Video: Getting ready for Ballymena Show

As the first County show to be held after Balmoral, Ballymena Show is always very well supported by a high number of exhibitors from throughout the province highlighting what is best about the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland.

Sections include poultry, sheep, goats, cattle, show jumping, horse and pony, home industries crafts and floral art with significant prize money and trophies available.

At the Show’s recent launch for 2014, Chairperson Robert Dick extended thanks to the sponsors and the many volunteers who give of their time freely to ensure the show continues to be a success each year.

He also highlighted a number of new activities that will be taking place this year within some of the sections including the introduction of the Swaledale breed into the sheep section.

Within the cattle section there has been an amalgamation in some classes and this year the Galloway and Beef Shorthorn classes are being promoted once again. The horse and pony section has seen a significant amalgamation of classes which is very much reflective of the times and based on previous numbers of exhibitors. The Pony Jumping & Horse and Pony showing classes will get underway at 9.30am on Saturday.

Ballymena Show fully understands the importance of the young people within the agricultural sector who are very much its future and to this end the organisers are delighted to work closely with the three local YFC’s – Lisnamurrican, Glarryford and Ahoghill.

As always these clubs will be holding their hockey, tractor and jeep handling competition on the Friday night with the emphasis moving to fun on the Saturday afternoon with an ‘It’s a Knockout’ competition at 3pm.

Providing even greater entertainment for all the family was very much at the forefront of the Show’s organising committee this year and Robert said he was delighted to announce that Shauna McStravock and Friends will be joining the Show on both the Friday evening and Saturday.

Shauna will provide a musical backdrop to all the other activities including children’s amusements, archery, Phil’s Farm, cookery demonstrations, floral art ‘hand’s on’ demonstrations, chainsaw carving and a wide variety of trade stands and stalls.

A fun dog show will be held on the Friday evening at 6.30pm with the emphasis very much on fun so the organisers hope that dog owners will come along and enter the competition at which prizes will be awarded for many categories including fancy dress.

Health pet checks will also be available on Friday evening which will also see a return, by popular demand, of the sheep shearing and sheepdog trial competitions starting at 4.30pm.

For more information and a timetable of all the events at this year’s Show go online to www.ballymenashow.co.uk or join them on facebook. Alternatively you can contact the show office by email on [email protected].