Less than three months remain until this year’s Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank gets underway and today, representatives from the Royal Ulster Agriculture Society (RUAS) and Ulster Bank, met to kick start the countdown to Northern Ireland’s biggest agricultural event.
The 152nd Show returns to Balmoral Park from 13th – 16th May and will feature a host of family entertainment, shopping outlets as well as food and drink stalls, showcasing the very best of NI produce.
As always, the many agricultural displays will take centre stage across the four-day Show with cattle parades, sheep shearing and show jumping events included on the bill.
Having renewed the sponsorship deal in the autumn of 2019, Ulster Bank committed to remain at the helm of the Show until 2022 and it was announced the event would be referred to as The Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank until this time.
At the time, Mark Crimmins, Ulster Bank’s Head of NI, said he was looking forward to building on Ulster Bank’s close and long-standing relationship with the Show, thoughts which he echoed again today.
“The 2020 Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank will be our 12th year as principal sponsor and over the past decade, we have raised the profile of the event and helped it grow from strength to strength.
“The Show is one of Northern Ireland’s leading events, both in terms of economic importance and popularity and as we move towards the next phase of our sponsorship, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to the local agri-food industry.
“Of course these are challenging times for many farmers and we see our sponsorship as further reassurance to our agri-customers that we are here to support them through the good times and the more difficult times. Such challenges only reinforce the significance of the Show to the wider industry as it provides a place for farmers and producers to meet, share experiences and seek the support they need for the year ahead.”
Show organisers RUAS also marked the official countdown and welcomed the continued support from principle sponsor Ulster Bank.
Alan Crowe, Chief Executive, RUAS said “With just 3 months to go until the 152nd Balmoral Show opens for business, we are busy putting plans in place and ensuring we are on track to deliver a world-class event.
“With the help of our partners in Ulster Bank, we have been able to introduce major and positive changes to the Show, such as relocating to Balmoral Park in 2014 and reintroducing the 4 day format in 2017. As we journey towards growing the Show even further and widening its appeal to a mass audience, we increasingly rely on the bank’s strategic guidance and very much value this support.”