Annual launch and sponsors reception for 117th Ballymoney Show

This years’ show to be held on 5 and 6 June guarantees to be a brilliant day out for all the family with many new and returning exhibits ensuring there is something for everyone.

Already, it has a large number of exhibitors booked and the spaces in the craft marquees and dedicated ‘food pavilion’ are filling up fast! This year the show again welcomes back its very loyal sponsors and organisers are also delighted to welcome six new sponsors to the show this year. Thanks must be extended to the generosity of the farming community and businesses province wide, which enable the presentation of generous prizes to exhibitors in all classes. Show organisers are indebted to all the sponsors and those who faithfully support the show year on year and they want to acknowledge your financial contribution and wish to let you know it is greatly appreciated.

Show attractions

The show has a wide range of entertainment planned for this year and organisers are sure that there will be something for all ages on display. Amongst other things there’ll be the ever popular dog show, children’s entertainers, the County Antrim YFC football competition, tug-o-war, and a varied programme of entertainment on stage over the course of the two days. Organisers are also delighted to be holding the very popular “Cook Off” competition involving the Young Farmers clubs of Ulster and a cross community schools section.

This is kindly sponsored this year by Share Energy who organisers welcome for the first year to their show. There will be plenty of delicious items on display to get your taste buds tingling within the dedicated Food Pavillion – this is not to be missed. The trade stands range from machinery to craft stalls, to delicious food displays and much, much more. Keep an eye out on the social media channels to keep updated on the entertainment and show schedule.

Horse and pony section

On the Friday afternoon there will be pony classes and all of the light horse classes from 3.30pm onwards. All pony and light horse classes are required to be entered in advance, with the exception of North West Working Hunter classes, where entries can be taken on the field.

Entries close Sunday 24 May – entries can be made online via the website or you can contact our show secretary. The Horse and Pony section is going strong, with 100 entries at the 2025 show. The show has numerous Irish Shows Association qualifiers for all Ireland Championships in the horse section – with a new qualifier this year for a Connemara Ridden 4 or 5 year old championship.

On Saturday morning the Clydesdale and heavy horse section always provides a fantastic display in the main arena always attracting a large entry. Ballymoney Show is also a qualifier for the Co Londonderry Horse Breeders Society Clydesdale Young Handlers Championship and the OB Construction NISA Clydesdales Championship. Organisers are delighted to announce Horse Finder as the main sponsor for the Clydesdale section this year. They are delighted to welcome them on board.

Cattle section

The cattle section is continuing to prosper and grow which is a real boost for the show and is also only made possible by the loyal and committed sponsors. Organisers are delighted to have a number of NISA qualifiers this year including Bank of Ireland/ NISA Dairy young handlers Championship, The Thompsons/ NISA Dairy cow championship, Dunbia/NISA Beef young handler championship and the NISA Junior Bull Championship, along with an ISA All Ireland Intermediate Young stockperson Championship. They are delighted to be selected to hold these qualifiers and more information in relation to entries for these qualifiers can be found at the website or by contacting the show secretary. Furthermore, they are delighted to welcome back Mason’s Animal feeds with the Interbreed Calf Class - Mason’s Dairy Star of the future.

Show organisers are delighted that with the continued support of the generous sponsors they are able to provide a prize fund in the cattle section alone of almost £7,000. They are exceptionally grateful to all the existing valued sponsors in this section and also welcome Reuban McAllister Freeze Branding and Barclay’s Bank as new sponsors this year in the Holstein section.

Sheep and goat sections

In the sheep and goats section, Ballymoney show has consistently had over 500 entries for many years now and it continues to develop the classes in these sections. This year the show is delighted to host the NI Valais Blacknose National Show, kindly sponsored by Loughguile Credit Union and new sponsor Barclay’s Bank.

This will provide a spectacular display of the breed and organisers hope to welcome many new exhibitors for this show. They really take pride in ensuring the show caterers for all ages and they are delighted to continue to offer three young handler classes in the sheep section and also host the qualifier for the Clogher Valley Young handlers sponsored by Fane Valley. A real highlight of the show last year was the addition of the new sheep shearing marquee. This really gathered a crowd with great entertainment and skill and they are delighted to welcome the sheep shearing association back this year again with lead sponsors SONI and new sponsor Fane Valley.

Once again show organisers are indebted to the faithful sponsors who are pivotal in ensuring the success and continuity of these classes.

The goat section continues to see good numbers of entries and the continuation of the very popular Pygmy section given its success in the last few years. The show continues to have a variety of qualifiers across the sheep section too, full details listed in the schedule.

Home Industries, photographic and schools’ section

The Home Industries Section of the show is always very popular with around 120 classes for craft, painting, baking, confectionery, photography and floral exhibits. Organisers are delighted to have a number of ISA All Ireland championship qualifiers at the show which highlights the high standard of craft and baking at our show.

The schools’ section has 140 classes for craft work, art, computer art, printing and flowers. The show is only able to display such a large number of entries due to the ongoing support from the local schools and organisers look forward to welcoming entries from both existing and new schools who will be awarded generous prize money. They continue to have competition classes across pre-school, secondary school and special school sectors. Organisers thank their longstanding sponsor, Causeway Dental, who sponsor the entire schools section.

They look forward to welcoming a good entry across all the Home Industries, photography and schools’ sections and thank the existing valued sponsors in these sections.

North Antrim Agricultural Association is made up of a Board of Directors and a very enthusiastic show committee comprising of members from the three local Young Farmers’ Clubs – Finvoy, Kilraughts and Moycraig.

The show would not be possible without the continued support and help from these three clubs who are pivotal in the organising, set up and running of the show. The board is indebted to them for their commitment and wish to thank them sincerely. Organisers are delighted to have judges for this year’s show already confirmed, and are glad to be welcoming visiting judges from all over the UK and Ireland.

The show association gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance given by the sponsors who have provided special prize money and, without their ongoing commitment, the show would not be the success that it is today. A full list of sponsors is detailed in the schedules, available on the website or can be obtained from the show secretary.

You can keep fully up to date with all that is happening in the lead up and in preparation for the show on the Facebook page and also the website.

Please take note of the closing dates for entries and the What’s on Guide which will be available on all social media platforms and at the website: www.ballymoneyshow.org