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Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Show-jumping takes centre stage with £45,000 prize pot at stake on day two of Balmoral Show
The dust from Balmoral's busy first day didn't settle for long before streams of people from across the country parked their trucks and tractors for day two of the agricultural gala. The sun also returned to the 65-acre Sprucefield site, with an array of the latest machines on display as thousands flocked to the fair. Each day is different at Balmoral, with horned goats, side saddle riding and a parade of winning pigs making their debut today. The highlight of the day for many is the International Showjumping Spectacular, which features six competitors from across the globe battling to take home a prize fund of over £45,000. Thursday is also billed as 'Connemara day', according to Co Down horse enthusiast Joanne Hunter. She was intently gazing towards an empty horse ring as she waited patiently for her favourite event of the show to begin. Joanne explained how the national Connemara championships draw huge crowds from across the island and particularly from the west coast – where the breed originates – to view the annual spectacle. She said: 'Thursday is Connemara Day. There are in-hand classes, which were earlier on this morning, then there's ridden classes, and then in the afternoon there are jumping classes, all with Connemaras. As a Connemara breeder, that's why I love it. 'It's just such a huge event and it's such a gorgeous day. It's very well-run, and it's just lovely. It's very prestigious, everybody wants to win at Balmoral.' At the cattle rings, furrow-browed and sharp-eyed youths from the Young Farmers Club of Ulster cut their teeth as judges in the livestock breeding competitions. While the larger bulls dominated the first day, such as the mammoth Aberdeen Angus, dairy cow breeders get their shot to show off their cattle's pristine signature black and white coats. Watching proudly from the fences was Glen McCollough whose granddaughter was among the judges in the dairy cow rounds. Despite not having participated 'for donkeys' years', Glen is a former judge and explained how his granddaughter and her peers are tasked to inspect each cow from head to hoof. 'My granddaughter, she's out there judging,' the Co Down calf farmer said. 'I'm good at judging. They have to pick first, second, third and fourth and put them in order. What they think are the best, straight down to the worst." Eimear and Gavin Campbell are attending the Balmoral Show for the first time in several years. The Co Armagh couple explained how the event has got 'a lot bigger' since their last visit. "I haven't really been around very much. There's a lot to look at,' Eimear said. 'It seems to have grown a lot. I actually got lost a few times.'
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Thousands more flock to Balmoral for day two with crowds enjoying show jumping in the sunshine
The dust from Balmoral's busy first day didn't settle for long before streams of people from across the country parked their trucks and tractors for day two of the agricultural gala. The sun also returned to the 65-acre Sprucefield site, with an array of the latest machines on display as thousands flocked to the fair. Each day is different at Balmoral, with horned goats, side saddle riding and a parade of winning pigs making their debut today. The highlight of the day for many is the International Showjumping Spectacular, which features six competitors from across the globe battling to take home a prize fund of over £45,000. Thursday is also billed as 'Connemara day', according to Co Down horse enthusiast Joanne Hunter. She was intently gazing towards an empty horse ring as she waited patiently for her favourite event of the show to begin. Joanne explained how the national Connemara championships draw huge crowds from across the island and particularly from the west coast – where the breed originates – to view the annual spectacle. She said: 'Thursday is Connemara Day. There are in-hand classes, which were earlier on this morning, then there's ridden classes, and then in the afternoon there are jumping classes, all with Connemaras. As a Connemara breeder, that's why I love it. 'It's just such a huge event and it's such a gorgeous day. It's very well-run, and it's just lovely. It's very prestigious, everybody wants to win at Balmoral.' At the cattle rings, furrow-browed and sharp-eyed youths from the Young Farmers Club of Ulster cut their teeth as judges in the livestock breeding competitions. While the larger bulls dominated the first day, such as the mammoth Aberdeen Angus, dairy cow breeders get their shot to show off their cattle's pristine signature black and white coats. Watching proudly from the fences was Glen McCollough whose granddaughter was among the judges in the dairy cow rounds. Despite not having participated 'for donkeys' years', Glen is a former judge and explained how his granddaughter and her peers are tasked to inspect each cow from head to hoof. 'My granddaughter, she's out there judging,' the Co Down calf farmer said. 'I'm good at judging. They have to pick first, second, third and fourth and put them in order. What they think are the best, straight down to the worst." Eimear and Gavin Campbell are attending the Balmoral Show for the first time in several years. The Co Armagh couple explained how the event has got 'a lot bigger' since their last visit. "I haven't really been around very much. There's a lot to look at,' Eimear said. 'It seems to have grown a lot. I actually got lost a few times.'
