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The weather may not seem like it but Balmoral Show starts a completly new phase of it's existence this week when it opens on Wednesday the 15th of May for three days at it's new home at the Maze Long Kesh Complex.
What's On
The impressive new Arena takes pride of place at the entrance to Balmoral Park. The Arena will host a packed programme of national and international show jumping and old favourites including the pony club games; falconry and the exhilarating Inter-hunt chase. New attractions for 2013 include Sheep Dog trials; Australian-based horse trainer Carlos Tabernaberri and headline act Kangaroo Kid.
The Kid aka Matt Coulter will perform in the Arena all three days of the Show. The Australian born entertainer and highly skilled motorcyclist will carry out a range of breath taking stunts on five specially adapted quad bikes. Audience participation is a key part of the act as the Kangaroo Kid will take four willing volunteers for a wheelie, before finishing his act with a jump over anything that is put in his path, be it cars, trucks or tractors
Other key attractions will be positioned around the Showgrounds, including the Young Farmers Club of Ulster Tug of War, vintage farm machinery, sheep shearing and introducing to the Balmoral Show, Shortt’s Racing Pigs. They’re pink, they’re perky and they’re hot to trotter! The runners and riders will be under starter’s orders on the Cattle Lawn on Wednesday and Friday.
With so many attractions and performances areas across the site, there are copious chances for patrons to become participants in the entertainment, including the opportunity to outsmart a mentalist! In two astonishing live shows on Wednesday David Meade threatens to reveal private PIN numbers, detect lies, reveal secret thoughts, and influence audience members with inexplicable results!
Keith Mathews 'The Dog Guru' will be in residence everyday on the Tesco Show Stage. Ireland’s most famous dog trainer and behaviourist, star of his own hit dog training TV show 'Good Dog Bad Dog', Keith has bred and trained Field Trial Champion Labradors and regularly judges and competes in field trials and working tests. He will be available for gundog lectures and general advice sessions.
In stark contrast to Keith’s practical guidance, the Show Stage also hosts Bruce Airhead - the metamorphosis of a man and 6 foot balloon - in what is billed by organisers as a spectacular and slightly surreal performance!
The Showgrounds will also be echoing with an eclectic music mix. A ceremonious brass band (Army No. 1 Band) shares the billing with swing, samba and folk. Founded in 1923, the Army No. 1 Band has performed throughout Ireland, Europe and beyond. They take to the Arena on Wednesday. Decked out in the striking McBeth tartan the Ravara Pipe Band, who hail from farming townland of ‘Ravara’ on the outskirts of Ballygowan in Co. Down, will perform in the Arena at 5.45pm on Friday. One of Northern Ireland’s best Dixieland bands, The Bourbon Swing Jazz Band can be found playing every day from 11am in the Garden Village.
For younger patrons, there is an opportunity to hold, stroke and feed the baby animals within the Children’s Farm, as well as the appeal of the dedicated Kids Zone featuring a bouncy castle, bungee trampoline, kids’ rides and face painters. Not only that, but for the first time ever visitors can enjoy a spin on one of the many rides in the Balmoral Show Funfair.
Make sure to take a spin on the Land Train Express. The purpose built vehicle will enable passengers to sit back and relax as it takes them, not only on a journey around the Showgrounds, but also down memory lane. The train travels along a route with a respectful nod to the past – setting off from Nugent Way, the land express will turn right into Park Central East, right on to Balmoral Avenue before completing the circuit back on to Nugent Way.
Food is an integral component of Balmoral Show. ‘Grown here, not Flown’ here is the theme of this year’s NI Food Pavilion. Over 60 local food and drink companies will be tantalising visitors’ taste buds with the best of local produce. With a greater area allocated to this key attraction than ever before, the Pavilion promises a larger NI Signature Kitchen with cookery demonstrations from top chefs, a kids’ area, interactive competitions and traditional bread making demos, all designed to demonstrate that ‘Our Food is So Good’.
The Show Stage is an area like no other at the Balmoral Show. Where else would David Meade, the Dog Guru and a Michael Jackson tribute act all entertain audiences in the same place?
The show stage hosts a variety of demonstrations, dance acts, seminars and interactive activities to suit the diverse audience that the Show attracts.
Other acts that will wow the crowds include singer Aishlene Scullion on Wednesday evening, Northern Irish band, Castlestreet on Thursday evening and Bruce Airhead who will put on a spectacular and surreal performance every day that really is something that needs to be seen to be believed.
There is also lots to keep the little ones engaged and entertained such as Scientific Sue and Professor Parky’s Punch & Judy show.
Colin McDonald, RUAS Chief Executive, concluded, “We look forward to welcoming regular and new visitors to this year’s Show. We guarantee that there is plenty on offer for all ages and tastes, and we have taken great care to ensure that while we use our new facility to maximum effect and introduce many new sights and sounds, we also maintain many of the Show’s most popular regular features. I think we’ve managed to combine the best of old and new and create the Show that everyone already knows and loves, just bigger and better.”
Getting to the Show
Balmoral Show organisers are advising people planning to attend this year’s Balmoral Show to consider how they will travel to Balmoral Park. In a bid to make the journey as convenient as possible, organisers have put the following measures in place.
Organisers would firstly encourage visitors to travel by public transport. A courtesy shuttle service will run from to Lisburn Train Station to Balmoral Park from 8.30am - 9pm daily. Shuttle passengers who purchase early bird tickets for the Balmoral Show website will be able to enjoy priority entry to the Show. Translink are also offering special coach day tours available to purchase online offering return journeys to Balmoral Park and Show admission.
Alternatively free parking is available at the King’s Hall Complex. Visitors who avail of this option can take the train from Balmoral Halt to Lisburn Train Station and avail of the onward shuttle service to Balmoral Park.
Finally visitors can avail of the extensive parking facilities at Balmoral Park.
One advantage for Newry drivers is that it's even easier to get to now being just a few miles from Hillsborough. Just follow the directional signs from the A1!
Colin McDonald, RUAS Chief Executive said, “We are looking forward to welcoming large crowds of people to the first Balmoral Show at the new venue. There is ample provision for car parking at a cost of £5.00 per day per car and £10 per day per coach. There will also be a dedicated coach park for bus excursions. A detailed route map has been published to allow visitors to plan their journey to the event. Please leave plenty of time for your journey to the event.
Details of arrangements for travelling to the Show can be found at: www.balmoralshow.co.uk and www.translink.co.uk/balmoralshow2013
The Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank runs from Wednesday 15th May – Friday 17th May 2013. The event is open from 9.30am daily.
