Award for country show organiser

The award is given each year to a different winner

The man in charge of a country fair in Cumbria has received an award from the Duke of Edinburgh.

Robert Benson, from the Lowther Driving Trials and Country Fair, was given the trophy for keeping the 2007 show going despite foot-and-mouth restrictions.

The golden hippo is awarded each year by the British Horse Driving Trials Association to honour someone who has overcome adversity.

The 2007 show was also hit by flooding and the total loss of water supply.

Quite frankly 2007 was a doddle compared to what we went through this year Robert Benson

Mr Benson said it was a great honour to receive the award from Prince Phillip, who is Patron of the Lowther show.

He said: "He congratulated me on what we had achieved last year despite the problems.

"I told the Prince quite frankly 2007 was a doddle compared to what we went through this year."

For the first time in the show's 35 year history, the last day of the 2008 show in August was cancelled due to rain.

Attendance on the Saturday was down 35% due to bad weather.