“A Day at Ayr County Show”

The gates at The Ayr Racecourse will be opening on Saturday, 11th May for the spectacle that is the Ayr County Show. This year being the 179th Show in their 188th Year, with its winning formula of celebrating the traditional and embracing the future the Ayr County Show has earned its place as a ‘must do’ event on the calendars of both the farming community and families looking for a fun-packed, good value day out. The event includes exhibition & competition of many types of animals, Trade Stands, Crafts, Vintage Tractor Display, SWI Competitions, Young Farmers Competitions, Family Entertainment, Music, Children’s Marquee and ‘TT Ayr’ (Trucks & Tractor) Show. Food & Drink is very much part of the event creating the very important link ‘Field to Fork’. The Ayrshire Agricultural Association are committed to keeping this event going forward with a good range of attractions throughout the show field whilst not losing the true agricultural roots of Ayr County Show.
Hundreds of animals of a wide variety of breeds will be judged throughout the morning. The Light Horse & Pony classes will start at 8.00am, British Show Jumping classes at 9.00am & Clydesdale Horse classes at 10.30am. While the Cattle & Sheep classes start at 9.30am and Sticks & Crooks at 10am. Within the Clydesdale Horse Section; a Stud Cart Mare or Gelding driven by a Lady or Gentleman, this will take place in the Clydesdale Horse Ring at approx. 1.00pm. The individual Champion animals from each section meet in the main ring around mid-afternoon for The Rowan Crystal Supreme Champion of Champions to be judged and the winner be presented with the £1000 Prize and each of the runners-up’s a £200 prize kindly sponsored by Jim Craig (Ayr Mart.) in memory of his late wife Rowan. This, along with the Grand Parade of Livestock, are sights to behold.
The Goats section is not held at the Racecourse, but we will be running a back to back show with the Ayrshire Goat Club on Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th May at Craig Wilson Livestock Auction Mart. Please pop along to support them.
The local Ayrshire Young Farmers District organise a Tug of War competition, this will take place in The Main Ring at 9.30am. The Ayrshire Tug of War Club will be hosting a STOWA’s competition; there will be two 8 aside weights a ladies 560kg and a men’s 640kg. This will take place after the Ayrshire Young Farmers District Tug Of War Competition.
Trade Stand Exhibitors are major contributors to the show’s success; Agricultural shows are still significant business days and continue to offer a great shop window to the rural economy, we welcome companies large and small to continue their support of this event in the Scottish Agricultural Calendar. With over 100 trade stands each year ranging from agricultural dealerships, machinery, services and specialists, food, crafts, bespoke goods, clothing and gifts, equine and livestock products, there are just too many reasons to mention for you to attend our show.
Come along and visit our ‘Children’s Marquee’ where we will have Hannahston Alpacas, The Wearable Art Company Face Painters, Rainbow Twisters – Balloon Twisters & Airbrush Tattoo’s, Daffy Dill Entertainment, Ayrshire Beekeepers, Craigievern Poultry Display & Pigs, Blackstone Valais Blacknose sheep, SmartSTEMS, Cookbook Kids and the great Royal Highland Educational Trust (RHET) with lots to see & do including a fab teddy cow & lamb building workshop with the story of farming!
All of the above plus Sheep Shearing Demo by the ‘well known’ SHEEP GAME, Cammy Wilson, THE DINOSAUR INVASION, Owl Magic, music from Irvine Pipe Band, ‘TT AYR’ (Truck & Tractors), The Ayrshire Vintage Tractor & Machinery Club static display, The Scottish Old Skool Retro Car Club, Catering Facilities, Bar, Children's Bouncy Slide and Funfair rides makes Ayr County Show a great day out for the whole family.
Finally this year in the Main Ring we will have fantastic entertainment from Vander Super Heroes Double Wheel, a huge crowd puller performing spectacular stunts keeping all spectators mesmerised.