can also buy Loopy Lisa's Fudge at Fairylicious in Clark's Yard, Darlington, Thorpe Farm Peel House, Burtree Farm shop, Lakeside Farm Shop near Scorton and others.

DOROTHY and Don Lee of Montana Country Collection near Northallerton do most of their retailing at country shows and events. "The game fair was one of our major shows, so yes, it makes a difference, but you just have to a take it in your stride. But cancellation must have had quite an impact on the local economy."

As well as a small collection of country jackets and gilets, Montana has a wonderful range of hats, for men and women, everything from bush hats, trilbies and crofter caps, to wonderfully glamorous sheepskin hats and very stylish velvet. Buy them online or from the Lakeside Farm Shop at Ellerton, near Scorton.

www.montanacountry collection.co.uk

Jewellery designer Ginny D, from Northallerton, was left with loads of stock after the cancellation. "And, of course, it was all summer stock, which makes it harder to sell now.

"If you'd asked me on the day they cancelled, I was furious, but that fades to resignation. But at least my stock isn't perishable and I have other outlets. It would have been the perfect showcase for me, but now I'm concentrating on my winter stock and designs for Christmas which I am getting out to shops."

See Ginny D's designs at Elan in Darlington, Georgie's in Northallerton and on www.ginnyd.co.uk

Adventure Toys based on a working farm at Little Smeaton near Northallerton was meant to provide the official play area at the game fair. "We've done it for the last four years," says Belinda Metcalfe. "Last year it was down in Portsmouth which was a long journey, but it's a good way of seeing people and getting known."

After last year's show, they donated all the play equipment they'd used to a local children's group.

"We thought this year's would be easier, so close to home. Even though we hadn't had to pay for a stand, we'd put in a lot of work, building up everything, so we lost a lot of time and effort, but that was nothing compared with some of the others."

Although they carry a huge range of toys, they're best known for their trampolines, ride on toys and big outdoor climbing frames, swings and slides. And despite the rotten weather, have had a very good summer. "Perhaps because the weather kept people at home more."

And they've just heard they've been nominated in a competition to find the best rural retailer.

"That's very good to know."

* Adventure Toys, Southolme Farm, Little Smeaton, Northallerton, tel: 01609-881302. Open Monday - Sat 10am - 5.30pm. Closed Sundays. www.adventuretoys.co.uk

* See all the exhibitors - including many more local companies - who would have been at the game fair, with links to their websites, where possible, on www.virtualgamefair.co.uk