writes John Bett

Organisers of a 'men-only' farming awards dinner have allowed women to attend - for the first time in 100 years.

The Dartmouth Fatstock Show award ceremony is held annually and sees farmers of both sexes compete with cattle, sheep and poultry.

Prizes are distributed to everyone at an afternoon ceremony before a posh hotel dinner where they are presented again - which women have historically been banned from attending.

But pressure has been building in recent years to allow women in after organisers were accused of sexism. And those behind the event in Devon have revealed they had finally agreed to back down and change the rules.

Chloe Quantick said that the previous rule was "silly", and celebrated being able to attend the event that was held on Tuesday.

She said: "There's a hell of a lot of women coming out in the show seasons now, so girl power - it's the way it should be, we're all equal.

"I don't see why there had to be this divide of women weren't allowed to go. We're all the same."

Last year, show chairman Phil Bond said he believed "ladies are really not bothered" and described the dinner as "a tradition".

At a show committee meeting held before the 2018 event, a vote was held backing the continued exclusion of women, leading to one farmer resigning in protest. Last year it emerged that the female entrants to the competition, including one female Mayor, were told they can send a man to pick up their award for them.

Several female farmers branded the move as "sexist" and "outdated" and pleaded to be allowed to attend.

The ban even stretched to official representatives and former female mayor Debbie Morris was told a male representative would have to attend in her place when she was in the ceremonial role.

Speaking at the time, she described it as an "old tradition" and said: "They like to have a raucous evening.

"Perhaps they feel the ladies wouldn't approve."

But after the changes this year, farmer Sue Fildes said she would be attending the dinner.

"To be honest, if it was men only I wouldn't have been bothered either way," she said.

"Because ladies are invited and there's a good band of us that do well at the show, we've decided to go."

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