AN AWARD-winning Mid Wales show has become the latest victim of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic by announcing the cancellation of its 2021 event.

Wonderwool Wales, which was judged best event in Mid Wales at the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards in 2019, announced on Wednesday that its two-day event – due to be held on April 24 and 25 at the Royal Welsh Showground near Builth Wells – would not be going ahead and instead be postponed for a second successive year. It will be rescheduled for 2022.

The event, which celebrates all that’s great about wool and natural fibres, had already made cuts to its original plans in a bid to adhere to strict Covid-19 sanctions – but after Royal Welsh Show organisers announced on Wednesday that the iconic agricultural festival would not go ahead this July, it is not surprising that an event held at the same venue earlier in the year has followed suit.

“It is with sadness that we have decided this week to cancel Wonderwool for the second year,” said Chrissie Menzies, of Wonderwool’s directors, on the event’s Facebook page.

“This has not been an easy decision as we have already spent time and money organising the show and know that we will be disappointing lots of people as we are disappointed ourselves. However, we do not want to put our staff, exhibitors or visitors at risk, and as it is clear now that not everyone will have had a vaccination by April, this is really the only decision we could make in the circumstances.

“It is so disappointing to have to cancel Wonderwool for a second year but we thought it was only fair to make the decision now so that everybody would know exactly where they are, rather than waiting for another month to see what happens and maybe having to cancel even nearer the event.”

Wonderwool Wales had been planning to return in style in 2021 after becoming a victim to the virus like countless events and shows across Wales and the UK last year.

Buoyed by support from the Wales Cultural Recovery Fund, organisers had been pressing ahead with plans to hold the 16th edition of the show in Llanelwedd, subject to restrictions put in place at the time.

Due to the ongoing restrictions, the show attendance was set to be limited to 2,000 each day – it traditionally attracts more than 6,000 visitors – and tickets were available for purchase only online in advance.

The restrictions had already ruled out the show’s popular ‘woolschools’ and ‘sheepwalk’, a woolly take on the catwalk, which will hopefully return in 2022.

The Facebook statement continued: “All we can do is support each other however we can and look forward to next year’s event which we hope will be a bumper show for everyone.

“We will be refunding all fees already paid or rolled over from 2020 for tickets so that we can start anew for 2022.

“Last year we held an online Facebook group event which worked well for those who took part, and we plan to do the same this year with a few additions. We will let you know the details as soon as everything is up and running.

“We are sure you are all as disappointed as we are that Wonderwool Wales is cancelled again, but we feel it is in the interest of everyone’s health that we do not hold the event, we would never forgive ourselves if someone caught coronavirus after coming to Wonderwool.

“We look forward to seeing you all in 2022.”