THE biggest annual event on Richmond's calendar is on course to be a record-breaker even before the programme begins this weekend.

Richmond Meet is usually preceded by a fundraising show a few days ahead of the main programme and, this year, it was the committee ladies who planned and performed a variety evening at the Zetland Christian Community Centre.

The light-hearted show proved so popular it raised £1,800 towards the Meet total - more than any other before.

"It gives us a fantastic start and means we can already call the 2003 events a record breaker," said spokesman Terry Glover.

The president's dinner at the King's Head Hotel tonight also seems set to continue the trend, with a record-breaking 130 tickets sold in advance.

Tomorrow, Earl's Orchard playing fields in the shadow of the castle hosts a five-a-side football tournament while Richmondshire Cricket Club runs the Meet disco from 7.30pm.

If the River Swale is not too high, Sunday morning includes the Richmond Duck Club's charity duck race, while Richmond MP William Hague will be making the journey back to his constituency from Westminster to join wife Ffion opening the Meet Gala back at Earl's Orchard at 1pm.

As well as events in the main arena, side shows include an inflatable laser dome, the Cresta Run, giant Jenga and a visit by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as well as performances by the Richmond Pipe Band.

The Meet weekend concludes on Monday with the traditional carnival parade through Richmond, which starts at 10am from the Nuns Close car park and follows a route into the town centre via Newbiggin.

A free afternoon of family entertainment follows in the town's Friary Gardens. The traditional fun fair will fill the Market Place while the Meet also hopes to boost the amount it raises for local charities through a raffle with some unusual prizes, including a motor racing lesson at Croft and a ride in the air ambulance helicopter.

Meet programmes listing all the weekend's events are available in Richmond shops.