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00:01Gentlemen, how are your energy levels now?
00:04Very dense.
00:35From all over Ireland, farmers, food producers and show teams are arriving here at Lisbon for
00:42one of the biggest dates in the rural calendar, the four-day Balmoral show.
00:47It's the region's biggest celebration and showcase of all that's great and good about
00:52Northern Irish agriculture and local produce.
00:56The show, organised by the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, is now in its 157th year.
01:04It's had several homes over the years, but now takes place 13 miles south-west of Belfast,
01:11in Lisbon, on a 65-acre site, where modern skills and age-old traditions come together,
01:18in front of an audience of thousands.
01:22This is very important to them, as a family, for the value and reputation of their animals.
01:28So there's a lot riding on this.
01:30Go!
01:34I'm watching to see if they touch any posts.
01:37So he's got to zig-zag all the way to here.
01:38So he has to zig-zag through the corns.
01:40That is really tricky.
01:44There's something quite therapeutic about it.
01:46Everybody says that.
01:47There's something like, this should be therapy, shouldn't it?
01:50See how you feel after a thousand.
01:57I always forget that feeling when you walk into an agricultural show, that sort of sense of excitement.
02:02Yeah, you've been to loads more agricultural shows than me, but I get it as well.
02:05It's the tannoy, it's the buzz of all the people around, it's the smells.
02:09There's something really special about it, isn't there?
02:10And I think particularly here in Northern Ireland, at the Balmoral show,
02:13you know, the community locally is really entrenched in agriculture.
02:17Right, I can see some heavy-duty machinery over there, so that's where I'm going.
02:21Well, no surprises where I'm off to.
02:22I'm going to go down the cattle lines.
02:23See you later.
02:25At the heart of Balmoral are the livestock rings,
02:28where generations of farming knowledge, pride and competition all come together.
02:34As you walk through the cattle lines, there's a constant buzz of primping, cleaning, brushing and combing.
02:39People making the final touches to their animals before their few moments of fame in the show ring.
02:47But the work of getting livestock show ready starts well before the gates open.
02:52And when it comes to big personalities in the ring, one breed towers above the rest.
02:58Well, maybe not towers.
03:01Dexters are the smallest native breed in the UK and Ireland.
03:05And although they only stand about waist high,
03:08they carry a big legacy for Irish farming heritage on these little shoulders.
03:14And aren't you gorgeous?
03:18Desmond Bloomer has been showing Dexters here for 12 years.
03:22And like many in the ring this week,
03:24it's a real family affair with his son Matthew and daughter Grace alongside him.
03:29How are you?
03:30How are you?
03:31How are you?
03:31How are you doing?
03:32How many people to prepare a bull?
03:36Just the finer details here.
03:39God, he looks tremendous, doesn't he?
03:41Yeah, this is Spider-Man. He's four years old, so he is.
03:44It's not the first time he's been Balmoral.
03:45He's been here last year as well, so looking forward to it.
03:48So take me through the final points of a Dexter then.
03:51There's three main colours in the Dexter breed, and that's red, black and dun.
03:54Oh, and dun, of course, the chocolatey colour.
03:56Yeah, that's red.
03:57And the Dexter breed, they've been known as a dual purpose breed.
04:00So that means for all the size and believe it or not,
04:02they actually produce quite a bit of milk.
04:04Yeah.
04:04And their beef is just simply tremendous.
04:07There's no beef can touch it.
04:08And there is a huge amount of work that goes into this, isn't there?
04:11A tremendous amount of work goes into it.
04:12Like this plan to come to Balmoral starts before Christmas,
04:16and it's getting them fed properly, it's getting them in the right condition,
04:18it's keeping their feet right, it's keeping everything right.
04:21Anybody in this ring here, it's a big effort to get to Balmoral.
04:24And another thing, it's very costly to go to do shows.
04:27Yeah.
04:28Buying all the equipment, buying all the shampoos, whatever you need.
04:32But it is a great time out, it's a great time out to meet different people.
04:35Yeah.
04:35And you guys, well you clearly are bought into it.
04:38Yeah.
04:39Is it a family thing you love, or do you wish you were off with your mates in town?
04:42No, I love showing the cows now, especially the Dexters,
04:46they've given me a lot more confidence to go show a bigger breed,
04:49like the confidence has started from the Dexters.
04:51Yeah, yeah.
04:53By the mid-20th century, this native breed had nearly disappeared,
04:57but thanks to families like the bloomers embracing them
05:00as a great starting point for young handlers,
05:03Dexters are now enjoying a real resurgence in the show ring.
05:07We're going to spray them down here now just to get the shine built up for tomorrow.
05:12OK.
05:13Maybe give them a wee run with the Clippers later on,
05:15but the Dexters breed as such is, they're shown quite naturally.
05:20But everyone in this isle, they take that to the absolute limit.
05:26So you use lots of tricks of the trade just to make him do that little bit extra.
05:30Is it all friendly or are you fighting at the end of the day?
05:33It's friendly, but you know yourself when you go into the ring,
05:35it's everyone out for their own leg.
05:40What can I do to help?
05:42Go on, let me do it.
05:42You can cover up all the blips, you know, like this wee...
05:44I don't want to show the judge, I hope the judge,
05:46but this wee bump here would need to be, and this here would need to be...
05:48Oh, yeah.
05:50So you want to get it fluffed up a bit without pulling out any hair out.
05:53You want to get it fluffed up to it doesn't show that bump.
05:54Yeah.
05:55You have to point me if I'm doing this wrong, Grace.
05:58And that's what it is, it's about him being a tremendous animal,
06:01but you want to show him at his very best.
06:03That's right, yeah.
06:04That's right.
06:04And then even there, say you work around the back there, you notice Grace there.
06:08She was brushing this bit up the way and now she's going out the way.
06:11So that's just more so a wee trick just to make the ball look slightly wider.
06:15So it's an optical illusion?
06:16That's right.
06:17Anything to trick the judge as much as you can.
06:21So who have you got in the ring tomorrow?
06:23Well, we have this bull here, this is Spiderman.
06:25Cerberus is a bigger bull who has won Balmoral before.
06:29Yeah.
06:29Matthew will be taking him.
06:30And Grace and myself will be leading Bora,
06:33who has been the national Dexter champion in 2023.
06:37Right.
06:37So it's a bit of competition among ourselves.
06:39In-house family competition.
06:41Yes.
06:41He seems pretty relaxed, isn't he?
06:43He's almost gone to sleep here with all this.
06:44Oh, that's right.
06:44He wouldn't need to be sleeping tomorrow, that's for sure.
06:49Well, good luck.
06:50All right, thank you.
06:51We'll see you in the show ring.
06:52I'll be cheering on from the sides.
07:06Alongside the livestock rings, Balmoral's young farmers are taking things up a gear.
07:11Modern farming runs on big machines and handling heavy equipment, weighing several tons, well,
07:18it takes precision and talent.
07:20And here at the Balmoral show, young farmers from right across Northern Ireland are battling
07:25it out in one of the show's biggest tests of skill.
07:30It's the machinery handling competition, where competitors use the talent they've gained on
07:36the farm to tow a piece of machinery around an obstacle course and all against the clock.
07:42Matthew Cleland and Alexander Mitchell from County Down are one of six pairs of young farmers
07:48competing today.
07:49You're up against the other counties of Northern Ireland.
07:52Yeah.
07:52What's that rivalry like?
07:54We wouldn't call it a county rivalry.
07:55It's more of a friendship rivalry.
07:56So you can go around and bragging rights and being like, you aren't very good at this.
08:02Matthew and Alexander haven't always been teammates.
08:05Until recently, they were rivals.
08:08Each pair competing today are made up of the first and second place winners of the Heat in
08:13their county.
08:15And who won?
08:16Me.
08:17Alexander was first.
08:18Right, okay.
08:19There were 16 there at the Heat competing.
08:22And Alexander was first and I came second then.
08:25How do you feel about that?
08:26Any hard feelings?
08:27No.
08:27Put that behind you.
08:28Just how it goes.
08:29Just how it goes.
08:30We're here today.
08:31It doesn't matter who's first, second in the Heat.
08:33We're here today competing to win.
08:34While the course is set up, the tractors are brought to the sidelines.
08:39And no stranger to these massive engines is today's competition judge, William Richmond.
08:45So how do you judge this competition?
08:48Is it just about the time?
08:49So it's not all about time.
08:51Number one, we look at safety.
08:52So if they touch one of the posts around the pitch, we have five second penalties for
08:57that.
08:57If they have to adjust or if they have wheel spin or anything like that, we have five second
09:02penalties and things for that too.
09:03So wheel spins like they're revving up.
09:05If they're revving up, we're just trying to get there too quickly.
09:08Safety always first.
09:09We have the pitch here.
09:10The pitch is divided in two halves.
09:12So we start here in reverse and we go out through the course in reverse.
09:16And they do like a three point turn like what you would do in your car.
09:19They reverse back and up to the other end and finish with their three point turn so it's
09:23ready for the next contestant.
09:24So basically reversing all the way around.
09:26All in reverse, yeah.
09:27You've set a challenge there.
09:29The piece of machinery they'll be towing this year is the land roller.
09:33Not an easy choice when driving in reverse.
09:37Land roller is quite difficult.
09:38The roller itself is twelve foot wide and we have set the post at one foot on each side
09:42of that there so they can get in around.
09:44There is a challenge in it.
09:45There definitely is a challenge.
09:46With the competition about to commence, the competitors take to the field to scout out
09:51the course.
09:52It does look pretty narrow, I've got to say.
09:54Now, seeing it on your map it looked a bit easier.
09:56This is really tight.
09:58And I'm assigned a challenge of my own.
10:00Right, so stopwatch, start, stop and press to reset, okay?
10:06Okay, cool.
10:08I'm quite nervous about this.
10:09You give me one job and I'm going to muck it up.
10:11That will ruin everything, won't it?
10:13Yeah.
10:14Great.
10:16Competitors will race in pairs with their combined times and penalties deciding the
10:20final score.
10:22First into the tractors are Stephen and Ian Wilson from County Antrim.
10:28Okay.
10:29Ready, steady, go.
10:32So we have Ian Wilson and Stephen Wilson from Glen O'Ballet competing here today.
10:37These are the reigning champions since last year.
10:40So we have them here reversing out, out round the cones in the middle.
10:44And I'm watching to see if they touch any posts.
10:47So he's got to zig-zag all the way to here.
10:49So he has to zig-zag through the cones.
10:51That is really tricky.
10:54He just missed the post here.
10:56So that's okay, is it?
10:57That's okay, he didn't touch it.
10:58We're just watching the post at the far side, see if it doesn't move.
11:01His other team-mates beat him down at that end.
11:05So he's doing well.
11:07We haven't done any penalties yet.
11:08He's doing really well.
11:13He's a pretty good driver, I think.
11:14He's really good, isn't he?
11:15I think I might employ him.
11:16He just has to park his tractor in reverse now and then he'll be sprinting up to the finish line.
11:25So does he have to touch the box?
11:27He has to set the key on the box, yeah.
11:31Wow, that was amazing.
11:33417.
11:35417, excellent.
11:37That was incredible.
11:38After an impressive show from the reigning champions, the other teams know they'll need to be fast.
11:44But prioritise speed and they risk making costly mistakes.
11:493, 2, 1, go.
11:51Now we have two members from County Fermanagh.
11:57In the running from County Armagh, a Joel Milligan is first time competing
12:02and George Porter is in his sixth consecutive final.
12:15Did he just hit that, I don't know?
12:17I think he did, yeah.
12:21Almost touching that post.
12:23No, he's just not cutting the wheels in quick enough.
12:26Touched another post.
12:27That's another five seconds.
12:29Oh, we're adding up here, aren't we?
12:30Judge William is also no stranger to the pressures of competing.
12:34You used to do this, didn't you, when you were a young farmer?
12:36Yeah, back in 1998 I took part in this.
12:39We had a three-day final at Selso College in England.
12:42Oh, right, so you take on the other nations as well.
12:45You were flying the flag for Northern Ireland?
12:46Took on the nations, so I came runner-up at that stage.
12:5158.
12:52358.
12:52That's a quick time, that.
12:55Now it's Matthew and Alexander's turn.
12:58Here go Matthew and Alexander.
13:00Getting ready to take on this really tricky course, actually.
13:06Ready?
13:063, 2, 1, go.
13:11Well, they run fast.
13:12So we have Alexander then on our end.
13:17So he's struggling here, he can't get the tractor into gear.
13:19Can't get into gear.
13:20Ah, he's off.
13:21There we go.
13:22When you can't get it into gear, I guess that makes you nervous,
13:24which means you then start to make other mistakes.
13:26Yeah.
13:27Oh, he's got a post as well.
13:30He's having a tough one.
13:32Yeah, but sure, it's a taking part in the competition.
13:35You know, he's here, he's enjoying what he's doing, no doubt, yeah.
13:37Yeah, it's a lesson to us all.
13:38We can all have a bad day.
13:39And he's here for his county, so he's really good.
13:41He needs to calm down a wee bit and take his time here.
13:45The secret is just realising, oops, you know, the faster we go,
13:48the more mistakes we're going to make.
13:49He's got through that one all right, hasn't he?
13:51Yeah.
13:51I can feel the pressure and I'm not in that tractor.
13:53And he's going to run now, is he?
13:55He has to run, so we'll make our way back up to the start point.
14:03With all the runs now completed, the judges tot up the scores.
14:09In second place, we have County Antrim Young Farmers.
14:13That's Ian and Stephen Wilson.
14:18And in first place, we have County Armagh.
14:26Joan Mulligan and George Porter.
14:29As the winners celebrate, I'm catching up with Matthew and Alexander
14:33for some post-match analysis.
14:36I thought it looked really good, but you couldn't get started, could you?
14:39Oh, I couldn't get her into gear.
14:40You did eventually.
14:41Oh, I got her into it, yeah.
14:42I'm in awe of your driving.
14:43I couldn't even do that in a car, so that was very good.
14:47What did you make of the guys who won it?
14:50Yeah, well, fair play to them.
14:51Like, it was two clean runs.
14:53They were quick, flawless, didn't hit anything.
14:56When you think of the whole Balmoral show, what do you get out of it?
14:58You work all year, all night, everything else.
15:02You just come here, you're friends, bit of crack.
15:04People, neighbours, young farmers, anybody.
15:06It's just a day of relax.
15:07And this just brings everybody together?
15:09Yeah, it does, yeah.
15:10You get a bit of crack, a bit of catch-up.
15:11You'll be back next year?
15:13We'll try to.
15:13We'll try to.
15:27Everywhere we go on Countryfile, we meet people with a real passion for the countryside.
15:32And now we're looking for the next generation of them.
15:39Countryfile are in search of a young countryside champion for the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026.
15:47It might be a young farmer trying out new ideas to boost yields or farm more sustainably.
15:53A young naturalist helping to protect local wildlife.
15:57Or a volunteer opening up opportunities for others to experience the countryside.
16:02However they're making a difference, we'd love to hear their story.
16:07So if you or someone you know is aged between 16 and 24 and passionate about improving the British countryside,
16:14then please get in touch.
16:16To nominate for the Countryfile Young Countryside Champion,
16:19go to bbc.co.uk forward slash food awards,
16:23where you can also find the terms and privacy notice.
16:27Nominations close at midday on Monday 15th June 2026.
16:32Good luck.
16:43Balmoral isn't just about promoting the farming skills of the future.
16:48New to the show this year is a heritage craft hub,
16:51celebrating rural skills once found right across Northern Ireland.
16:56Throughout the week you can try your hand at everything from saddlery to spinning.
17:01And I'm curious to find out how these rural crafts are being kept alive,
17:05and whether they still have a place in the modern world.
17:10Clive Little is the man behind the hub,
17:12a multi-skilled craftsman on a mission to bring these practices to life.
17:17Clive, can I interrupt you? Adam, hi, how are you?
17:19I understand you are Mr Rural Crafts in Northern Ireland, is that right?
17:23I don't know whether I'd say that, but yeah, OK, I'll take it.
17:27Wonderful. Can you show me some of the things you've got here?
17:28Yeah, sure. Donkey creel, so traditional basket made all over Ireland really.
17:35So one on each side of the donkey on a sort of pannier,
17:38and one on each side filled with turf then to come back from the bog.
17:42Turf or seaweed off the beach for everything to do with farming and food.
17:48Donkey being a classic animal of burden in Ireland,
17:51and the turf or the peat would have been used for firing the house fires?
17:56Oh yes, all day, turf fire burning all day,
17:59keep the cottage warm and you have to cook on then as well.
18:02They can be done in plastic, but they're not a proper, you know,
18:06natural material and handmade, but it's kind of rooted in conservation.
18:11I grow a lot of our own materials,
18:13grow a lot of our own timber for our woodworking,
18:15so yeah, it's all coming from my own small holding.
18:18It's the whole process of growing, harvesting,
18:23preparing, making, selling.
18:25Like it would have been for centuries really?
18:28Yes, or I suppose bartering.
18:30So you're trying to keep a lot of these skills alive?
18:32Yes.
18:33Why do you think that's important?
18:35I think in a modern era we need to step back, slow down,
18:38it's all kind of slow craft, slow food, it's a movement.
18:41We do a lot of workshops, a lot of demonstrations and a lot of workshops,
18:45working with a diverse range of groups.
18:47And using basketry and that repetitive action of any craft really is brilliant for your mental health.
18:54So you just get lost in your work.
18:55Yeah.
18:56Get some headspace, get away, forget about it.
18:58You're focused completely on what you're doing.
19:00So yeah, everything else goes out the window for those few hours you're weaving.
19:06They really are a work of art, aren't they?
19:08What a great skill to have.
19:12For Clive, this isn't just about looking back.
19:15It's about giving these skills a future.
19:19Also part of Clive's rural craft hub is bespoke leather work,
19:23a traditional skill that's very much still in demand.
19:27That leather looks cheapish.
19:30Yeah.
19:30Whereas the dark...
19:31It sets off our head nicer, doesn't it?
19:34So again, something if you can do buckles both sides.
19:38Yes.
19:39Yeah, would be brilliant.
19:42At a show like Balmoral, where presentation is everything,
19:46Master Sadler, Lucy Cushley, is never short of work.
19:50So what's going on here then?
19:51So I made this for Stephen about ten years ago
19:54and must have done a really good job because he's called me back
19:57and he's asked me to do one for a heifer this time, isn't it?
20:00Yeah, yeah.
20:01This was originally made for a bull.
20:03Bull halters are hard to come by, especially custom-made.
20:07Yeah.
20:08And again, it's very unique.
20:09It has my herd name on it.
20:11There's the stuff off the peg.
20:14They just don't fit well,
20:15but they still want a bit of finesse on them,
20:17so that's what we're going for.
20:18That's a beautiful piece of craft, isn't it?
20:20Really lovely.
20:21Yeah, yeah, yeah.
20:21And when you're leading a bull into the ring,
20:23I mean, presumably there's a lot of pressure on this.
20:25Oh, yeah.
20:26Like, if a bull touches grass, he generally will take a jump.
20:30You want something that's going to make sure he doesn't get off.
20:33Like, yeah.
20:34The way you've got these bits of brass,
20:36where's the back of it then?
20:38In between?
20:38Yeah, everything is hidden away by leather
20:41because if you imagine having a big prong in your face
20:44whenever you're trying to look your best,
20:46it's not going to really work very well.
20:47So that's why when people come to me and say,
20:49oh, just stick an ornament through, I go, no,
20:51it's got to have the backing on it.
20:53You know, we've got to look after animal welfare here.
20:55And are you kept busy at a show like this?
20:57Yeah, honestly.
20:58You know, craft, a lot of people think it's just something
21:01that's kept on the sidelines or in the training room,
21:03but craft is living, breathing and alive.
21:06Yeah, sure.
21:07And it's so important that day-to-day people realise
21:09that it's there for you.
21:11You just need to look for it and we're here.
21:12And you've got to stand here.
21:14I do, yeah.
21:15I'm trying to demonstrate to people
21:17who might debate the price on things
21:20or why people do certain things a certain way.
21:22And you turn around and go,
21:23well, actually, here's the reason why.
21:25And it's educating people,
21:27talking to somebody who's put their life's work
21:29into doing something, you know.
21:30And are there many of you?
21:32Well, probably not as there were back in the day.
21:34You know, every village would have had a saddler
21:36from horses to cattle to helping out the blacksmith
21:41to, you know, people hedgeling.
21:43We were integral to society.
21:45And I think when people realise that craft
21:48is one of our most precious and ancient things
21:51in our DNA, we need to be there.
21:54And people do want this.
21:55It's just trying to coax them out of the thought of,
21:58oh, it doesn't matter.
21:59Because whenever they do realise how much it does matter,
22:03they can't live without it.
22:04Presumably a little bit more expensive,
22:06so you're prepared to pay the money.
22:07Yeah, it is a bit more expensive.
22:10It's hard at the time, but that'll last for years.
22:12That might outlast me, to be fair.
22:14You and me!
22:17These are crafts rooted in the everyday working life
22:20of the countryside.
22:22Here at Balmoral, they're not just being remembered,
22:25they're alive and well.
22:37The Balmoral show brings together young farmers
22:39from right across Northern Ireland.
22:42And there's one of the regular attendees
22:44that I've got to know over the last few years,
22:46and that's local farmer Emily McGowan.
22:50Emily is a sixth generation farmer
22:52from Calinchy County down.
22:55Give me a lesson on pulling carrots then.
22:57It's a very simple process, as I say.
22:58You've got to get stuck in.
23:00My carrots aren't coming out.
23:02A couple of years ago,
23:03she began running the family farm alongside her dad
23:06and has been putting her own stamp on it ever since,
23:10adding seasonal flowers and a shop to their mixed farm.
23:16I started coming to the Balmoral show
23:18when I was seven years old,
23:20and that is almost 20 years ago.
23:22I used to compete little small ponies,
23:24and as a young farmer coming to the show,
23:27there's a great buzz
23:28and a wee bit of a social scene that goes on.
23:30But you also get to see what's going on in the industry
23:33and maybe take some ideas home.
23:35Today, I am going to have a look at the young farmers' stock judging
23:39and I might learn a wee thing or two.
23:44For young farmers, being able to spot a truly good animal
23:48can shape breeding decisions, sale prices and the future of a herd.
23:53And at Balmoral,
23:54competitors are about to put those instincts to the test.
23:58Geoffrey Rogers, who shows and judges cattle here,
24:01is one of the two senior judges overseeing the competition.
24:06Geoffrey, how are you doing?
24:07Fine, thanks.
24:08You're a busy man here this morning.
24:10Well, trying to do my best.
24:11I hear you're judging the stock judging.
24:13The young farmers, they come in, they judge the class of animals
24:16and then they'll give me their reasons why they've placed them
24:19in the order they thought.
24:20So, at my farm at home, I am quite a beginner with cattle.
24:24I have a few Highland cows
24:25and don't know a whole lot about a proper beef animal.
24:29What should I be looking for here?
24:31In every breed, there is a thing that everyone will look for
24:36and that tends to be a bit of size, a bit of length.
24:39Yeah.
24:39You look for the expensive cuts of meat.
24:42OK.
24:42So, you have your hang quarters,
24:44you have your loin down along the back.
24:46Mm-hm.
24:46She's a lovely, good round back end, you know,
24:48so that's what we really look for on a good beef animal.
24:53One of the young farmers hoping she's got that expert eye
24:56is Geoffrey's daughter, Lucy.
24:58She's been competing in stock judging since she was 11.
25:03It's always very daunting doing the stock judging
25:05whenever you're placed in a ring with a whole load of people
25:07and you have to decide, you know, first to fourth of the four animals,
25:10but it's always a great experience.
25:12And you probably take a lot of what you learn in the stock judging,
25:15you know, when you're buying cattle for the farm.
25:17It does help at home then as well,
25:18buying in females and, you know,
25:20trying to breed them best breeding lines.
25:22And is there anything that you sort of worry about
25:24when you're judging an animal?
25:27Everybody has their own opinions,
25:28but out there today there's two judges.
25:30They'll obviously come to an agreement
25:32and then we have to try and match that agreement.
25:34I hear your dad might be one of the judges here today.
25:37How does that affect things?
25:38Well, I'll be going to the other judge.
25:40So, thankfully, he's not been taking anything to do with me,
25:43but, yeah, it is a bit daunting.
25:44Well, all I can say is good luck and just enjoy yourself.
25:47Thank you very much. We'll have a go at it.
25:52Up against Lucy is Lindsay Beatty,
25:54and after almost two decades,
25:56this will be her final year in the ring as a young farmer.
26:01You've been in Young Farmers for quite a long time.
26:03This is your last year competing.
26:05I have, yeah.
26:05So, I joined Young Farmers when I was actually 11.
26:07So, competition age is between 12 to 30.
26:10And, yeah, I am now at that upper limit.
26:13Well, you must know a thing or two about the stock dungeon.
26:15Oh, gosh, I don't know about that.
26:17I do have something to confess.
26:18I am a dairy farmer's daughter.
26:19Oh, for goodness, and you're judging beef.
26:20So, I'm competing in beef.
26:22So, something that I'm not necessarily overly familiar with.
26:25So, hopefully today goes well.
26:27There is a lot to Young Farmers.
26:29You learn so, so much.
26:30There really is.
26:31We have 50 clubs across Northern Ireland.
26:34Over 3,500 members as well.
26:36And I think that's the beauty about Young Farmers.
26:38You know, your skills are so transferable.
26:41They really develop your interpersonal skills as well.
26:43But alongside making lifelong friends.
26:45By the sounds of it, you might be a bit sad
26:47now you're coming to the end of it.
26:49I will be.
26:49You've been so involved.
26:50Bittersweet, shall we say.
26:55There are two groups of cattle being ranked by the competitors.
27:00Lucy, Lindsay and the other Young Farmers
27:03need to put them in the same order as the senior judges.
27:07In the beef section, we have David Connolly and Geoffrey Rogers.
27:10Our two masters would receive today.
27:13They have 15 minutes with each group of cows
27:15and their decision will make up half of their score,
27:18with the other half depending on a presentation they'll give later.
27:22So Lucy and Lindsay are very busy in the ring.
27:25They have a sheet that they score the animal
27:27and they're writing a lot of things down
27:30and probably lots of little notes
27:32that they will then have to go and present to the judge.
27:36Yes, they are judging the animal
27:38but how they present to the judge is a big part of this competition.
27:44The clock is on.
27:45They don't have a whole lot of time to get this finished.
27:51That's the cattle coming out of the ring.
27:53So all of their reasons need to be written down by now.
27:57Lucy and Lindsay get just a few minutes to prepare
28:01ahead of their face-to-face with the judge.
28:04Good morning, Mr. Judge.
28:05This is my assessment of the beef heifer ring.
28:08Why was placed first as this was a bright and alert heifer
28:10and when creating, show great locomotion.
28:13This presentation is just as important as the judging in the ring.
28:17Making up the remaining 50% of the competitors' scores.
28:21Finally, Mr. Judge, I placed Bea last.
28:24She lacks muscular definition and overall body appearance
28:27as the three placed above her.
28:28All right, thank you.
28:29Thank you very much.
28:30While the senior judges work out their final scores,
28:34everyone waits nervously for the results.
28:37We're now here at the young farmer's tent
28:39and the judging is coming to a close.
28:41Everyone's gathering and the rosettes are being pulled out.
28:44So we'll see how Lucy and Lindsay get on.
28:52And in first place for your senior beef, Lucy Rogers-Spot.
28:55CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
29:01I see a bright red rosette.
29:03First and the seniors in beef, so done well.
29:06Yeah, happy with the results.
29:07You enjoyed it.
29:07She's been very modest.
29:08She done absolutely brilliantly, so she did.
29:10It was quite daunting.
29:12But no, it was really good.
29:13It was.
29:13All I can say is congratulations.
29:15Thank you very much.
29:15Some rosettes and lots of experience to take home.
29:18Well done.
29:19Thank you very much.
29:20Well done, Lucy.
29:21Well done, you too.
29:34At Balmoral, it's not always the biggest or boldest that turn heads.
29:39Sometimes it's the more unusual breeds.
29:42The day before the show opened,
29:44I headed to a smallholding five miles from the showground
29:48to meet James and Laura Kerr
29:50and their eye-catching Rouge de l'Ouest sheep.
29:54Oh, here we are.
29:55So what have we got here?
29:57We've got last year's Rouge lambs, this year's Rouge lambs,
30:01blue-faced leicesters and my daughter's wee black belt axe.
30:05Very sweet.
30:07But this isn't James's day job.
30:10He's a plumber.
30:12And how many sheep have you got?
30:14We're running about 60 pedigree ewes.
30:15And how do you cope with all of this and you've got a full-time job?
30:19Teamwork.
30:20Is Laura the team?
30:22Everybody's in the team.
30:23Laura and Mum and Dad.
30:24And the two children, obviously.
30:26They're all hop out when they can.
30:27And how did you two meet?
30:29Balmoral show, actually, yeah.
30:30Really?
30:32Everything revolves around the Balmoral show.
30:34It was, yeah.
30:35It's not by the end of the day now, yeah.
30:36And Balmoral show is just a big thing for you?
30:38Big, big thing.
30:39It's your shop window for selling rams and breeding ewes and whatnot.
30:43So the showing for you isn't because it's funny you want to just get the rosette.
30:47It's a serious business too.
30:48No, well, our objective is to sell sheep and push on our breed, our Rouge breed,
30:53and at the end of the day makes you some money.
30:55Try to make some money.
30:56Yeah.
30:56Well, it's a beautiful day today.
30:58It is indeed.
30:58Shall we go and see these show sheep?
30:59Do well.
31:08Yeah.
31:09Yeah.
31:11Yeah.
31:12Which is why the Care family give their sheep the full beauty treatment.
31:18So what have we got here?
31:19This is the beauty parlour.
31:21This is for the magic cabin.
31:24Wonderful.
31:25And all the family?
31:26Yeah.
31:26This is my mum and dad, Sammy and Joan, and my two children, Anna and Sam.
31:30Hello, everybody.
31:31Hi.
31:31My word, big team effort.
31:33Right.
31:33We'll leave you to it.
31:34We have a bit more to do.
31:35See you after.
31:35All right, see you later.
31:36Yeah.
31:37So what job are you doing here, then?
31:38Finding them.
31:39Finding in?
31:40What does that mean?
31:42It just puts a nice finish on the coat.
31:44Oh, OK, yes.
31:45You know, when you present it to the judge.
31:48And have you got a job down there to do?
31:49Mm-hm.
31:50I'm going to clip her leg.
31:51Going to clip her legs?
31:52What, take the hair off?
31:53Mm-hm.
31:54Are you?
31:54Just to look smarter looking, you know?
31:56OK, yeah.
31:58You clip the whole of their leg?
31:59We'll clip right from their hoof, right up to their, just above their hock.
32:03Yes.
32:04Which is the bend in the leg.
32:05Yeah.
32:06Amazing.
32:06Good girl.
32:07And that just makes them stand out in the show ring.
32:09Yeah.
32:09It says to the judge, look at me, I'm beautiful.
32:13Yeah.
32:15Wonderful.
32:17So, Joan, it's very much a family affair, isn't it?
32:19It is indeed.
32:20As you can see, it's more or less bred into you.
32:24Father, son and we Sam.
32:27So, your life really fits in round a sheet.
32:30And how long have the family been into showing at Balmoral?
32:33Oh, it's been a long time.
32:35James was born on the 30th of April and he was straight to Balmoral in May.
32:40In the pram.
32:42So, and the next generation has done exactly the same.
32:46Yeah.
32:47Anna was born and she was off to the Highland show in the pram with her mum.
32:53Wow.
32:53Every rosette that was one was put on her pram.
32:56Amazing.
32:58Like any seasoned showman, Sammy has a few tricks up his sleeve to make sure his sheep stand out in
33:04the ring.
33:05So this isn't the natural colour of a fleece, is it?
33:07No, it's not.
33:09Whenever we get the fleece nicely prepared, we would spray it.
33:13This one's more or less ruddy coloured and all, but we have kept one for you to have a go
33:18at spraying it.
33:20It's just as if you're spraying a car.
33:22OK.
33:23So it is.
33:23And what flavour is that one?
33:25Is it a ram or a you?
33:26It's a wee ram.
33:27A wee ram.
33:28OK.
33:28Lovely.
33:29Sounds doable.
33:30OK.
33:30Let's see him.
33:32The family have clearly saved their best till last.
33:35But judging by the size of him, I'm beginning to wonder what Sammy defines as wee.
33:42Oh, my word.
33:43I thought you said he was a little boy.
33:46Look at him.
33:47He's quite big.
33:47Goodness me, he's a monster.
33:49Look at him.
33:51Down, is it?
33:51Yeah.
33:52Weighing in at an intimidating 140 kilograms, the family's prize ram, Buckingham, is the
33:58reigning Balmoral champion, having won best in show last year.
34:02He's a good boy.
34:03No pressure.
34:04Go at him.
34:06Wow.
34:06OK.
34:07So what have we got in here, then?
34:08So this is a secret recipe to get our own individual colour.
34:12So every man has their own colours.
34:14We have this.
34:15It's like a spray tan.
34:17It's a non-toxic, just a dye.
34:19So we're going to spray this big man to show his curves, show him off to make him look beautiful.
34:25This is like last year's champ.
34:27Could be this year's champ.
34:29And you'll give me the responsibility of putting the colour on.
34:31No pressure.
34:33OK.
34:34How far back?
34:34Like this?
34:36You'll know yourself when you start.
34:37Will I?
34:38OK.
34:38Having never done it before.
34:39OK, ready?
34:40Stand back, everybody.
34:41This all could go horribly wrong.
34:45Go.
34:47Oh, yeah, there we go.
34:49All right, Buckingham, as is for you, sir.
34:54Good.
34:55Keep going.
34:55Keep going.
34:57You've only one side done.
34:59There we go.
35:02So what we'll do, we'll put them out to dry, and then we'll get several coats.
35:09Well, I have to say, I thought he was looking good before, but if you pick up that red rosette,
35:16I'd like to say you and I had something to do with that.
35:19OK.
35:20Best of luck at the show.
35:21Lovely, thank you.
35:22I'll leave you to it.
35:23All right.
35:23Bye-bye.
35:24Bye.
35:29With months of hard work behind them, the Kerr family join hundreds of other hopefuls looking to bring home a
35:35red rosette at Balmoral.
35:38Try your best, and a wink and a prayer, and hopefully the judge likes what we like, you know?
35:45Bring them.
35:46Could the children please clear out the sheep coming in?
35:48Their fate now rests in the hands of one man, Judge Sean Mitchell.
35:54It's all about the meat, the style, the character.
35:57When they first come into the ring, you want something that's nice and flash, that carries itself well, good on
36:02its legs.
36:03At the end of the day, it's one man's opinion.
36:05People will either love you or hate you.
36:07You're the man in the centre of the ring.
36:09You pick what you like.
36:14And first up, it's Buckingham, showing off my own spray tan handiwork.
36:19Having once been the ones in the ring themselves, Sammy and Joe now watch on.
36:25Their sights set on one thing.
36:27Everybody wants a first at Balmoral.
36:30You need a red rosette to get into the final championship.
36:33So at the end, they take the winner of each class, and then they pair them all up and pick
36:41an overall winner.
36:42So it will be your champion route.
36:45But unfortunately, this isn't Buckingham's year, and his crown passes to a younger ram.
36:51Hopefully nothing to do with his spray tan.
36:55Well, we've come sagging, so every judge has his own one he likes, you know.
36:59So it's one of those ones, you win some, you lose some.
37:02Keep smiling, get on to the next one.
37:05But the families ewes and lambs do pick up multiple rosettes in the other classes.
37:10Daddy, go first!
37:13Including the coveted red rosette, qualifying them for the overall champion of champions.
37:19For which they're you, one interbreed best in show.
37:25Whenever you stand here and you see your family, your son and your daughter, your granddaughters, all coming behind.
37:36That's the pride, isn't it?
37:39Yeah, that's what it's all about. That's what it's all about.
37:44I think I'm just a big softie.
38:03Another area of the Balmoral site, humming with activity, is the food hall.
38:08The strong culture of farming in Northern Ireland is the backbone of a thriving food and drinks industry worth more
38:16than Ā£7 billion a year and providing over 100,000 jobs.
38:22And here at the show, the small producers behind that success step into the spotlight.
38:29Is it from apples?
38:30It's from apples.
38:31Reaching thousands of potential new customers every day.
38:36Elsa, I can see there's a real spread of built on here. You've got loads of it. Where's it all
38:41from?
38:42All the meat we use comes from Northern Ireland. We actually work with a couple of organic dairy farmers and
38:48they supply us with retired dairy cows.
38:51We use the whole carcass to make beef products.
38:54We're the only ones commercially growing salad leaves in Northern Ireland.
38:57I've been amazed, especially how many children are coming over and taking a sample.
39:01Kids these days. It's not like the old days, is it?
39:05How long have you been in the bacon business for?
39:07Over 30 years now I've been curing bacon.
39:09Yeah.
39:1050% of our produce will be through the market.
39:12Is that much?
39:13The rest will be through the...
39:14So these things are absolutely crucial for your business.
39:16Yep.
39:18Balmoral is the perfect platform to champion traditional food.
39:22Mark Douglas has been bringing his mobile bakery here since 2014 on his quest to keep a local delicacy on
39:30the menu.
39:31So do Fals.
39:32We're going to add the key ingredient which is buttermilk.
39:35So does it always have to be buttermilk?
39:37You always get asked this question a lot.
39:39In Northern Ireland it is uniquely buttermilk and that's where the unique flavour comes from.
39:44So the buttermilk is the acid, the bicarbonate of soda and the cream of tartar are the alkaline.
39:49So when you combine the two that releases carbon dioxide instantly and that's what makes the bread rise.
39:55So it rises quicker than normal bread.
39:57Absolutely.
39:58It's quite instant once you mix the buttermilk in.
40:00Something quite therapeutic about this.
40:02Everybody says that.
40:03Something like this should be therapy, shouldn't it?
40:06See how you feel after a thousand.
40:09Yeah, one is mindful, a thousand is torture, is it?
40:14So where are all these ingredients from?
40:16Are they locally sourced?
40:17Yeah, well this is a local flour.
40:19So the buttermilk is from a local dairy from Draen's farm and that will do us there in terms of
40:24the mixing, Sean.
40:25We don't want to over mix it.
40:26Okay.
40:26Yeah, so if you slide that way.
40:28Yeah.
40:28As you can see it's quite sticky just by nature, isn't it?
40:31Say that again.
40:32Isn't it?
40:33Will I ever get this off?
40:34Oh, you will for sure.
40:36And then we'll take that away out of your road.
40:38Yeah.
40:39So give a wee dust the flour.
40:41We're just going to knead this very lightly.
40:43So if you sort of use your hands as paddles and your thumbs.
40:46So if you do that the same this way and bring it into a bowl.
40:51And that'll do as well, Sean, I think.
40:52Is that it?
40:52Yep.
40:53We'll just give that one wee knead up.
40:55What's interesting is it feels like less is more.
40:57You didn't want me to mix it too much.
40:59No.
40:59You don't want me to do that too much.
41:00Because it only toughens.
41:01Yeah.
41:01Because with bread you've been kneading it for ages.
41:04Exactly.
41:04You're just going to roll gently that way and this way.
41:07So like that?
41:08Yeah.
41:09Keep going.
41:09A bit harder?
41:10A wee more, yep.
41:11And then that way?
41:12Uh-huh.
41:13So when you're cutting soda fars, you don't saw.
41:17You do a clean cut with the heel of your hand on the front of the knife.
41:21The bread takes its name from the quartering of the dough,
41:24derived from the traditional Gaelic word fardel, meaning four parts.
41:29So do you play with the ingredients, add different things, make different flavours?
41:34Well, different flavours, yes.
41:35So one that's quite popular here at the show today and around the markets locally
41:38would be a soda bread with smoked bacon and cheese in it.
41:41I bet that tastes really good.
41:43Yeah, well it's gorgeous.
41:43You've had quite a bit of practice.
41:45How long have you been doing this for?
41:46Ah, 44 years.
41:47Wow.
41:47Yeah.
41:48You only look 45.
41:49Thanks very much.
41:52But you're doing something that is keeping a tradition in Northern Ireland going.
41:56Well, certainly yes, that was always the thought.
42:00Promote the skill and at the same time sell your bread to make a living.
42:06Yeah.
42:06You couldn't do it without that.
42:07Yeah.
42:07So we're ready to slip these onto the hot plate.
42:10Along with the bacon and cheese version, they'll bake for about 15 minutes.
42:15So this is my favourite bit.
42:17The proof of the pudding, as I say.
42:21Let's see what it looks like inside.
42:22Oh, yes.
42:23Looks good, that.
42:24It's a bit of butter.
42:25Bit of butter.
42:25Always butter, yeah?
42:26Always.
42:30Give that a go.
42:34Oh.
42:36That's very good.
42:37Yep.
42:38So I've got the bacon taste.
42:40Smoky.
42:40The crispiness of the bread on the bottom.
42:42It's just off, yeah.
42:44Mm.
42:44That is a good, a good snack.
42:47Maybe even a meal.
42:48They're quite popular.
42:49Mm.
42:49Mark is just one of 85 food producers under this roof.
42:54You're all part of a Northern Ireland food network.
42:57Absolutely.
42:58You know, I think that's key and it has to be key for local people to work together.
43:03So with a show like this and even throughout the year where you can work together with local suppliers,
43:07you're feeding off each other, which is a natural thing.
43:16Adam.
43:16Sean, what have you got here?
43:17I have got a cheese and bacon soda fowl and I think you're going to love it.
43:21I've been working really hard on this.
43:22This is a first for me.
43:25Loving the flavour.
43:26Do you like it?
43:26Yeah.
43:27I knew he'd love it.
43:28Well, while Adam's got his mouth full, let's find out what the weather's got in store for the week ahead.
43:32Here's the Countryfowl forecast.
43:33Very good.
43:43Hello.
43:43Before we delve into the forecast, I thought we'd reflect on the unprecedented heatwave we had last week
43:49with the temperature of 35.1 recorded a queue in Greater London smashing the previous May record by 2.3
43:56Celsius.
43:56It's just not normal to see records smashed by that margin.
44:00And it wasn't just an extreme temperature for May.
44:03If we take a look at this chart, each red dot represents the highest temperature recorded in each year back
44:07to 1950.
44:09The 35.1 is a higher temperature than recorded in the vast majority of years.
44:15That is a sign of climate change.
44:18Even more surprising is the fact that we see that kind of temperature in May, which of course is part
44:22of spring.
44:23Now it's not going to be that hot this week because the jet stream's waking up and it's going to
44:27be sending us a number of areas of low pressure.
44:30And after what has been quite a dry May, particularly so for parts of East Anglia, well, we're all going
44:36to see some rain this week,
44:37which I suppose is good news for the gardeners and the farmers out and about.
44:41The rain is beginning to arrive as well.
44:43It's turning wet in Northern Ireland and overnight that rain spreads to West Scotland, Wales, Western areas of England.
44:48Could turn a bit misty around some of the coasts and hills as well.
44:51Temperatures 10 to 14 degrees overnight, so a more comfortable night's sleep ahead.
44:55Now Monday is the first day of summer, meteorologically speaking, and we're off to a soggy start with low pressure
45:01firmly in charge.
45:03Now the driest spots are likely to be East Anglia and South East England, where we may well keep some
45:08sunshine for most of the day,
45:09but otherwise pencil in rain for on and off for much of the day.
45:13The heaviest rain will be working into Wales and South West England,
45:16where there may well be some rumbles of thunder amongst the downpours as we head into the afternoon.
45:21Our temperatures, similar to those of today, high teens to low 20s in any sunshine should still feel okay.
45:28For Tuesday, we've got a trough in the jet stream right over the top of the UK.
45:33Now this pattern is going to bring us widespread showers,
45:37one of those days where most of us will see several downpours during the day,
45:41and the showers will be heavy with some hail and thunder.
45:44You might even see an odd funnel cloud mixed in.
45:46Yes, it won't be raining all the time, there'll be some sunny spells between these,
45:49but some really hefty downpours to come, I think, as we go through Tuesday.
45:54Temperatures on the whole close to or an odd degree below the June average.
45:59Heading into Wednesday, it's another unsettled day with low pressure still firmly with us.
46:04This time the heaviest showers and thunderstorms will be going into Northern Ireland and Scotland,
46:07where I think a number of them will not just turn thundery,
46:10but there'll be a number of hailstorms mixed in as well.
46:13Temperatures, again, high teens to low 20s for the vast majority of us.
46:17That first area of low pressure clears out of the way, spins past Iceland,
46:22but is replaced by another area of low pressure for Thursday, back to square one then.
46:26Outbreaks of rain in the forecast pushing northwards across Scotland,
46:30plenty of heavy showers elsewhere across the UK, nowhere's immune from seeing a downpour.
46:34And again, as we head into the afternoon, a number of those showers will turn heavy with some hail and
46:39thunder.
46:40Temperatures, as you were, 17 to 19 pretty widely, maybe around 15s and 16s into the northwest of the UK.
46:47To end the week, still got showers in the forecast.
46:50Most of these are going to be for Northern Ireland and into Scotland.
46:53There are signs that there'll be fewer showers across England and Wales with some longer spells of sunshine,
46:58and there'll be parts of eastern England may well stay dry with some sunshine.
47:02So overall, this week is looking very unsettled.
47:05Certainly no return of that extreme heat wave we had last week.
47:20We're ringside with the farming community of Northern Ireland at the Balmoral Show.
47:25The plate. That's what it's all about.
47:32The very best of Northern Irish farming is on display here at Balmoral.
47:37But there's one event that's been at the show for more than a decade
47:41that takes community rivalry to a whole other level.
47:46The tug of war.
47:4819 teams of young farmers from across Northern Ireland
47:52compete for glory in the ultimate test of teamwork.
47:56Hoping to lead her team to glory today is Courtney McMullen,
48:00the founder and captain of Moy Craig Young Farmers Ladies Team,
48:04from here in County Antrim.
48:06There's a lot of preparation goes on to the event.
48:09Us, ourselves, we've been practising hard since after Christmas,
48:12but there's teams out there that go before Christmas.
48:14We do a lot of training, indoor and outdoor.
48:17We've just lifted the rope and we've just tied onto a tow bar of a pickup truck
48:22and we've been trailing through the fields.
48:23If anybody's seen us, they'd be like, what on earth is going on here?
48:26So this here would be a very common sport.
48:28It's a very competitive one too.
48:30Everybody wants to take that title, take that trophy home,
48:33get the medals home too.
48:34And that's what we're here to do as well.
48:36I would love, love to in it and show that we're up there too.
48:41After some final warming up,
48:43it's time for a pep talk from the team's coach, Tracey,
48:47who just happens to be Courtney's mum.
48:49Good, you know what you're doing, you've done your training,
48:52we're just going to go there and do it all.
48:53And enjoy it.
48:59First up for Courtney's team is their heat against the reigning champions.
49:03Listen American ladies.
49:05Ready?
49:06Go!
49:13Try on it!
49:15Try on it!
49:17Try on it!
49:19Try on it!
49:24Courtney's team lose out, but it's all still to play for.
49:29Mike Craig heads straight into the next matches,
49:31hoping to win the rest to progress to the finals.
49:36Ready?
49:37Go!
49:43Go!
49:43Go!
49:44Go!
49:46Go!
49:50Go!
49:51Go!
49:55Go!
49:58Go!
49:59Go!
49:59Go!
49:59Go!
50:00Go!
50:01Go!
50:01Go!
50:02Go!
50:03Go!
50:05Go!
50:07And that's three heats down.
50:09One to go.
50:10The players take the chance to reset and refuel.
50:14And sweeties aren't the only secret weapon the team have up their sleeves.
50:18Literally.
50:19Because I stand as the anchor on the back, obviously the rope will come up round my shoulder.
50:24So again, up here has been filled with tea towels and today we have got my mum's hand towel in
50:29there as well.
50:29The boots, they were once roller skates and we have made them into our own tug of war boots.
50:35We took all the roller skates off them and we smoothed them down.
50:37So whenever we turn our feet to start walking back, there's that metal bit that digs nicely into the ground.
50:42So, handmade helps.
50:45But even look at them, like they're still, like, they're looking to piggyback each other.
50:49The fourth and final heat is cold.
50:51Go on the rope.
50:53Take the string.
50:55Ready?
50:56Go!
51:16What are you sore at?
51:18I feel like I'm going to pass out.
51:20You okay?
51:21Yeah.
51:21After two wins and two losses, my Craig ladies have missed their chance of reaching the final.
51:27Get up.
51:28It's not over.
51:30But they still have to pull again.
51:33In the third place play-offs.
51:35Feeling okay.
51:37A wee bit nervous for this one, but we'll see.
51:39We just have to go in and give her it all.
51:40So, yeah, we'll go and see what we can do.
51:43Last call, last call.
51:45You support it.
51:46You support it.
51:46Yes.
51:47So nice.
51:48Right, right?
51:50Yes!
51:51Okay!
51:52Let's go!
51:54Go!
51:55Go!
51:57Go!
51:57Go!
51:59Go!
52:00Go!
52:02Go!
52:02Go!
52:12Go!
52:20Coming to Belmoral, it's a fantastic achievement.
52:22I'm absolutely delighted for coming home with third place.
52:25It just gives you a great sense of you've done something,
52:28all the training, all the anticipation.
52:30For the future, my time is slowly coming up.
52:32I am getting too old for this carry-on,
52:33but, yeah, there's a fantastic team behind us here
52:36and they are going to drive my Craig and Tuggle War forward
52:38in the years to come.
52:52Across the show today, we've seen the pride, pressure and preparation
52:56that goes into competing here in Northern Ireland.
53:00And in the cattle ring,
53:02it's time for the Bloomer family's moment of truth
53:04with the Battle of the Dexter Bulls.
53:13Gentlemen, how are your energy levels now?
53:15Oh, very, very tense.
53:18Very tense.
53:19Have you got butterflies?
53:20Oh, it's all the hard work you do to get here
53:22and then it all comes down to this, so it does.
53:24Bit of ravery among ourselves now in this class here,
53:27so we're hoping everybody's got their favourite bull.
53:31Imogen is here, which is Matthew's girlfriend,
53:34and she's got the red bull,
53:35and then Desmond's on the bull over here,
53:37and Matthew with this magnificent specimen.
53:39So, the pressure's on.
53:44So, there's seven bulls in the ring.
53:47Looks like various ages and sizes,
53:50but the Bloomer's bulls definitely stand out.
53:54I like the little red bull, but he's quite podgy.
53:57Might be a little bit overweight.
54:01The judge will be keeping his eye open as soon as these animals come in,
54:04looking for that animal that catches his eye and stands out.
54:07So, he brings them up to the corner
54:09and then gets them to walk towards him
54:11so he can see their front legs.
54:13We'll then examine the animal,
54:14what he's doing now with Matthew's bull,
54:17and then turn it and walk it away from him
54:19so he can see its back legs.
54:20And the legs should be nice and straight,
54:21not twisted out, not twisted in.
54:24And Matthew has got the show stick there
54:26and he's just tickling the bull's chest
54:28just to keep him nice and quiet.
54:30He'll use the point of the stick
54:32just to touch his feet,
54:33to move his feet,
54:33to keep them nice and square.
54:35The judge is standing back now to look at that bull.
54:38He really knows how to show himself off.
54:43So, Desmond's bull coming up now, 379.
54:46A much shorter bull called Barra.
54:49He's a previous champion.
54:50The judge is examining him now,
54:53feeling over his shoulders, down his loin, onto the rump.
54:57Feeling there the sort of depth of the muscle,
54:59tightness of the skin,
55:01how well he's made up.
55:03You know, this is very important to them as a family
55:05for the value and reputation of their animals.
55:08So, there's a lot riding on this.
55:12Here's the red one.
55:14Imogen is having a bit of a problem holding him still.
55:20The judge needs to put his hand on him
55:22and if he can't, that won't stand him in very good stead.
55:27Unfortunately, that red bull was being a bit naughty.
55:32So, the judge has just gone into the middle of the ring.
55:35He's pointed out three bulls and brought them in to the centre.
55:39Those will be his top picks from those in the ring.
55:45And all three of the bloomer bulls have been pulled in.
55:49If they can stay first, second and third, that's tremendous.
55:53But he might move some around.
55:57That's it.
55:59Desmond's one.
56:00Red Bull's second.
56:02And then Matthew is third.
56:04As a family, they must be over the moon.
56:07That is absolutely brilliant.
56:10For the bull class, first, second, third.
56:12I mean, what more could you want?
56:16Making me feel a bit emotional.
56:19That red rosette qualifies Desmond's black bull, Bora,
56:24for the best of breed category.
56:26The judge lines them all up and then walks up to the winner,
56:29slaps them on the back.
56:30That's my champ.
56:36Oh, he's chosen it.
56:38That's it.
56:39Desmond.
56:40Champion.
56:41Dexter Bull.
56:42Beautiful.
56:43So that means Desmond's bull, Bora, is champion of all the Dexters here today.
56:48What an accolade.
56:52How did it feel for you, as the dad of the family,
56:55with your son and your daughter in the ring, taking those prizes?
56:59It's a very emotional thing, actually,
57:00because I have seen them starting since they were very, very small.
57:03We got these Dexters when they were very young.
57:05For them to get into the ring now, and they know exactly what to do.
57:08It's wonderful that they share your passion.
57:11Well, maybe I share their passion.
57:13Yeah, well, congratulations.
57:15Very, very good.
57:27Well, I have to say, you really can't beat an agricultural show,
57:30and here at the Balmoral has been absolutely brilliant.
57:33And the tug of war, my word, maybe we should put a team up next year.
57:36Yeah, but we'll put a tractor on the end of our bit of the road.
57:38Good idea.
57:39Right, right, that's all for this week.
57:40Next week, Joe and Margarita are exploring the Isle of Wight.
57:45Cat shark.
57:46What's that?
57:47Got a shark.
57:48Got a shark?
57:48Yeah.
57:49Let's power out.
57:54Just a little bit windy for a potter bee today.
57:57This is not the bee we're looking for.
57:59Do you want to let it go?
58:01OK.
58:02And we get these massive landslips.
58:04And how quick could that be, you know, at its worst example?
58:07So, recently at Bondchurch we had a massive erosion event and that closed the road and people had to be
58:14evacuated during the night.
58:17Hope you can join us then.
58:18Bye-bye.
58:19Bye.
58:19Do you fancy giving this a go?
58:20Well, they look a bit big to me.
58:22Bye-bye.
58:23Bye-bye.
58:26An ambitious young detective and a retired TV version.
58:30Unlikely partners in crime solving, Death Valley starring Timothy Spall is on iPlayer.
58:35And on BBC Sounds, Paul McCartney reveals the songs that soundtrack his life, the tracks of my years.
58:40Listen now.
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