News

 

The Black Isle Show is once again throwing down the gauntlet to teams of five to flex their muscles in support of their favourite charity.

Organisers will stump up £2500 for this year’s tractor-pull event which sees teams competing to pull a 1950s Massey Ferguson over a set course of 100m.

Secretary Rod Mackenzie said: “We introduced the fundraising event last year which was a great spectacle in the main showground on the Wednesday Evening Preview. The crowds loved it and the money is well-spent, because each team has to nominate a good cause with the winner taking the largest slice of the prize fund.”

“Last year ten teams battled it out and the NFU were the victors donating their prize money to Breast Cancer and RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution). We can take up to 16 teams and everyone gets a prize, so the more people who come forward, the more local groups will benefit.

“We want to get the entries up to sixteen teams this year, as the more we have, the more fun it is for the crowds. So if anyone thinks they can pull our Fergie for less than two minutes, they could end up with a nice pot of cash for their favourite charity or good cause.”

The Black Isle Show preview evening is on Wednesday 1 August and the main show is on Thursday 2 August, with tickets held at 2017 prices.

Rod added: “We’re holding the event on the preview evening on Wednesday, and we have four tractors, so we pitch four teams against each other in each heat. That leaves four finalists.

“Those that are left in the final deserve every penny they get.”

Teams consist of four pullers and one ‘driver’ who must be in fancy dress. The closing date is 15 July and entry forms can be found on the website at www.blackisleshow.com/fergie

TICKETS for the Black Isle Show are now on sale and this year’s event will boast more livestock, more music and more family fun than ever before.

The north’s biggest farming event, The Black Isle Show, now in its 181^st year will take place on August 1^st and 2^nd at the Mannsfield Showground in Muir of Ord.

Back by popular demand are two events which were introduced last year – a charity tractor pulling extravaganza and the discovery area where visitors can learn how to milk a cow and watch a variety of traditional skills such as farriery demonstrations.

A great day out for all

Rod Mackenzie, the show’s secretary said that the committee have made some changes over the last few years to make the Black Isle Show a great day out for all.

He said: “What we realise is that to make the Black Isle Show popular and appealing to everyone, we have had to up our game and come up with more ways to entice a wider audience. Clearly the show is very much about farming and we still have all the different classes and it’s very much a competition for the farming fraternity. However, to make the event sustainable we have had to diversify and introduce new attractions – often still with a farming theme, but that appeal to those who have little or no farming background at all.”

He added that the success and popularity of numerous farming-related shows such as This Farming Life have assisted with piquing people’s interest into farming: “It seems that farming is interesting to lots of people these days and by introducing hands-on activities at the show such as the discovery area, we hope we are giving people a chance to see, in a small way what farming is all about.”

More music

Music will also play a big part in this year’s event with bands and artistes playing all day in the bar marquee. Music will include a range of genres to suit all tastes and will include tribute performances from the Dolly Parton Experience and others.

Rod added: “There really is something for everyone at the Black Isle Show. One of the highlights this year will be monster trucks Big Pete and the Grim Reaper who will take to the main arena to wow the crowds and there will be the more traditional but ever-popular livestock parade, and vintage tractor show. We are also a platform for local food, drink and craft producers to showcase their products and there will be a huge variety of culinary delights on offer too. You can easily spend a whole day at the Black Isle Show.”

Tickets at an early-bird rate and registration forms for the tractor-pulling event can be obtained from www.blackisleshow.com.

Saturday 3rd February 2018

Gilchrist & Balvattie, Muir of Ord, by kind permission of W Martin & Sons and Hamish Fraser

The scratching and numbering of the Riggs on the ploughing match field was undertaken yesterday (30th January).  The ground is in good order.  Every hope is that the match will be going ahead as planned this weekend.  Keep an eye on our facebook page and this page for any updates.

 

 

          

Classes 2018            Rules 2018 

Overall Results 2018

Individual Class Scores

Class 1A   Class 1B   Class 2   Class 3   Class 4A   Class 4B   Class 5A   Class 5B    Class 6    Class 7    Class 8

Kids are being encouraged to get involved in the Black Isle Show’s open flower event.

There are six ways youngsters can get involved in the contest at the show which this year takes place on August 2 and 3.

Young crafters can have fun decorating a plastic bottle, creating a mini terrarium or modelling garden furniture out of twigs.

There is also the chance to get involved in photography, make a model chicken or create a card to celebrate the fact that the show is now in its 180th year.

Prizes

All entries to the contest receive a rosette and there are cash prizes and trophies also up for grabs.

Fiona MacKintosh who has organised the Annual Open Flower Show for the last 14 years explained: “Children and young people are a huge part of the Black Isle Show which is why we make sure that every year there are a wide variety of classes for them to enter. It’s a lot of fun and we look forward to seeing the creations. Each year, the young people who enter put such a huge amount of effort into the items that they make.”

New to this year’s show is a new junior craft section which has been included following demand from competitors last year as Fiona explained: “We had feedback last year that there wasn’t a specific craft category for young teens, so this year we have created one. Entrants in this need to be aged between 12 and 16 years old and there are two classes. They can make a miniature terrarium and there is also the option to make a card to celebrate the 180th Black Isle Show.”

Fiona added: “We also want our competition to be inclusive so the ‘decorate a plastic bottle’, ‘make garden furniture’ and ‘make a model of a chicken’ classes can be entered by anyone with learning difficulties no matter what their age.”

Entry form and details

 

THE history of farming will come alive at the Black Isle Show which will include lots of interactive activities.

Now in its 180th year, the Black Isle Show will take place on August 2 and 3 at the Mannsfield Showground in Muir of Ord.

And it is part of the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017 and will feature numerous events such as a vintage tractor parade and a discovery area where visitors can take a look back and experience techniques from through the ages.

#HHA2017

Rod Mackenzie, the show’s secretary said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the Year of History Heritage and Archaeology. The very fact that we are 180 years old says it all. Every year we have a core team of people who work so hard to put on this show and every year we are amazed with how well received it is. Farming has obviously changed massively over the years and the show itself has had to change and adapt to meet the needs of the exhibitors and visitors, but what hasn’t changed is the fact that farming and the activities related to it are still just as popular as ever.”

He added: “That is why this year it was important for us to become part of the Year of History, Heritage & Archaeology. Being part of this initiative has made us have a good think about the show and how we meet the directive and I think what we have will offer our visitors a really unique and enjoyable experience and day out.

Discovery Area

“One of our main attractions to fit in with this theme is a new discovery area. Visitors will be able to watch the traditional way of spinning wool, experience what it is like to milk a cow by hand and see a farriery demonstration, dry stone dyking demo, steam engine and vintage machinery display to name just a few of the attractions. The discovery area will illustrate to people how farming has evolved over the years.”

Marie Christie, Head of Development for VisitScotland Events Directorate said: “The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is a celebration of Scotland’s people, our traditions, our distinct culture, our landscapes, attractions and icons, as well as our hidden gems.

“The Black Isle Show has been showcasing Scottish farming history and traditions for 180 years. This great agricultural showcase has been an institution in the Highland community since it began and proves as popular as ever today with locals and visitors alike. It is a great day out for all the family and a real highlight in the Scottish agricultural events calendar. This year’s discovery area is a great way for attendees to engage with the past and make the most of this momentous year.”

Usual attractions

The Black Isle Show will as always feature the usual firm favourites such as the livestock parade, more than 300 traders and stallholders, the craft and food hall, the flower show with over 500 exhibits, funfair and speciality bars and beer tents. Making a comeback this year will be the dancing sheep and for the first time, the crowds will be wowed by the Backdraft Fire Engine which will be pirouetting, showing off its wheelies and blowing flames three meters into the sky.