Randox Antrim Show’s Horticulture and Home Industries section hosted a 2023 reception for its section’s volunteers and sponsors in Kells the other month.

David Crawford, a director of Antrim Agricultural Society responsible for Horticulture and Home Industries said, “We are indebted to our supportive returning and new sponsors and stewards.”

During the evening, a new cup was presented by the Crawford family in memory of the late Jimmy Crawford, Patron of Antrim Agricultural Society’s Patron. The James Crawford Memorial Cup will be presented to the exhibitor of the best exhibit in the flower and pot plant section. At 2019’s Show, Jimmy won the Gardener of the Year Trophy at the age of 89.

Other examples of what’s new in the Home Industries and Horticulture section include:

• A new Needlework section for residents of Nursing & Residential Homes
• Other changes in the Needlework section means there are now 3 different classes for Crocheted Blankets.
• In the baking section there are some new classes for Ginger Cake, Flapjacks, Raspberry & White Choc scones and, back due to demand, the fat free sponge.
• An iPad pillow/stand class has been added to the YFC Craft section.

David added; “The theme for the Floral art classes is ‘Celebration’ to mark the 45^th Anniversary of the Antrim Flower arranging club; and this section of the Show always sees good interest in the keenly contested Women’s Institute Team competition where the theme this year is ‘Baby Shower.’

“Even though the show’s general entries have now closed, the one exception is that the Horticulture section’s entries can be taken up until this Friday (21 July) by calling our section on 075 2609 9966“.

You can get a copy of the full schedule of classes here on the website.

This year’s section sponsors include: SE McKay & Son Ltd (Oil & Fuel Products), JR Frew Accountants, McKervill Neilly Solicitors, Coleman’s Garden Centre, Apperley’s Butchers,  Ballygarvey Eggs, Ballymena, B Craigs, Ballyclare, Wilsons Fireplaces, Ballymena, WG Crawford Joinery, Antrim, Country Cake Designs, Antrim, and Stephen Caldwell, Photography.

This year’s Children’s Pet Show will take place 11.30am on Saturday 22 July 2023 in the Main Arena of Randox Antrim Show, Shanes Castle.

Admission to Randox Antrim Show (9am-5pm) is £12.50 per Adult, £5 per Young Person (12-17 yrs) and children under 12 years of age go FREE.  Car parking is also 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. A nominal entry will be payable on registration at the side of the Arena, just ahead of judging (in addition to the cost of admission to Randox Antrim Show.)
4. Entries will be brought into the Main Arena immediately prior to judging.
5. Look for a ‘Pet Show’ sign.
6. Judging to commence 11.30am, Saturday 22 July 2023.
7. The stewards and judge’s decisions are final.

The ‘Country’ is set to come to the ‘Town’ of Antrim on Saturday 22nd July 2023 when Randox Antrim Show will take place in the beautiful setting of the Shanes Castle Estate.

Sponsors, members, supporters and local YFC members gathered recently at Shanes Castle to officially launch the 2023 event and officially open entries to its competitions. The reception was kindly supported by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council and Antrim’s Yew Tree Butchery and Deli, who provided the catering. The Council’s Festival Fund also remains a continued sponsor of the Show.

Speaking at the launch of Randox Antrim Show, Chairman George Robson, said “As a not-for-profit organisation, sponsorship and funding is extremely important to the Society and we are indebted to each and every sponsor, big or small, new or long-standing. Their valuable support is what makes it possible to offer prize money to attract the best to enter our many competitions and run the Show. I want to add a particular note of thanks to Randox, our title sponsor, whose ongoing support allows us to improve our event’s offering and help attract even more people.

“Our committee of Directors work hard to put on a Show that aims to welcome more and more people each year to come and experience the delights of our country way of life. It is also thanks to the many show volunteers as stewards and the local Young Farmers’ Clubs who help us in the run up to the event and on the day itself that the event is annually brought to fruition.”

Finals and New Classes
New this year in the Equestrian section, is the Pony Club Games event which will be sure to be a spectacle to behold. There will be In Hand and Ridden Classes running in conjunction with the National Pony Society, Area 32 Summer Show. In the Show Jumping section the Ulster Region Wilsons Auctions Grand Prix Series has a prize pot of £2,600.

Fane Valley has reconfirmed its commitment to the Show as Principal sponsor for Livestock, that includes a £1,000 prize fund for the Dairy Interbreed Exhibitor of the Show and sponsorship of the Champion and Reserve across breed sections of Beef and Sheep.

The sheep section has introduced new classes for the North Country Cheviot breed. Antrim will host the Final of the Danske Bank NISA Sheep Championship that seeks the best ewe, any breed, any age, having reared a lamb in 2023. The Show will also host the Bluefaced Leicester’s Progeny Show, sponsored by the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association, and the national show of The Northern Ireland Rouge Club.

This year, Antrim’s dairy section will host the Final of the Thompson’s NISA Pedigree Dairy Cow Championship, showcasing the Province’s very best of dairy cattle.

In the beef section, Antrim will host the national shows and championships of the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders, NI Limousin Cattle Society, and the native breed Irish Moiled Cattle Society. Antrim is also a qualifier for the Bank of Ireland NISA Pedigree Junior Bull championship. The beef section welcomes RTU Concrete as a new sponsor.

In Horticulture, The James Crawford Memorial Cup will be presented to the exhibitor of the best exhibit in the flower and pot plant section.

In the Home Industries section, new classes have been introduced to the Needlework section for residents of nursing and residential homes, and there are now 3 different classes for Crocheted Blankets. A new YFC Craft class has been added for an Ipad pillow or stand, and, in honour of the 45th Anniversary of Antrim Flower Arranging Club, the Floral Art section theme is ‘Celebration’. In the baking section there are new classes for Ginger Cake, Flapjacks, Raspberry & White Choc scones and a fat free sponge, while the Women’s’ Institute Team competition is titled ‘Baby Shower’.

County Antrim YFC Games
The show is also host to The YFC County Antrim Competitions Day where a spectacle of games is put on, ranging from Tug-of-war and Tractor Handling, to a Gator Challenge and Slippery Football. Young Farmers’ Clubs members who are over 18, can enter the event for the reduced fee of £5 on production of a valid YFCU membership card at the entrance gate.

Some Family Fun Highlights
Popular family highlights that will return include the Artisan Food marquee, a petting farm for kids, alpacas, live music, many trade stands and stalls to browse; and a range of family attractions and side shows to keep kids of all ages amused.

Also, anyone can enter the Children’s Pet Show, the free kids’ Treasure Hunt with goody bag on completion, and the varied competitions for floral art, photography, jams, eggs, baking, fruit, vegetables, handicraft, horticulture, and baking.

You can also watch the against-the-clock spectacle of the crowd-pleasing NI Sheep Shearers Association’s shearing competition from its seated area, which has the added bonus of giving you a chance to rest the legs.

Attracting spectators from both farming and non-farming communities, the Home Industries and Horticulture marquees is where you’ll find everything from crafts to cakes and photography to potatoes. There are also arts and crafts projects from Primary Schools and Young Farmers’ Clubs to peruse.

Entries Are Now Open

Click this link if you you want to Enter competitions

A digital copy of the Show Schedule can be downloaded from HERE.

If you’d like to book a stand, email secretary@antrimshow.com.

Times & Admission price info is HERE