After the disappointing cancellation of Day 2 last year due to horrendous weather conditions. This year's event went wel, with large crowds enjoying the holiday atmosphere of the new-look games. The WORLD HIGHLAND GAMES INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE saw Sebastian Wenta (Poland) beat last year's winner Gregor Edmunds (Scotland) into third place, while Sean Betz (USA) came runner up.
Our first ever Local Heroes Competition saw 8 'ordinary Joes' take part in a strongman competition. The guys took the two day event very seriously, with Brian Irwin triumphing in first place, Denver McGuckin in second, and Wallace Clarke in third position.
14th July is traditionally sheep shearing day and althoughthe international competition in Calgary took away some would be stars, the Northern Ireland v Scotland Challenge made up for it. The Scottish team of Gavin Mutch and Hamish Mitchell came out victorious, as Hamish went on to lift the Jackson's Butchers Trophy for Best Quality Shearing, and Gavin claimed first place in the Open Shearing Competition.
The Beltex Competition saw Elizabeth McAllister take Champion with her aged ram, and Reserve Champion with her shearling ewe, while Ciaron McNeill won Best Young Handler.
Other livestock competitions saw one of the highest quality fields in any Shorthorn Show in the UK, with success for Castlemount Shorthorn whose Tamhorn Yoko took Champion, and for James Porter whose Uppermill Jellybean took Reserve Champion.
The Rare Breeds exhibits on Day Two proved extremely popular and this is area we look to develop next year.
This year's Pole Climbing Competition was won by Paul Spooner with Kieran McNichol and Andy Robinson in second and third places respectively.
The NI SEAFOOD Fine Food Marquee was packed with cookery enthusiasts as celebrity chef, Noel McMeel, showed us how to add a bit of spice to locally caught fish.
The Highland Dancing and Piping Competitions brought their own avid supporters, while the Irish Dancing and traditional music from both Ireland and Scotland certianly got the toes tapping. CLANN AN DRUMMA took us back to the era of Braveheart with their barbarian-style drummin, while the stunning costumes and Caribbean rhythms of the RAMPAGE CARNIVAL DANCERS and the SUNSHINE STEEL PANNERS just took your breath away!
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Many thanks also to our event sponsors
Turtles of Rathkenny, The Gathering 2009, Translink, Autotrader, L'Estrange and Brett, NFU Mutual, The Barbican, Scottish Woodlands Trust, Northern Bank, CR Supplies, Flo Gas, Curtis Toyota Ballymena,Ballygally Holiday Apartments and Larne Borough Council.