The Balmoral Show on the opening day. May 2010 .A showman with his Hereford cow.
12.05.10. The first day of the Balmoral Show which took place in the Kings Hall, Belfast. Adam McKinley aged 3 looking at the chicks
12.05.10. The first day of the Balmoral Show which took place in the Kings Hall, Belfast. Thomas Cole holding a rare Leicster Long Wool lamb
12th May 2010. Day One of The Ulster Bank Balmoral Show at The Kings Hall, Belfast. Alfie Murray with his Beltex Sheep
Graham and Howard McFarland
David Jardine
2th May 2010. Balmoral Show at The Kings Hall, Belfast. 4 Year Old Chloe McKibbin from Coleraine with the Ulser Bank cash cow
General view of the Balmoral Show on the opening day. 2010
Balmoral Show on the opening day. 2010. Nigel Dunlop from Hillsborough with his son Isaac
A very rare animal of an altogether different kind will be on display at this year's Balmoral Show, in partnership with Ulster Bank. A valuable new Brit Art style bovine sculpture made from thousands of highly polished coins of various denominations was be unveiled to visitors at the RUAS showgrounds this morning
Tommy McKean from Killaloo near L-Derry pictured with one of his North Country Cheviot.
The first day of the Balmoral Show which took place in the Kings Hall, Belfast. Noel Regan with his horse Shey
The first day of the Balmoral Show which took place in the Kings Hall, Belfast. Janice Neil pictured with horses Bernie and Alfie
The first day of the Balmoral Show which took place in the Kings Hall, Belfast. Police presence at the show as they prepare for the arrival of Prince Charles
Jane Bradbury with her horse Bloomfield Ackzo
The Balmoral Show on the opening day. May 2010
Preparations underway at the Balmoral Show as people get ready for 3 days of showjumping and cattle showing
Preparations underway at the Balmoral Show as people get ready for 3 days of showjumping and cattle showing
Preparations underway at the Balmoral Show as people get ready for 3 days of showjumping and cattle showing
Preparations underway at the Balmoral Show as people get ready for 3 days of showjumping and cattle showing
Preparations underway at the Balmoral Show as people get ready for 3 days of showjumping and cattle showing
Elaine Hunter, Ballymoney, with her Polled Dorset sheep at Balmoral Show
Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew and EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel take shelter during a shower of rain with UFU President Graham Furey at Balmoral Show
Sammy Wilson, proved to be dairy good when he tried his hand at milking Daisy the Dale Farm Cow at the Balmoral Show
Nadia Moore and Rebecca Wallace from Annalong with puppies in the childrens farm at the Balmoral show
Colin and Raymond Todd from Lisburn with his Blonde Junior Champion at the Balmoral show
A belgian Blue Bull gets a welcome shower after a hard day at the Balmoral show
Uncle Hugo entertains the crowds at the Balmoral show
Moycraig Young Farmers battle through the rain in the YFC Tog O War competition
Connor Colins, Ciara Cook, Martin Devine, Amy Hale and Susan McCord from St Kevins Falls Rd Belfast who won the global food network competition to grow their own food at the Balmoral show
Karren Wells from Markethill celebrates with her goat Molly after winning her class at the Balmoral show
Titan the ASDA robot entertains at the Balmoral show
Titan the ASDA robot entertains the people at the Balmoral Show
Shirley Anderson, from Ballymena, hands her entry for a prize draw to Anne Hagan on the Ulster Bank stand at Balmoral Show
Stephen MacAuley and William Edgar, from Downpatrick, give David George, Ulster Bank business development manager, a demonstration of how to get sheep ready for the show ring
Free rain macs proved popular with visitors to Balmoral Show after showers on Thursday afternoon
Cormac McKervey, Ulster Bank, discusses the agricultural economy with Farm Minister Michelle Gildernew during a visit to Balmoral Show on Thursday afternoon
Elaine Hunter, Ballymoney, with her Polled Dorset sheep
Fred Loughridge, Armoy, getting his sheep ready for showing at Balmoral Show
Kirsty Clarke and Caroline Woolsey, Ballygowan getting ready to show their Ballymartin Herefords at Ballymoral Show
Jonathan Farrell and Alan Kennedy enjoying a cup of tea before showing their cattle at Balmoral Show
Watching the Horses at the Balmoral Show
In the Cattle Market at the Balmoral Show
Clodagh McGovern has her Bull Ratorty Dollar in the perfect stance at the Balmoral Show
Freestyle Motorcycling at the Balmoral Show
Watching the Horses at the Balmoral Show
Taking a break at the Balmral Show
Bethany Boyd in with her fathers Ile De France flock at the Balmoral Show
Lara Ormedilla with her Horse Adamstown at the Balmoral Show
Kim Robinson and Nicola Greer Shelter from the rain at the Balmoral Show
Jamie McDowell and David Fitzgerald Caught on Camera at the Balmoral Show
Tony Sutcliffe on hand to provide medical assistance if needed
Vicky McClinchie (18) from Belcoo and Adam Fowler
An Owl at the Balmoral show.
Orla Coyle (17), Kathy McKinstrey (17), Elaine Crosier (17) and Kirsty Ridelle (16), all from Armagh.
Lynn Kelly with Morgan (5) and Madison (4) from Strabane
An entertainer on stilts entertains the children
Andrew King at the Balmoral show
John Stephenson (58), sheep farmer from County Durham, England and John Blaney (58) from Cushendun.
Yvonne Kilrane (15), Katie Tyrell (15), Valerie Donegan (15) and Niall Tiernan (14), all from Leitrim.
A child at the show eats ice cream in the warm sun
David Cunningham at the Balmoral show
John Charmichael with one of the eagles
Gwen Scott with her horse at the Balmoral show
Robert and Sylvia Steele, horse owners from Comber
Conor O Donaghue (28), charity worker from Limerick and Kevin O Leary (24) from Cork.
Noel Regan (65) from Roscommon with his wife Ann Regan (55) from Swansea and John Stewart (59) from Moneydig.
John Stewart (59) from Moneydig.
UUP European election candidate Jim Nicholson on his tractor
Belfast sculptor, Rachel Dickson working on the Dromona cheesy replicas of First and deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson MP MLA and Martin McGuinness MP
Ruth Wilson, 24, who is competing in the Small Hunters Equestrian Event.
Children enjoy their day at the Balmoral Show
Geoff Holden Director of Exhibition Stand Design and Construction finishes putting together one of the stands
Laverne Bell, Renny McKeown and Johanna Hobes from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency finish putting up their display
Alison Connelly and Kenny Gracy with Forthill Ellen
Gary Hanna from Draperhill and Money Nabane Limousins brushes the cows
Eilidh Duncan with her horse "Flightpath"
The Balmoral Show first day. People view what it has to offer
Julie McConkey with Mishna
One of the judges at the Balmoral Show
People view what goes on at the balmoral show
Ayesha Akkari, Tiffinee Dickson, Alanna Dickson and Jennifer Sloan at the petting den
The horses which compete in equestrian competitions
Kathryn Moore (5) from Ballyclare 'Says Dromona Cheese' with her cheesiest smile at the Dale Farm stand at the Balmoral Show 2009
Hannah Mahood (4) from Donaghadee 'Says Dromona Cheese' with her cheesiest smile at the Dale Farm stand at the Balmoral Show 2009
Martin Rogan at The Balmoral Show
Arlene Foster (centre) with Sean Owens and Diana Porter, Ulster Pork and Bacon Forum
Arlene Foster (centre) with Clarke Miller, Miller Savory Foods and Clarke Black Chairman Food Promotion Northern Ireland.
Farmer showing off their prize sheep
The 2009 Balmoral Show at the King's Hall
A young farmer shows off his prize bull
2 year old Sam Geary finds himself a huge toilet to sit on at the NI Water stand
10 year old Fay Stockdale enjoying the Children's Farm
Young Lamas are a star attraction with the children
Art College student Jonny Shields puts the finishing touches to his First Minister, Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, made from cheese
"One heavy weight Champion meets another" Martin Rogan with prize winning bull Son Of Rocky
Finishing touches are put to a horse, on day one of the annual Royal Ulster Agricultural Show
Tea and sandwiches are served in the horse trials area
Competitors in the horse trials area on day one of the annual Royal Ulster Agricultural Show
A competitor gets ready to compete in an equestrian event
A farmer power washes a bull prior to showing
Farmers relax on day one of the annual Royal Ulster Agricultural Show
Commonwealth Champion Martin Rogan with St.Kevins pupils at the Balmoral Show
SDLP European Election candidate Alban Maginness MLA squares up to Belfast's Commonwealth heavyweight champion Martin Rogan at the Balmoral Show
One of the horses in the stables
One of the Black Alpine goats which are very rare
The horses which are brought down to be judged
People view what goes on at the balmoral show
A llama at the Balmoral Show
By Linda Stewart
– 12 May 2010
Savour the atmosphere of this year’s Balmoral Show — it could be one of the last held at the historic south Belfast site.
The new president of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS), which runs the show, has warned that the 2011 show could be the last of its kind at the Balmoral Showgrounds.
The showgrounds have been home to the show since 1896, since when only war and foot-and-mouth disease have halted proceedings.
But in the past few years, the organisers have been warning that the show has outgrown the site and a new one may be needed.
The former Maze Prison had been mooted, but that plan was held up by politicians unable to agree whether the site should be used as a multi-purpose stadium. Now time is running out, says RUAS president Robin Morrow.
“Staying put is not an option. I have a vision for our future but the finances of staying where we are just don’t stack up,” he said.
“To continue at Balmoral would require significant investment. And, to be honest, that type of business plan just doesn’t make sense. I am a traditionalist when it comes to Balmoral Show. I love the atmosphere created in the Showgrounds for those three days. But the reality is that we have to move to another site.”
The Maze is still the preferred option, but members may have to consider another site, he said.
“We are not a hostage to fortune on this issue. The Society could move to a site located somewhere along the M1 Corridor and, in so doing, would provide the opportunity for the establishment of a Centre of Rural Excellence,” Mr Morrow said.
“This could allow all of the key organisations working within agriculture to come together and have their operational headquarters under the one roof. To me this idea represents the way forward for the farming industry. The principle has worked in Scotland — so why not here in Northern Ireland?”
The show is Robin’s first in his new capacity as RUAS president.
“I can say with total assurance that it will be a tremendously successful event,” he said.
“And this is because our chief executive Colin McDonald and his small team of staff together with our experienced volunteers are totally professional in the way they go about their business.
He added: “We have a tremendous line-up of events planned. I would heartily encourage anyone with an interest in the farming and food sectors to come along and enjoy a day out at the show.”
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