The dry and sunny weather of the last three days is expected to continue on Saturday as Balmoral 2018 draws to a close. The Met Office is forecasting sunny intervals throughout the day with temperatures reaching highs of 18°C.

Group championships will take centre stage in the livestock rings, with the parade of champions scheduled for late afternoon, as well as the recently introduced interspecies competition.

Saturday's main events:

  • 9.30am: Royal Ulster international open heats - Shearing pavillion

  • 9.30am: Sheep inter-breed pairs championship - Sheep rings

  • 10.00am: Beef young handlers - Cattle rings

  • 10.30am: Sheep group of three championship - Sheep rings

  • 10.30am: Wool handling competition - novice and open - Shearing pavillion

  • 11.00am: Goat young handlers - Pig/goat ring

  • 11.30am: Royal Ulster international open semi-finals - Shearing pavillion

  • 11.30am: Sheep young handlers - Sheep rings

  • 12.00pm: Pig young handlers - Pig/goat ring

  • 12.00pm: Beef cattle exhibator breed pairs - Cattle rings

  • 1.00pm: Beef group of five championship - native breed - Cattle rings

  • 1.15pm: Sheep inter-breed individual championship - Sheep rings

  • 1.30pm: Beef group of five championship - continental breed - Cattle rings

  • 1.30pm: Shearing/wool handling teams test - Shearing pavillion

  • 2.00pm: Beef presentation of awards - Cattle rings

  • 2.00pm: Royal Ulster international open final - Shearing pavillion

  • 3.30pm: Cattle parade assembly - Cattle rings

  • 4.00pm: Cattle parade and champion of champions of the show - Main arena

    • Coverage from fringe events and results from the livestock competitions over the first three days of the show are available here.

    For those going to Balmoral on Saturday, make sure to call into the Irish Farmers Journal’s stand beside the main cattle lawn for a chat with our team.

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