Country Sports and Country Life – The Ballymena Agricultural Show

BALLYMENA SHOW & COUNTRYSIDE
FESTIVAL

– Three Exciting Countryside Experiences for the whole FAMILY for the Price of One!
The Country Antrim Agricultural Association, organisers of the Ballymena Show, The British Association for Shooting and Conservation , and Ballymena Borough Council have come together to launch a truly unique countryside event, ‘The Ballymena Show and Countryside Festival’, which will be held at Ballymena Showgrounds and Ecos Centre on the 24th and 25th May 2002. For over one hundreds years , the Ballymena Show has been one of Ireland’s most popular agricultural events attracting significant crowds of town and country dwellers to the Showgrounds at Ballymena over the last weekend in May.
In recognition of the fact that the country sports and farming communities have much in common, the show’s organisers County Antrim Agricultural Association approached BASC to get involved in the creation of an exciting new countryside event which could demonstrate the importance of farming, countrysports and conservation interests working together for the management of the countryside.
Ballymena Show Sited in new modern purpose built showgrounds, the Ballymena Show has activities and exhibits to interest all age groups and both town and rural dweller. It features one of the largest exhibitions of livestock in the island of Ireland with 100 cattle classes; 69 horse classes; 124 sheep classes; 10 goat classes; 24 rabbit classes and 171 poultry classes and a large pedigree dog show. The Home Industries and Floral Art sections will feature over 100 classes. In addition to the livestock judging there will be horse and pony jumping and sheep shearing. The supreme champion in the dairy and beef breeds will be judged in the main arena.
If you need a break from livestock you can browse in the craft or the flower marquee, visit the fashion show, see line dancing and Irish dancing or take part in the special children’s activities.
The Ecos Centre The Ecos Millennium Environmental Centre is a £10 million state of the art environmental centre set in 150 acres of river Braid flood plain which is now being managed to improve their biodiversity in terms of the variety and numbers of plant and animal species, and new habitats of lake, reed beds, and woodland. The building and its grounds are fast becoming one of Ireland’s most important environmental resources and offers a fascinating educational experience for the whole family. Entry to this area is included in the price of the overall show ticket.
The BASC Countryside Festival BASC, recognized as the representative body for Northern Ireland shooting interests is organizing an impressive range of countrysports and conservation focused activities, displays, demonstrations and exhibits. Including: Major sporting shoot organized by Ballycranmore & Kirkubbin Clay Shooting Shooting Association. Novice and Open Retriever Tests ( Friday) and Dog and Gun Event ( Saturday) organized by the Mid Ulster Gundog Association Angling Competitions and demonstrations Terrier and Lurcher Shows both days. Free Flying and static Falconry display and bird of prey exhibit Game Display and game habitat display Major Shooting display including firearms dealers. Major conservation displays. Childrens competitions and events. Country craft displays and countrysports trade stands.

For Further Details contact: Martha Watterson or Brian King , Ballymena Show, Warden Street , Ballymena BT43 7DR Tel/Fax 028 25652666 email: [email protected] Or David Riordan, BASC NI, The Courtyard, Galgorm Castle, Ballymena Tel 028 2565 2349 Fax : 028 2565 9937 email [email protected] Or see the events and news pages on www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com “Farming,Conservation and Countrysports working together for the Countryside”