Cattle Section

This class must be entered
Prize money kindly sponsored by W.R. Kennedy & Co is 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20.
The Junior Beef Shield will be awarded to the winner of this class
All beef animals born on or after 1st March 2025 who have been entered in their appropriate section may enter this class

Enter on show day
KIndly sponsored by Hamills Recycling
Prize money 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20
The animals must be the property of one exhibitor and entered in their respective breed classes
The James McWhirter Trophy will be awarded to the winner of this class

For the best Junior Bull born on or after 1st January 2025

NISA Pedigree Junior Bull Championship Final is being held this year at Clogher Valley Show on 29th July 2026. All exhibitors wishing to qualify for this Championship must enter the name of their animal(s) and exhibitor details, in their respective class at the qualifying Shows. Only the 1st & 2nd placed exhibits in Junior Bull Classes at Ballymena Show are eligible to go forward to the NISA Pedigree Junior Bull qualifier that day.

To maximise attendance of qualified exhibits at the Championship Final, those who qualify must confirm their intention to be present at Clogher Valley Show on 29th July 2026 for the Championship Final. In the event of qualified exhibitors not wishing to attend the Final, the next placed animal will qualify.

No exhibitor may qualify more than two exhibits for the Championship Final. Animals cannot qualify at Clogher Valley Show for the Championship.

NISA will present rosettes to the exhibitors for both qualifying animals at each qualifying show and Champion & Reserve Champion Rosettes at the Final

Prize money at the Final:

1st £300
2nd £200
3rd £100
4th £50

Prize money will be forwarded to the named exhibitor following the Final. It is important that all those who qualify register their intention to attend the Final with the NISA administrator.

The Qualifying Shows for the Bank of Ireland/NISA Junior Bull Championship are: -
Ballymena, Ballymoney, Lurgan, Armagh, Saintfield, Newry, Omagh, Castlewellan, Limavady, and Antrim.

Open to children 8 - 11 years of age as of 1st May in current year
Prize money 1st £20, 2nd £15, 3rd £10, 4th £5, 5th £5, 6th £5, 7th £5, 8th £5, 9th £5
Exhibitor must be capable of handling the animal being shown.

Open to children 12 - 15 years of age as of 1st May in current year
Prize money - 1st £20, 2nd £15, 3rd £10,4th £5, 5th £5, 6th £5, 7th £5, 8th £5,9th £5
Exhibitor must be capable of handling animal being shown

Open to teenagers 16 - 18 years of age as of 1st May in current year
Prize money - 1st £20, 2nd £15, 3rd £10,4th £5, 5th £5, 6th £5, 7th £5, 8th £5,9th £5
Exhibitor must be capable of handling the animal being shown.

Beef Young Handler – age 12 – 15.
Beef Young Handler – age 16 – 18.
Age as of 1st May in current year.
Animals to be 12 months or under on 1st May, in current year.


The Dunbia / NISA Beef Young Handler Championship is being held this year at Limavady Show on Saturday 18th July 2026. All exhibitors wishing to qualify for this Championship Final must enter the name of their animal(s) and exhibitor details, at the qualifying Show. It is important that the date of birth, contact details (phone number and/or email address). and parent/guardian details, where these differ from the exhibitor details are all available.

The qualified exhibitors will be the top three Young Handlers in each age group of the Dunbia / NISA Beef young handler class at each qualifying show.

Parents/Guardians are requested to ensure that exhibitors are competent and capable of handling the animal. One adult is welcome to enter the ring to ensure safety.
In these classes the appearance and skill of the exhibitor will be considered.

Rosettes will be awarded to each qualified Young Handler. Champion & Reserve Rosettes will be awarded at the final.

Prize Money at the final:
1st £100
2nd £75
3rd £50

The Qualifying Shows for the Dunbia/NISA Beef Young Handler are:
Ballymena, Ballymoney, Lurgan, Armagh, Saintfield, Newry, Omagh, and Limavady.

Ballymena Show requires all exhibitors intending to put forward an animal for use in the Young Handler section to already have the animal entered and forward in a previous class at the Show.

Bonafide the property of one exhibitor and entered in the above classes for which they are eligible

bonefide the property of one exhibitor and entered in the above classes for which they are eligible

bonafide the property of one exhibitor and entered in the above classes for which they are eligible

The Beef Shorthorn Pair Award will be presented to the winner of this class on show day
Animals must be the property of one exhibitor

cup to be presented to winner

Bonafide the property of one exhibitor and entered in the above classes for which they are eligible

entries will be taken on the day and will not be catalogued

entries will be taken on the day and will not be catalogued

This class must be entered.
All dairy animals born on or after 1st March 2024 who have been entered in their appropriate section may enter this class
Prize money kindly sponsored by HA McIlrath & Son
1st £20, 2nd £15, 3rd £10
The Junior Dairy Shield will be awarded to the winner of this class

from the same exhibitor, in calf or in milk
This class must be entered.
All exhibits must be drawn from one breed and entered in their respective breed classes
Prize money kindly sponsored by Greenhill Systems
1st £100, 2nd £70, 3rd £30
The Robert King and The McLarnon Feeds Trophies will be awarded to the winner of this class

from the same exhibitor and entered in their respective breed classes
This class must be entered.
Prize money kindly sponsored by United Feeds
1st £70, 2nd £30, 3rd £20
The best pair of Pedigree Dairy animals will be awarded the United Feeds Trophy

in milk, must be calved before 3 years of age
This class must be entered.
Prize money kindly sponsored by Fane Valley Feeds
1st £100, 2nd £60, 3rd £40, 4th £20

To include “Junior Champion and Reserve Junior Champion”

Thompson’s / NISA Dairy Cow Championship is being held this year at Antrim Show on Saturday 25th July 2026. All exhibitors wishing to qualify for the Final must enter the name of their animal(s) and exhibitor details in their respective classes, at the qualifying show.

The Dairy Interbreed Champion and Reserve Champion at Ballymena Show are eligible to go forward to the Thompson’s Dairy Cow Final, however, if they do not wish to take up their place at the Final, this will go to the next highest place cow in the Interbreed Championship. Three animals per Show will qualify for the Final to include a maximum of 2 adult cows in milk (lactation 2+) and one heifer-in-milk cow (lactation 1).
To maximise attendance of qualified exhibits at the Championship Final, those who qualify must confirm their intention to be present at Antrim Show on 25th July 2026 for the Championship final. In the event of qualified exhibitors not wishing to attend the Final, the next placed animal will qualify.

An exhibitor can qualify a maximum of four exhibits for the Championship Final. An exhibit can only bring their first 4 cattle qualified forward to the final, no substitutions are permitted. After winning a qualifying place at a Show, the exhibitor must accept or decline their qualifying place so that the qualifying place can be awarded down the line if necessary.

THOMPSON’S will present special rosettes to the exhibitors of qualified animals at each qualifying Shows. Each animal forward at the Championship Final, will receive a Thompson’s £50 Feed Voucher.

Animals placed 1st to 6th in the Championship will receive Prize Money as follows:

Champion £500 Junior Champion £300
Reserve Champion £300 Reserve Champion £150
3rd Place £200
4th Place £150
5th Place £100
6th Place £50

In addition, £100 plus sash will be awarded to the highest placed Exhibitor-bred animal at the Championship (born on farm, not purchased embryo), and the exhibit with the Best Udder will also receive £100 plus sash. The Junior Champion will receive a sash and rosette, and the Reserve Junior Champion a rosette.

The THOMPSON’S Perpetual Shield will be presented to the Champion.

The Qualifying Shows for the Thompson’s Dairy Cow Championship are:
Ballymena, Ballymoney, Lurgan, Armagh, Saintfield, Newry, Omagh, Castlewellan, Limavady and Antrim.

open to children 7 - 14 years of age on 1st May in current year
Prize money, kindly sponsored by Lakeland Dairies - 1st £20, 2nd £15, 3rd £10,4th £5, 5th £5, 6th £5, 7th £5, 8th £5,9th £5
Exhibitor must be capable of handling animal being shown

Open to teenagers 15 - 21 years of age on 1st May in current year
Prize money, kindly sponsored by Lakeland Dairies - 1st £20, 2nd £15, 3rd £10,4th £5, 5th £5, 6th £5, 7th £5, 8th £5,9th £5
Exhibitor must be capable of handling animal being shown

Dairy Young Handler – age 7 – 14
Dairy Young Handler – age 15 – 21
Age as of 1st May in current year.
Animals to be 12 months or under on 1st May, in current year.


The Bank of Ireland / NISA Dairy Young Handler Championship is being held this year at Clogher Valley Show on Wednesday 29th July 2026. All exhibitors wishing to qualify for this Championship must enter the name of their animal(s) and exhibitor details, at the qualifying show. It is important that the date of birth, contact details (phone number and/or email address). and parent/guardian details, where these differ from the exhibitor details are all available.

The Qualified exhibitors will be the top three Young Handlers in each age section of the Bank of Ireland / NISA qualifying class at each qualifying show.

Parents/Guardians are requested to ensure that exhibitors are competent and capable of handling the animal. One adult is welcome to enter the ring to ensure safety.
In these classes the appearance and skill of the exhibitor will be considered.

Rosettes will be awarded to each qualified Young Handler. Championship & Reserve Championship rosettes will be awarded at the Final.

Prize Money at the final:
1st £100
2nd £75
3rd £50

£15 will be paid to all other competitors who have qualified and attend the Final, kindly sponsored by Bank of Ireland.

The Qualifying Show are Ballymena, Ballymoney, Lurgan, Armagh, Saintfield, Newry, Omagh, Castlewellan, Limavady, Antrim and Clogher Valley.
Ballymena Show requires all exhibitors intending to put forward an animal for use in the Young Handler section to already have the animal entered in a previous class at the Show.
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Cows in this class will be judged not only on appearance but also on their last qualifying milk and butter-fat yields. Note:- Official Production Certificate of Last Lactation MUST be included with entry or emailed to secretary@ballymenashow.co.uk

Bonafide the property of one exhibitor and entered in the above classes for which they are eligible
Prize money 1st £30, 2nd £20, 3rd £10
The Robert Kerr Trophy will be awarded to the winner of this class

confined to cows which have been recorded under an Official Recording Scheme.
Cows in this class will be judged not only on appearance but also on their last qualifying milk and butter fat yields
Note:- Official Production Certificate of Last Lactation must be presented on the day
Prize money 1st £ 30, 2nd £20, 3rd £10
The cow awarded the most points in this class will be awarded the Hugh A Clarke trophy

bonafide the property of one exhibitor and entered in the above classes for which they are eligible
Prize money 1st £30, 2nd £20, 3rd £10

confined to cows which have been recorded under an Official Recording Scheme
Cows in this class will be judged not only on appearance but also on their last qualifying milk and butter- fat yields
Note:- Official Production Certificate of Last Lactation MUST be presented on the day of show
Prize money 1st £30, 2nd £20

the property of one exhibitor and entered in the above classes for which they are eligible
Prize money £30, 2nd £20, 3rd £10