Just a quick note to say that I have travelled from Winchester to Lincolnshire today (uni to mum's)
It took me just 2hr 45mins, a pretty normal time to get here.
I went on the M3 M25 and then A1
We live about 45 mins from the showground and I have to go past it to get here!
There really was not a lot of snow around here to be honest you can still see green through the fields (if you understand that).
I hope this helps
However all could change, when I left uni it was still snowing and there was a big flurry just outside London and we have had a small smuttering tonight of snow but nothing too major!!

doesnt really matter what the road are like around Peterborough ..not if you are travelling from parts of the country that are snowed in   there are a lot of people who will have treacherous roads to try and pass and imagine if you spend the day in the showground and the weather takes a turn you could end up stranded miles away from home.{{shudder}}

remember to take a shovel, blankets  food and drink.

Well I am waiting for the weather to improve so I can book and travel to Hereford to get Inka's Hips scored, and also hope things improve in time for Manchester champ show on 21st at Stafford.

well in cannot even get into my 4x4 car at the moment it so ice up over the freeze last nightthat the doors are frozen ,
we drove it to sainburys yesterday the roads were very bad even in a 4x4.

even if it dosent snow or freezes tonight i got to go to work in the morning due have twork place close yesterday and today.
so no show for me,which is a shame for pagan the judge was a right one for her type of the breed.

> 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!)

Not the case everywhere- There is over a foot of snow lying here which is now compacted and frozen. Roads and pavements are treacherous and tractors are hauling cars out that have decided they must go out. I have been snowed in since Monday and have had a suitcase in the boot waiting on a chance to leave to try to head for Scotland where my mum has been admitted to hospital.

People will be attempting to travel from all over the country many of whom rarely drive in bad weather and on unfamiliar roads.
Good luck to all who make it.

> People will be attempting to travel from all over the country many of whom rarely drive in bad weather and on unfamiliar roads

Exactly!

There is a huge fuss here because it is a rare occurence for which, the population are under experienced and ill-prepared.

A bit like the Brits often looking like lobsters on tropical beaches.......not used to it!

We were asked if we would buy snow chains now ........for the usual 1 week or so of icy/snowy weather it's hardly worth.
Safer to avoid risk.

well with more snow forcast i,m afraid ill give it a miss

Yes I think I may well do that also. Its a three hour drive, not sure I want to risk it.

Thanks Fecimus, you've really cheered me up.  I've got to do M25 & up (sadly I've got a long way to go just to get as far as M25) but I don't like letting people down, so I'm going to do my best to get there.

> I went on the M3 M25 and then A1
>

My exact route for tomorrow, thats cheered me up, I am still going!!

Hi Ottoman

well good luck I will not be there .. far to hazardous driving conditions

k

VERY interesting discussions on the Dog world website
regarding the disregard (by some) of the national 'avoid all unneccesary travel' warnings to attend a dog show and Boston CS refusal to cancel.

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/01-breaking-boston

Drove to the showground today and if you can get there the A1 was clear and we don't have any snow so far tonight (touch wood)!!!!
The minor roads are a little snowy but you can still see the tarmack, but the showground is right off the A1 so hopefully all should be ok.
The show team have worked hard at the showground!
We had a little flurry tonight after 5 but cleared up almost instantly whilst at vets tonight, so hopefully will be ok.
Hope you all have a safe journey if you are coming and if not keep warm!!!

I've not entered this show and i beg to wonder why some people who don't live close by are considering going. Each to their own i know, but really you just never know when you're going to hit snow or ice currently, what is good one minute may not be the next.
Think about if you break down or an accident occurs, think how cold it could get after waiting for hours on end and then having to sort out your dogs as well. How many break down services will take your dog/s? What about other people travelling, kids going etc..
As they have said on the news there is much more snow to come, who know where it will dump in the UK.. What about the journey back, potentially more problems, driving in the dark in these weather conditions are dire.. 

Please stay safe and seriously think about travelling before you set out and think whether or not its really worth it..

Preach Over x

SueJaw

I have to agree  with what you have written.  It is not just the local area you have to consider it is where the competitors and judges have to come from as well and I am sure that the majority of both come from a further away, I have heard on the grapevine that there is a change of judge on Saturday.  I am sure this has been answered but if a judge is changed this late in the day are you entitled to any refund?

Glad I didn't enter now as my van's frozen and can't even start it.  We've never had weather like this before, just hope that my van is repairable.

I have to say, IMHO, I would believe the only reason they are not cancelling is due to finance.  If they cancel they will have to refund all exhibitors' money, pay for the venue, judge's hotels etc.  All of which they wouldn't be able to claim back for.  I'm not sure if they have insurance to cover this or not?  If the show goes ahead & (for arguments sake) 2 judges, 4 dogs & a steward turn up, then they won't have to refund the exhibitors who didn't turn up, showground & other expenses are covered by entry fees.

well i dont going enterd pagan but not risking my life and my dogs lifes for a bit of card and roselett my dog mean more to me than that.

but i do have to try to get into work today that ok 3 miles away,
what if you get there but cannot bet back.?

To add i've just seen the weather forecast and there is more snow on the way for the whole of the east coast and the south coast.
Checked the BBC weather for Peterborough and they are expecting more snow over the next few days including tonight..

I know I wouldn't go - is it really worth the risk?  I have been working from home for the last few days and my journey is only to Crawley!  Call me a wimp if you like but I am not brave enough to drive on untreated roads - I have seen 4 x 4's skidding on the roads here.  I managed to get my car off the drive and out of our lane but then abandoned it on a nearby road as the roads were just too icey.

They say there is none so mad as dog show folk mind you :)

just seen this posted on a website :

Sorry there will be no photographs of Boston Championship Show today.  We set off at 6.30am this morning  and only got about 10 miles. The worsening conditions were horrendous with heavy drifting snow and ice. It was almost impossible to get up the hills and in the end were forced to turn round and come home - we only just made it back with all warning lights on the car lit up!

We hope that this makes all of you who live a long way away from Peterborough showground feel better as we are only 40 odd miles away from the venue.  Why we have to ask was the show not cancelled yesterday??

really is it worth it.

well i dont going enterd pagan but not risking my life and my dogs lifes for a bit of card and roselett my dog mean more to me than that.

Completely agree. I am not going, maybe the roads are clear but travelling at 5am in the morning when roads are slippy is not my idea of safety of myself and my dogs.

what if you get there but cannot bet back.?

Obviously this is my main concern as I'm not going there to show, so I won't have my dogs or dd with me.  If I get there, it will be via rail & certainly not road, no way I can concentrate for that long!

I have just heard that the roads around the showground were awful, judging has been postponed from 9am to 10am and that it is already snowing in the area. I'm snuggled up with my girl who was entered at home and so glad we haven't attempted it. Just hope everyone who has gone gets home safely now. Digraceful of Boston not to cancel this show!!!

Mel.

thanks Mel for the update. I have entered but don't think I can risk the journey it's a two hour drive for me it's just not safe and I'll be on my own if anything did go wrong, really disappointed :(

HI

Im scheduled to jduge tomorrow, beagles and dachs, i apologise now to the exhibitors who have entered under me.  I cannot get to the show, i havent been to work for a few day, because i cant get out of the village

Helen x

Thank you for letting us know Helen.

Just looked at the results for gundog am  flabergasted at the amount of people who still attended even the springers who were not issued tickets ...the mind boggles!

We had a trip to Tesco a mile away it was an experience I dont wish to repeat too often..never mind a 200 mile trip !!<G>

English setters 20 entered 1 turned up !!

I still can't understand why Boston was not cancelled. I can fully understand there is costs that can not be recouperated but I don't think a dog show is worth putting lives at risk

Not too many Boston brags this year !

Whilst I agree that Boston should have been postponed, surely the ultimate decision on whether it is safe to travel lies with the exhibitors. I wasn't entered, but if I had, there is no way I would have risked travelling. We can make the decision for ourselves, but our dogs can't, surely we owe it them not to expose them to unnecessary risks.

Thats true, but what about the judges, stewards, groundstaff who have no choice !!

> surely the ultimate decision on whether it is safe to travel lies with the exhibitors

I completely agree.
I (in common with very many others) have decided it's too dangerous and not worth the risk so we would like our money back ...in my case over £70. It is outwith my control and I believe other share that view, so Boston should have cancelled and refunded IMO.

oh well maybe we should all show our disappointment with thier decision and not enter next year ...this weather may become the norm for future years for all we know , then would have to change dates for the show , I didnt enter but out of pure luck or I would be annoyed at loosing so much cash too.

As for them not cancelling due to cash shouldnt they be insured ? ..what  about all the companies loosing money and having to close because of the weather. It s just unfortunate... I just pray no-one has a terrible accident or worse on thier way to or from the venue ...how would the committee feel then??

Ok, Well I was one of them that did go, M3, M25, A1, absolutely no issues, roads were clear and not much traffic, no issues on the roads leading to the venue either ( well the roads I used anyway), I was sensible and went prepared. I took my time. However, I was well aware of travel issues off the motorway from the local radio as I travelled up. It was snowing as I arrived, but for most of the day it was bathed in sunshine. It is a personal issue if you feel you are able to attend, and probably, your local areas will be a bigger determining factor more than anything else. The hall was warm, the dogs comfortable in the benching, the comittee have done eveything they can to ensure the comfort of our dogs whilst there. Haven't worked it out but probably about 50%  to 60% absent rate for my breed.

It was my personal choice to go, but I had thoroughly researched the roads I would be using and checked the forecast for Peterborough for today.  I would not take my daughters with me as I wanted to ensure they were safe at home but I don't regret driving up and no I don't drive a 4 x 4 either.

BTW have been home about 20 mins it took me 2.15 hours to drive back 115 miles with no stops.

STARRYEYES            i was due to go entered in springers but not prepared to risk me and my dogs but looks like even though no tickets some exhibitors just HAVE to be seen to WIN  can you understand it? i cant

entered and i'm going to try and get there.
m4,m25 and A1 if the trip gets scary will turn round and come home.

no I cant weshie??

just had a thought after watching the news I feel sorry for the rescue services having to pull people out , rescuing ambulances and other emergency vehicles  which should be thier priority without people with no need to venture our unnecessarily making thier work even more difficult apart from putting them at risk too .

I don't get it when the police are advising folk not to travel unless absolutely necessary and I don't think that a dog show is absolutely necessary for anyone. I do think that folk forget that if anything does happen to them/their car it means more folks lifes are put at risk trying to rescue them. The weather can change so quickly too.

Totally agree Starryeyes, I offer no sympathy for any exhibitor who gets into trouble, no congratulations to anyone who wins their piece of card, and no respect for a canine society who puts judges and stewards into the position of having to decide whether to risk it or not. 

Hi Ottoman

Did they delay judgeing until 10 today

Yes they did, although not sure why, maybe they thought more people would show up, the car park was rather empty!!

I read there was a 61% absentee rate in my breed, with CCs.

Dawn R.

Must say I do feel in a quandary, took three quarters of an hour to get the car off the drive to day and that was at 11 oc I am not looking forward to doing the same thing at 6 in the morning.

Had I entered I would not be going but I have agreed to steward and feel obliged to try and get there, the fact that the official car park closes at nine is also a worry what if I get half way and think I will be late do I struggle on or turn round and come home. My husband is worried silly and I am not sure I should be putting him through this but I made a commitment to steward and if I can I will but I would be happier not being in this position

I was also one of the exhibitors who turned up today. I guess peoples decisions are based on their local area as once on the main roads there were no issues whatsoever. We have a couple of inches of snow here but took it steady with food, water, extra clothing, shovel etc all packed in the van just in case but didnt slip once even going over the tops. Once at the venue, again no problems getting around into the car park and the hall was really warm and cosy.

If the weather was forcast to get worse or we came across much more snow obviously we would have turned round but route planning and keeping an eye on the news meant a pleasant day for all who turned up.

PS I live 2.5hrs from the venue

Just another spin but the AA is taking up to 24 hours to get to vehicles.  Another company ordered through the AA came to me 8 hours after my phone call.  Luckily I was at a house but what are you going yto do if you break down?

Just another spin but the AA is taking up to 24 hours to get to vehicles.  Another company ordered through the AA came to me 8 hours after my phone call.  Luckily I was at a house but what are you going yto do if you break down?

I wasn't entered and wouldn't have gone if I had been. We were entered at the Paris show but are not going.
I can veryfy that the recovery companies are taking a long time to get to people and if it is in an area where they can't get a recovery vehicle in and out of they wont get to you at all.
All the recovery clubs, police and highways agency use sub-contract recovery firms who will not put their drivers at risk, and also even if you club says they will take the dogs in the cab it is purely down to the driver and there are many that won't have them in the cab.
I agree that this counrty is never geared up for this, but its got to be better safe than sorry and travelling to a dog show is not being safe.
Shame on you Boston !!!!

We've had another 2 inches of snow in the last 12 hours :-(  down south.  Not sure if there's been any at Peterborough though?