Shanes Castle Estate on the shores of Lough Neagh was the venue for Antrim Agricultural Society’s 103rd annual show.

The event attracted record crowds, and show secretary, Linda Davis, reported increased entries in most sections.

“It has been an excellent show, and new additions to this year’s schedule included classes for Beef Shorthorn cattle and minority and rare breed pigs,” she said.

“The weather has been fantastic, and we are delighted with the numbers of exhibitors and spectators. This year we have attracted a massive crowd — even bigger than our centenary show. People were queuing to get in and even our overflow car park was overflowing. We are indebted to Lord and Lady O’Neill for permitting the use of this excellent venue.”

Antrim Show also attracted an increased entry of trade stands, which included agricultural machinery for the first time in almost 15 years. The award for the best trade stand went to Pampered Chef, with Woodpecker at Work claiming second prize. Third place was awarded to Turtles of Rathkenny.

One of the highlights of the event was the climax of the hotly contested NISA and McLarnon’s dairy cow championship. The finalists, which had qualified at nominated shows throughout the season, were paraded before judge Andrew Dennison, from Cumbria.

It proved to be a day to remember for the father and daughter team of Ivan and Louise Robinson, Ballygowan, County Down, who scooped the £500 championship award and McLarnon’s Feeds Perpetual Shield as well as the £300 reserve championship award.

Their overall winner was the much-admired Holstein cow, Glaslough Charles Fancy which had qualified for the competition at Armagh Show. Their runner-up was last week’s Castlewellan Show qualifier, Aldingham Stormatic Ghost.

Ulster Bank’s £150 cash award for the interbreed beef champion went to the Aberdeen Angus leader, Drumcorn Ergessa, a home-bred six-year-old cow exhibited by John and Ann Henning, Maghaberry. Bred by the herd’s former stock bull, Ballamanaugh Estefan, she was breed champion at Ballymena and Saintfield earlier in the year. This was the Henning’s second interbreed title at Antrim Show.

Claiming the reserve interbreed beef honours was the Limousin champion, Clydevalley Apricot, a November 2005 born cow brought out by Robert Clyde, Templepatrick. This home-bred cow is by the noted Ronick Gains.

The Northern Bank award for the supreme interbreed champion in the dairy section went to Coleraine-based Holstein breeder, Morrell McCollum. His show leader was the home-bred Boghill Goldwyn Gloriette, a November 2005 born Braedale Goldwyn daughter.

Standing in reserve position was the Jersey leader, Potterswalls Connection Lady ET, an October 2004 born cow shown by the Fleming Family from Seaforde, County Down.

Top honours in the interbreed sheep line-up went to the Texel champion, a shearling ewe exhibited by Alastair Gault, Newtownabbey. The reserve championship went to the Beltex leader shown by Elizabeth McAllister, Kells.

VIP visitors to Antrim’s 103rd annual show included Lord and Lady O’Neill, the Mayor of Antrim, Adrian Watson, UFU president Graham Furey and NISA chairman Randal Hayes.