A new shield for the winner of the ‘Gardener of the Year’ class has been presented to the Horticultural Section of Randox Antrim Show by Jim and Doreen Crawford.  Jim is Patron of Antrim Agricultural Society and has been involved with the Show for many years.  Jim first exhibited vegetables at Antrim Show in 1956.

If you are a gardener and would like to exhibit in the Horticulture section, it’s not too late.  Entries will be accepted up until 8.30pm on Friday 27th July. However, you must now contact David Crawford on 075 2609 9966 or come to the Showgrounds at Shanes Castle between 2pm and 8pm on Friday evening.  A copy of the show schedule containing details of the horticulture classes can still be found here.

As well as hunting for the Show’s ‘Gardener of the Year’, other examples of what can be found in the wider Home Industries and Horticulture sections, is the County Antrim Shows’ Best Chocolate Cake competition and this part of the Show will also be hosting a new Women’s Institute team competition on the theme of ‘Afternoon Tea.’

Ahead of this year’s show the Home Industries and Horticulture section gathered its sponsors and helpers to thank them in advance for their support.

Pictured (standing, l-r) Show directors Brian Hunter, David Crawford; William & Hazel Crawford (Crawford Joinery); stewards Hazel Campbell, Leslie Hunter and Marretta Coleman; Wilbert Robinson (Standing Stone Potatoes); steward Irwin McKnight; Mary Thompson (Antrim Floral Art Group), steward Isabel Calvert; steward Graham Seymour; Chairman Fred Duncan; and (front, seated/crouched) Show Patron Jim Crawford and Doreen Crawford; steward Jim McKay; Laura Patterson (YFC representative); and Show Secretary Patricia Pedlow, and director John Heron.

The close date for receipt of entries has been extended until Saturday 21 July, so there’s still time to get your entries in.

Here’s what’s new and and of note amongst this year’s classes…

 

Equine

Working Hunter Classes for ponies and horses make a welcome new addition to Randox Antrim Show’s schedule this year.

The Show is also pleased that Antrim is a qualifier for the Bluegrass/NISA Clydesdale Championship 2018.

Antrim’s Show Jumping events are offering a total prize fund of £2,250.  Declarations regarding show jumping event number five are to be made to the SJI online system by 4pm, Thursday 26 July.

Equine entries accepted on the day i.e. Saturday 28 July in Shanes Castle, Antrim, from 9.15am. £15 late entry fees apply in this section.

 

Cattle

“I am delighted to confirm that we are hosting a number of new classes and championship finals. The prize fund in the cattle section is in excess of £7,500,” said Vice Chairman Robert Wallace.

New to this year’s show is the Northern Ireland Shorthorn Club’s National Championship, featuring eight classes for senior and junior bulls, cows, heifers and calves. This is one of the highlights of the Shorthorn club’s annual calendar and is expected to attract exhibitors from all over the Province. Judging is in the capable hands of Englishman Andrew Ivinson.

Antrim Show is also the venue for the Northern Ireland Dexter Group’s Premier Show. Steven Darnbrook will preside over the nine classes, and there will also be strong competition in the junior and senior handling classes.

For the fifth year in succession Antrim Show is hosting the Northern Ireland Limousin Championship, which incorporates the Young Limousin Breeders’ Anglo Irish Stockjudging Competition.  There are 14 classes, and exhibitors will be competing for the plaudits in the calf, junior, intermediate, senior and commercial championships. Judge is Ian Callion from Stirling.

British Blue breeders will be flocking to Antrim for the final of the NI British Blue Heifer Championship.

Robert added: “Randox Antrim Show is also the venue for the final of the Bank of Ireland and NISA pedigree Junior bull Championship. We are looking forward to welcoming the qualifiers from other provincial shows. The judge is Alistair Smith from Notts, and the overall winner will receive a £300 cash prize.

“We are indebted to our numerous sponsors for their continued support. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Fane Valley Feeds as the new sponsor of our hotly contested supreme pedigree beef championship. The supreme interbreed dairy and sheep championship are supported by Danske Bank.”

Cattle exhibitors at Antrim will also have an opportunity to qualify for the Linden Foods and NISA Pedigree Beef Heifer Championship.

 

Sheep

In the sheep section, Randox Antrim Show will be hosting the Border Leicester’s National Show, and have added classes for the new Suffolk Cheviot breed. Dutch Texel will also be exhibited for the first time in Northern Ireland under the ‘Any other breed’ classes.

 

Home Industries

The Women’s Institute Team Competition is a new class in this section this year. Plus, the Show is a qualifier for the final of the County Antrim Shows Chocolate Cake of the Year competition.

 

Click here for show admission details and here to enter online.

The Children’s Pet Show takes place 1.30pm on Saturday 28 July 2018 in the Cattle area of Randox Antrim Show, Shanes Castle.

Admission to Randox Antrim Show (9am-5pm) is £10 per person and children under 16 years of age go FREE when accompanied by a paying adult.  Online tickets for £9 available here until Wed. 26 July. Car parking is FREE.  Event admission is payable at the gate.

Children’s Pet Show Terms & Conditions:

1. Open to children and young people under 16 years of age.
2. Large animals may be refused entry due to health and safety reasons.
3. £1.00 entry payable on registration at the ring side, just ahead of judging (in addition to the cost of admission to Randox Antrim Show.)
4. Entries will be taken at the Show ring immediately prior to judging.
5. Location of judging to be confirmed on day. Look for a ‘Pet Show’ sign on an available Cattle ring signpost.
6. Judging to commence 1.30pm, Saturday 28 July 2018.
7. The stewards and judge’s decisions are final.
8. 1st Prize £15, 2nd Prize £10 and 3rd Prize £5.  The children’s pet show is sponsored and judged by Clare Vet Group.