I have bitten the bullet and entered my first champ show (Driffield).  I have entered my spinone in PGB and Good Citizen Bitch.  How do I find out when we're likely to be in the ring?  Also I have a wedding the following day, what time (very roughly) can I expect to be done by?  It would help the OH a lot to know if we should be planning to head off at 1pm or 8pm for example... I have no idea!

All very nerve-racking but exciting too :)
Many thanks

Rachael

The order of judging will be either printed in the schedule (sometimes a breed is listed as not due to be started before a particular time, but can be later) or you will receive it when you get your passes. If there are other breeds before you, you can go and check online to see how many entries there are of them, then count on each dog taking around 2 minutes to judge and you will get a rough idea of when your breed judging will start. If you're the first breed in the ring check how many entries and count on about half of them being dogs which will be judged before the bitches. Entry figures will be published a week or two before the show.

just to say good luck on the day...and glad I'm not the only one wondering about times!

Also if your showing for the first time you need to get to the show a good 1 - 2 hours before going in the ring to settle her and get her used to the show atmosphere.

I've just had a look at the schedule and your breed are first in the ring and judging starts at 09.00.
In recent years this has been a good show for the numbers entered for Spins.
Thing is if you did really well and got BOB you'd be staying longer for the group stages :-).. Wouldn't that be nice

Thanks for the help everyone!  Yes, of course if we did well I would be chuffed to bits and stay as long as things took, but I will be happy if she behaves and goes well :)

I will look up the entry numbers nearer the time for a better idea of things.  Would 4pm be a reasonable time to hope to be away at if not getting any further than the breed classes?

Thankyou again for all your help, its all these small things that make the first show so nerve-racking.

I would hope you'd be well away before 4pm tbh, i know in my breed that with a 10am start recently that they were through a lot of the bitch classes by midday and they had finished Leo's, they had many entered it was the judge was quick in judging.
Just make sure you pack your show bag the night before and also make food the night before if taking it with you. Your dog should be bathed and groomed before you go and should only need a brush over when you get to the show. Flannels are also good to have with you, if I recall rightly from an old friend her Spin's did loose slobber readily.
Pack for all weather conditions, so any chance of rain make sure you have brollies, towels for you and dog and what is often a great idea camping chairs/stools.

By getting there early it will help settle your nerves and her's. Also walking about soaking up the atmosphere, so you all get used to it. Also a great chance for toileting too before she steps into the ring.