With heavy snow fall (up to 15 - 20cm)  snow forecast for East England (peterborough area ) Tues/Wed/Thurs in addition to the recent poor weather does anyone have any info about Boston Ch Sh ?

My passes indicate that  my breed will be in the Executive Marquee .. will they be able to errect a marquee on snow? Does anyone know if the rings are also in the Marquee .. if so I wonder what ground conditions will be like ?

Also just wondering what the car parking is like, does anyone know if parking is on hardstanding or is it on main agricultural site. Don't have a 4 wheel drive so can't contemplate off roading on deep snow !! 

K

There is extensive hard standing and a road access in and out of the showground, i would imagine the marrquee will be erected on the hardstading outside the mainshow building.

Hoep this helps, im  judging in there on saturday

Thanks - not been to Eof E showground for a while and never to this building. Must admit to having a panic when I saw "marquee" on show passes !! 

K

bring the duvet with you Karen, Me and Millie will be wrapped under ours there I think lol. Lucky for me a friend is driving us and she does have a 4x4!

LOL .... would bring the hip flask but then again I am always the driver !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Currently snowed in car can get no traction on ice which is sitting under current snowfall and just checked the PC to find the road I use to get to work is currently closed anyway. Looks like I am stranded again today . I hate snow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karen

Doubt that anyone will attend who live ni the North West as there's no way I wd be attending, thankfully I didn't enter this year!

I suspect many absentees if the show can go ahead at all ???

Severe weather alert now out for southern counties /south east for this evening /tomorrow am - up to 40cm snow forecast !!

Met office shows up to 20cm snow could fall on perterborough today with more to follow Wed,Thurs, Fri. Anyone in the area who can give a report???

Even if roads look ok on Friday morning I do wonder what the parking situation will be like on the showground? If the marquee is on the hardstand area parking will be on grass -- unless in a 4 wheel drive not sure how folks will cope. Probably worse conditions than the summer mud baths of recent years.
I HATE SNOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

K

This was going to be my first show - as a bystander only - and I'm going to be devastated if I can't go but it doesn't look likely with the weather and I'm miles away from it.

Met office didn't mention the snow that we got over night last night!  Still doesn't really mention it as such today, but luckily now it's just light snow showers.  Just hoping that I can drive home later from work and that the snow doesn't become any heavier.  Got nothing in to eat so hope Tesco's is open!

The report I saw prediced up to 4cm or so but we have had much more than this so far just where I am = gestimate of about 20cm + so far. 

Mett office still showing risk of a further 4cm or so this afternoon early evening .. if I were you I would try to leave early !!

K

> If the marquee is on the hardstand area parking will be on grass

No, there is lots of hardstanding at the East of England showground - all the parking is on tarmac, and the marquee is in a completely different area, also on hardstanding. If you can get to the show ground there should be no problems with parking or getting into/out of the show - and it should be a LOT warmer than it was at Newark last year.

Thanks for that info .. at least I know that a 4x4 isn't needed to access the show parking !!

Now will the roads be sorted by Friday ...!!??!!??

K

I'll be going A3 - M25 -A1 then into the showground (off the A1)
I would think these will be three of the clearest rounds in the country so unless the councils have run out of salt I'll be ok.

I remember the LKA 'snowed off show' when all the CCs and reserves were issued to those who turned up ( presumably for valour) and in some cases it was 4!!
My friend is judging this year and I know she'd withhold if the quality wasn't there.

Good luck - hope you make it ok.

The down side for me is getting over top of the Pennines - there was a mass of snow already on Saddleworth last week and it will be sooooo much worse now, high risk of snow in next couple of days as well for West Yorkshire area -- wonder if you can hire snow ploughs LOL

K

This is what I was thinking as well. For us it will be almost completely A1 so I can't see a big problem -as long as we can GET to the A1 that is.

A friend of mine was going to london on the train today & rang me to say she couldn't get there. The train got as far as Peterborough & stopped as the snow was too bad. As I understand it there are supposed to be heaters of some kind in the marquees.

> The down side for me is getting over top of the Pennines - there was a mass of snow already on Saddleworth last week and it will be sooooo much worse now, high risk of snow in next couple of days as well for West Yorkshire area -- wonder if you can hire snow ploughs LOL
>
>

8 inches of fresh snow today in Holmfirth and West Yorks so think going over the tops would be lethal if open. Snakepass- Manchester- Sheffield top road been closed for days now.

Good luck getting there.- I am desperately trying to get out to get to Scotland to see my mum in hospital and no way out at all - forecast same for tomorrow too.

Good Luck trying...

Classyellie, is that a rottie in your avatar?

No universalady, quite the opposite in size, it's a cavalier king charles spaniel!

The assistant Sec put this on a breed forum(which I have deleted the breed)

I have been to the showground today and all the roads are clear even the little ones near me.
The showground is going to completely, shovelled, swept and gritted in the areas we are using. The exec building has extremely good central heating and even Pat has been working without a coat today. The car park is very near to the entrance.
The rings are all green grass/astroturf type matting.
Hope to see everyone there safe and sound on Saturday. Alayna Morland-Allen (Assisstant Sec)

Hope this helps those who are thinking of going, or not as the case may be

Thanks ..

Fingers crossed the weather/ roads improve.
K

even with my big 4x4 the snow settel last night to 6 inchs in guildford surrey more on the way.
so i will not be going,
only trying to get to work 5 miles away will be hell over the next couple of days.looking at the forcast.
but then we got to remmber when i was young and my pearnets gen they still got to work in this bad waether school werent closed in 1963 snow,
in facr when my kids where at school 85/95 the school werent close either with the bad snow fall.

The show may go ahead, but the judges have to get there as well as exhibitors!  Here's hoping for a sudden warm front :-)

DONT THINK SO
JUST HAD TO RING WEDNESDAY LESSONS TO CANCELL AS THE CLUB IS CLOSE.
ANDREW NOT GONE TO WORK IN CHERSTEY.
THE DOGS HAVE SNOW BALLS ALL OVER THEM

> I'll be going A3 - M25 -A1 then into the showground (off the A1)
> I would think these will be three of the clearest rounds in the country so unless the councils have run out of salt I'll be ok.
>

Hhahahaahh :-)
So much for that - the A3 completely blocked with over 1000 abandoned cars.

Tooolz, we would be doing the same route as you (must be close!) BUT with a caravan......... just about to ring the caravan site and cancel so will ask what the weather is doing at the moment in Peterborough. Unless there is a thaw we will not risk it in the 4x4 there and back in a day, not just for a dog show. Feel sorry for some of the judges who may not be able to fulfill appointments!
Just been to PAH to get my raw food and stock up on wild bird food,elderly neighbour asked for cat litter, not having bought it for years I bought in bulk (as I do) I think the cat will be catered for for many years :) at least the wild birds now have a good supply of nuts etc.

> BUT with a caravan

Now that would be a white-knuckle ride :-)

I too am keeping the bird well fed as they are finding it difficult at the moment ..we even had gulls stealing from them yesterday..

As for Boston... personally I really feel that it is a trip not worth the risk for a dog show. I decided not to enter and am very glad I did . Is it really worth risking life and limb and the dogs for a trip that is not urgent. there will be so many more shows this year.

But.. for those braver souls than I ..keep safe .

There is a message on Fosse Data that Boston is going ahead, the car parks and walkways are all clear, the building is heated with large areas set aside for cages so once you are in there is no need to go outside. 

A lot of people still have the issue of getting there and I know quite a few who have quite a distance to travel including some of the judges so isn't this message just a bit short sighted, are there going to be enough reserve judges to cover for the ones who are snowed in and what happens when judges aren't able to make it?

I agree. The venue may be clear at the moment, but people have to get there.

This is what Boston have put on their website

Boston Championship Show will be going ahead this weekend.

All the roads near the showground are clear.
The showground is going to completely, shovelled, swept and gritted in the areas we are using.

The exec building has extremely good central heating. The car park is very near to the entrance.
All rings are inside with large cage areas next to them.  The rings are all green grass/astroturf type matting.
There is a restaurant and other catering in the main building and toilets both in the car park and main the main building.

We hope that everyone has a safe journey and enjoys the show.

If you are from that area what's the weather like at the moment?

I'm 30-40 mins away we had it bad this morning but its clearing nicely now roads including side roads to my horses which are normally terrible are clear as well, and we're not suppose to have more tonight but we'll see

Thank you, still snowing in the south west.

still snowing in guildford not stop from last night at 5pm,

Still non bar whats left on the pavements from this morning just seen weather and it says we shouldn't have anymore but might have ice on road tomorrow, plus someone who works with my hubby travels from Peterborough into northampton and the roads have been fine, lets hope it stays that way.

If I were going I wouldnt be able  get out of Merseyside as the roads are torrential we have no bus services in any part of the City the only thing running are the trains .The shops are empty or closed and the City centre is deserted.The roads are tretcherous.. son went to work by train and hubby took an hour to get home by car which normally takes 15mins as he was on a late shift and the trains would have finished. Afriend took 5 and half  hours to get home on a 45 min journey as they had to shut the tunnels.
Just outside the City its worse  I really do worry for the people thinking of travelling long distances I cannot see a change in the next few days as they are talking about the BIG FREEZE which will make conditions worse.

Organisers need to think of the distances and conditions people need to go through to get to the show not just the surrounding areas. I dont think more snow will make any difference we need some winter sun and higher temp before the road become safe  to travel.

There is a combined championship cat show being held - or should I say was being held - on Saturday but they have cancelled. This was to be at Stoneleigh, they realise the judges & exhibitors will be travelling outwith the immediate area and are refunding all exhibitors.  Probably Boston & Fosse Data know that a lot won't turn up so it's a nice earner for them.

I did wonder if that was why they weren't cancelling but as I don't do a lot of showing and never having been to a show that was cancelled I didn't know if that was what they had to do.  I know exhibitors come from all over the country and I am guessing that judges do as well but what happens if a judge is snowed in and is unable to judge is this classed as breaking a contract and if so what happens to the judge are they in trouble with the kennel club?

It does sound a bit different with Stoneleigh than Peterborough though as Boston has issued a statement saying rhe venue will be cleared etc, The statement about the cat shows says
Please note that all the cat shows being held at the Stoneleigh Park
Exhibition Centre on the 9th January 2010 are CANCELLED due to the venue
being almost inaccessible by anything other than a 4 x 4 vehicle.

But as I said, it may be ok at the venue for Boston but a small minority live in that area and those coming from the North especially through the Borders may have a tricky time as the A66 is closed.   Also those coming from the West Midlands and southern England may not have an easy time too. 

I think this is why the cats shows have cancelled because people are travelling from other areas to get there.  I had planned to enter the combined shows thinking of 2 Grands on the day for Hope but I'm glad I didn't now.  It's ok where I live as we've not had snow since last week but going down the M74/M6 would've been very hazardous to say the least.

> I know exhibitors come from all over the country and I am guessing that judges do as well but what happens if a judge is snowed in and is unable to judge is this classed as breaking a contract and if so what happens to the judge are they in trouble with the kennel club?

If you have a genuine reason for not being able to judge, the KC are very understandable.

>Probably Boston & Fosse Data know that a lot won't turn up so it's a nice earner for them.

the thing is they have already paid out for the venue, the benching, rings, passes etc so would they not lose out if they then refunded everyones money ?

Judges that don't turn up - less expenses to be paid!

ChristineW thank you. 

Just to say I am not a judge.  I do have another question to everyone out there, I would assume that there are reserve judges that have been approved by the KC but with the weather as it is there may be a few that are going to be unable to get there what happens if there aren't enough reserve judges?

I think this is why the cats shows have cancelled because people are travelling from other areas to get there.

Well they does say it's because if the VENUE being difficult to access, and it doesn't really make sense otherwise, does it, if they went ahead and people didn't turn up they'd not lose all the money, the exhibitors would. :)

As a swede I'm forever shaking my head in great amazement -why does the UK not bring in a law about winter tyres? And prepare to grit every year? Every year it's the same big surprise, even if it snowed the previous year?? My step son was due to attend a course in town today, they phoned and cancelled yet all the roads there are perfectly clear and it was only for local people. I don't get it.

> As a swede I'm forever shaking my head in great amazement -why does the UK not bring in a law about winter tyres? And prepare to grit every year? Every year it's the same big surprise, even if it snowed the previous year?? My step son was due to attend a course in town today, they phoned and cancelled yet all the roads there are perfectly clear and it was only for local people. I don't get it.

As a Londoner I'm amazed that year after year when snow lands in England there's a huge hoo-haa about a few cm's (We are talking cm's now not inches or feet or even metres!) councils being unprepared etc.    We will get snow, prepare for it.  It wasn't that long ago when I went to school and we never closed due to adverse weather and we all got off our backsides and walked to school not get ferried to & fro.    Sorry, going off subject here.   It makes me mad though, the media seems to think no human life exists further than Birmingham.

With respect, issuing statements about the surrounding area to Peterbourgh, are only of any use to those who live in that vicinity.
Almost everyone else will find it almost impossible, indeed foolish, to get there.

In the current climate it will, if it goes ahead, turn into a local open show ( like it used to be) with a few easy CCs thrown in.

With the AA, government agencies and all the advisory bodies declaring it 'madness' to travel in this weather unless our journeys are essential - isn't it unwise for large public gatherings to go ahead?

With the AA, government agencies and all the advisory bodies declaring it 'madness' to travel in this weather unless our journeys are essential - isn't it unwise for large public gatherings to go ahead?

But WHY? Why is it madness? It makes no sense at all to me. Roads that are driven on a lot get clear very quickly. Why is this country so helpless? I shall most certainly be going to Boston. :)

It'll end up like LKA did several years ago when heavy snow prevented a lot of people getting there and CC's were given out willy nilly to single figure entries.

Some roads remain impassable to snow ploughs & gritters especially in the Border region, just read what kayc has had to contend with.  Roads won't clear in these areas by the weekend!

Look what one jack-knifed lorry did to the A3 yesterday, it only takes one or two incidents like that and people get stuck going to or from the show.

> Why is this country so helpless?

Probably not very relevant in this instance .... because it just is!

> I shall most certainly be going to Boston

But you already live in Lincolnshire dont you?