Thame Show is now officially the county show, making 2000 a milestone year.

And it has also gained extra prestige in the showjumping world by having its events as qualifiers for the International Horse Show at Hickstead.

Show secretary Mr Mike Howes said: "We're very proud of these two new accolades and we hope they will bring in more business and more showjumpers."

Thame Show, the biggest one-day agricultural show in the country, has been the only one in the county since the offficial County Show had its last day at Kidlington in 1977. But it has never been able to call itself the County Show until now. Permission has been given by Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxfordshire Agricultural Society Trust.

Mr Howes said: "We are now called the Thame and Oxfordshire County Show, a rise in status that the show has long deserved and a real milestone for us."

Thame Show has been going for 133 years and is always held on the third Thursday in September. Mr Howes said: "The format won't change, but we hope the increase in status will be matched by an increase in business all round."

Organisers heard on Thursday last week of the rise in status as far as showjumping is concerned. It will mean events at the show will be qualifiers for the King George VI Gold Cup and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead later this year.