Take a walk in the country at Randox Antrim Show on Saturday 28^th July when the country life showcase descends on the beautiful setting of Shanes Castle, Antrim.

The event offers a fun-packed day where the best of the best of horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, fruit, vegetables, flowers, photography, crafts and baked goods are brought to the one location for visitors’ enjoyment. You’ll also find a Festival of Food, dog agility displays, a petting zoo, sheep shearing, live music, dancing, and stalls to list only a few of the other attractions.

New this year is a Youth Busking competition where a £250 prize is on offer. The competition is open to individuals or groups of up to six performers of secondary school age (U18s) from youth groups across the Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough.

A Children’s Treasure Hunt is also new and free for U12s to take part in; offering an extra element to the range of children’s entertainment on offer.

Paula McIntryre’s cookery demonstrations in the ‘Festival of Food’ marquee – surrounded by food producers keen for the public to sample their wares – has become one of the event’s most popular attractions.

As examples of what can be found in the Home Industries and Horticulture section, Antrim is hosting a new Women’s Institute team competition on the theme of ‘Afternoon Tea’ and is on the hunt for the Show’s ‘Gardener of the Year’ and County Antrim Shows’ Best Chocolate Cake.

In the entertainment marquee the jiving competition, introduced last year, returns to see who will win the ‘King & Queen of the Castle 2018’ title. There’s a tempting first prize of £200 on offer to the winning couple, £100 for second and £50 for third. Entries for the jiving competition are taken on the day of the show just before it starts at 2.30pm.

The Children’s Pet Show always draws a good crowd.  Open to U16s, it is £1 to enter on the day, just ahead of judging at 1.30pm in the cattle rings. Look out for the sign. Details of all of the event’s competitions can be found on the Show’s website.

When it comes to exhibitors’ classes, horticulture entries are still accepted up until Friday 27 July by contacting that section direct on 075 2609 9966. Only equine classes can be entered on the day and late entry fees will now apply in that section.

New livestock/equine classes for 2018 include working hunter classes for ponies and horses and in the sheep section, there are classes have been added for the new, Suffolk Cheviot breed.

This year Antrim is proud to be hosting the Northern Ireland Shorthorn Club’s National Championship, the NI Dexter Group’s Premier Show, NI British Blue Heifer Championship, NI Limousin Championship, incorporating the Young Limousin Breeders’ Anglo Irish Stockjudging Competition, the final of the Bank of Ireland and NISA pedigree Junior bull Championship; and, in the sheep section, the Border Leicester National Show.  Antrim is also a qualifier for the Bluegrass/NISA Clydesdale Championship 2018 and the Linden Foods/NISA Pedigree Beef Heifer Championships.

Randox Antrim Show takes place on Saturday 28^th July at Shanes Castle, from 9am until 5pm. Admission on the day is £10 per person and children under 16 years of age go free when accompanied by a paying adult. Car parking is free. Click here for the latest show news.

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.