County Antrim Agricultural Association welcome you to their website. Here you will find details of the 2011 show and news updates for the 2012 show along with sponsors and links to other sites.
BALLYMENA SHOW 2012
Saturday 26th May at Ballymena Showgrounds
(main day of Show)
Friday 25th May - Horse Jumping
SHOW SCHEDULES & ENTRY FORMS all online in Word Format
available from this website NOW.
CLOSING DATES for entries here!!! (EXCEPT YFC It's A Knockout)
GATE PRICES
ADULT £6
CHILDREN 12-16 £3
CHILDREN under 12 FREE
CAR PARK £3
Closing Dates For Entries:
Section Closing Date
Poultry & Eggs Wednesday 25th April
Sheep & Goats Wednesday 25th April
Cattle Thursday 26th April
Horse & Pony Friday 4th May
(Except Show Jumping)
Working Hunters (Ponies, Cobs & Horses) & Family Ponies only -
Entries will be accepted on Saturday 26th May at a higher rate than Pre-Entry - see section for details
Home Industries & Floral Art Wednesday 2nd May
Horse Jumping (SJI Affiliated) Friday 25th May
Pony Jumping (SJI Affiliated) Saturday 26th May
Sheep Shearing Saturday 26th May 
PRESS RELEASE
A is for Art, B is for Baking, C is Craft, D is for Drama……,Y is for YFC and Z is for Zorbing. Shows provide a wonderful variety of activities on display and these are only a few which will be seen at Ballymena Showgrounds at the end of May.
Committee are delighted to be able to bring the horse and pony showing together this year on Saturday 26th May to choose a Supreme Champion. Friday 25th will be dedicated to Horse jumping starting at 9.30am with qualifiers for Cavan during the day and Amateur TRI A & AA classes from 1pm. Prize money and prizes offered are valued at over £1300 so get on down to Ballymena and check out the competition.
Saturday 26th May is the main day of the show which opens to the public at 9am with judges pouring in from near and far to assess the stock and crafts on display. Shows are renowned as being a shop window for the rural industry – a focal point for development and assistance whilst providing an educational experience to the urban community along with a fun day out.
Traders open their stalls at 9am to the public on the Saturday and a wide variety is already booked with crafts, jewellery, tourist information, speciality foods, iron gates, garage door systems, sweets and treats, livestock and garden equipment, financial advice, machinery, quads, property sales, cupcakes, textiles, ceramics, charities, health advice, solar energy and the list goes on.
Just as an example, of what else is on offer, the public can look at the grace and agility of top class horses trying to gain 1st prize and also see the young stars of tomorrow learning how to groom, lead and ride the ponies. Ballymena is privileged to be chosen as 1 of only 6 shows to hold a qualifier for the renowned RDS Breeders Championship with the final at the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse show where prize money for this one class is over €18,000.
Working Hunter competitors will be pleased to learn that a new course design will be in operation and committee are delighted to have the assistance of Mr Graham & Mr Hamilton as well as the expertise of Connell Hill Equestrian centre to make this section more suitable for Hunters of all ages and abilities. Whilst the closing date for entries of the horse and pony section, is 4th May, Working Hunters and Family Ponies can enter on show day at a higher rate then the pre-entries, so it is beneficial for the early bird to stick to the deadlines. Note that all show jumping classes are ‘Enter on the Day’ and horse or pony exhibitors should enter the showgrounds via the Ecos roadway.
The sheep and goat section judging will commence from 9.30am and once again Young Handlers aged 8-14 will be able to show off their skills whilst trying to qualify for the Cydectin competition. Sheep section exhibitors should note that Warden Street is the way in for them this year again.
Shearing exhibitors however can make their way to Slemish hall for 12.30pm via the Ecos entrance. The competition is always very stiff and committee are delighted to have the assistance of the NI Sheep Shearing members and be part of the NI shearing circuit.
Cattle competitions commence from 10am and catering for the trend, Ballymena has introduced a ‘Dexter’ section. This breed originated in the South West of Ireland and is the smallest native breed of cattle in the UK. They are hardy, dual-purpose cattle, producing excellent beef and milk and hopefully there will be a good display of all breeds on show day. Cattle Young Handlers please note that the dairy Y/H classes will take place at the start of the day but beef Y/H classes will be held as normal after the section judging. Caoimhe Mannion, Marketing Manager for Tesco says ‘Tesco is delighted to sponsor the Aberdeen Angus cattle classes at this year’s show as all of the beef in Tesco meat counters is locally reared Aberdeen Angus beef, from 700 farms across Northern Ireland. We hope that as many of our staff and customers as possible will be able to attend on the day to support the event and wish the organisers every success’.
The fluffy chicks are always a spectator favourite and will be on display in the Slemish hall. A Pet Farm sponsored by Tesco will be on the grounds and will include Guinea Pigs, Micro Pigs, Llamas and Wallabies for the children to enjoy.
With rural crime a hot topic at the minute, Police in Ballymena have stepped up their ongoing work to help farmers keep their property safe and are pleased to be taking part in Ballymena show this year. Temporary Superintendent John Magill states that “Within H District, projects such as trailer marking and information events have helped farmers take steps to prevent thefts. To add to this the PSNI will be attending Ballymena show with new advice materials and local police on hand to offer their help. The PSNI are delighted to have this opportunity to bring first-hand advice to the local farming community” he said.
Young Farmers activities are always good fun and the ever popular ‘It’s a Knockout’ for charity, sponsored by Style ‘N’ Sport, will ensure that competitors get wet and have a laugh. This along with the Tractor Handling and Jeep Challenge will take place after the cattle parade in the afternoon and organisers are thrilled with the enthusiasm of the three local clubs, Ahoghill, Glarryford and Lisnamurrican.
The Craft marquee will feature a hoard of exhibits highlighting the level of talent in the area. Classes are available for baking, photography, painting, decoupage, tapestry, writing, poetry, miniature gardens, floral art and lots more. Entries will be accepted from children of all ages, ladies, gents, Womens Institutes, Young Farmers, Homes, Day centres and school pupils of all capabilities – ‘Something for Everyone’ – so don’t miss the closing date for entries at the beginning of May.
With the support of the Community Relations Council and Arts Council of Northern Ireland through its National Lottery Programme, Partisan Productions Theatre company will present ‘The Field Hospital’ at Ballymena show. This is a lively and entertaining look at the current realities of rural life and combines music, song, comedy, drama and pantomime. This production will be presented several times during the course of Saturday and hopefully the audience will not only enjoy the performance but will help the team to come up with some new characters and storylines throughout the day.
Show chairman, Mr Randal Hayes who is looking forward to the end of May, when the hard work of volunteers and committee comes to it’s pinnacle says ‘I would like to sincerely thank all those who contribute to this event in any way including the exhibitors, traders, volunteers and sponsors, without whom there would be no show. In this time of recession, we are grateful to all who continue to support Ballymena Show but we realise it is increasingly difficult to raise the monies required to run the event and pay out prize money to those who win the classes’.
Entries are still open but not for long so get them in to the show office soon before the closing dates – check online www.ballymenashow.co.uk for schedules and entry forms.
Q107 kindly supported by Tesco, will be marketing the event at the end of May and distribution of fliers which were sponsored by Michelin will be starting soon, so the show season is well and truly on it’s way.
With expected prize money of over £18,000 being paid out to winners, Ballymena Show realises the importance of all sponsorship.
Hope to see you at Ballymena Showgrounds at the end of May to see the animals and try out Zorbing!!
Partly Cloudy 7 oC
