I am sure I must be covering old ground here, but I can't find any reference on CD about this. Having convinced myself last year that a soft crate was the way to go, I will need a metal crate for my dog (a Welsh springer) that fits the benching at Crufts so I can groom him on top of it...*SIGH*...am I the only one who carefully considers all the angles and then still finds that the carefully selected purchase isn't quite the answer to the problem. So my question is, what is the maximum size of the bench, can anyone recommend a sturdy but not desperately heavy cage and where I can buy one at reasonable cost (and short notice)?

Have you tried the KC website? I think they will have what is the minimum size, might even be in the Crufts schedule.
Can't help with finding a cage other than ebay, that's where I first bought a cage (rest have all come from the guys at shows)

There are bench sizes laid down but I do not know what they are - there are grooming areas with tables supplied so it may not be necessary to make your own arrangements.

I've never noticed grooming tables supplied at Crufts?

Toller benches min are 24" wide.  A standard size 36" cage just fits. 

I've never noticed grooming tables supplied at Crufts?

You may be right it's a few years since I exhibited there - may be I assumed they were supplied but perhaps people carted their own

There are some benching sizes in the shedule -
Airdale 24", Spaniel (Clumber) 24" Boxer 24", Welsh Corgi 20" Basset 24" and standard poodle 28"
May help a bit
Aileen

No there are no tables provided for grooming and there are no cages supplied on benches for toy breeds anymore. Been a few years now :)

So yep people have to cart & stuggle on from those bloomin' car parks to the halls

Nova we do cart our own, they have never been provided. :)

I think I had just assumed, we never really groom at shows just a flick over with a slicker and a chamois can't imagine what it must be like to have a breed that needs loads of attention before being shown.

Excuse my ignorance but why do people need to do all that grooming at shows?  Do you not do the most of it at home with only a quick brush etc when you get to the show?

Presentation is part and parcel of showing and if you have a long haired breed then they need to be groomed before going in the ring. We show shih tzu and yes all the preparation is done at home but they do not have top knots in at home and these need to be done for the ring. I know from my own experience that dogs well mine anyway tend to get ruffled up in their cages that they look as if they were dragged through a hedge backwards! Our chinese cresteds need very little grooming before going in to the ring due to having no coat but they still need to look well presented!!

Unless you have an early class start would it be possible to get one when you get there.........loads of choice.........show offer prices ...and.... one less thing to get from the car to the hall. :-D  ok you would still have to get it out at the end - you can't have everything.

http://www.crufts.org.uk/dfs-crufts-2011-trade-stands

tells you who is where to find the closest to your benching/ring
Chris

Splendid Pets is one of the cage places, can't remember the other one (guy usually has his top of & has a leggy blonde partner who looks very glam all of the time)

We start at 8.30am...:(

why do people need to do all that grooming at shows

In our case it won't be a lot of grooming since we'll be doing 99% of it the night before, but even brushing out his coat is better done where he and I can be comfortable, at a reasonable height (especially now I've wrenched my back in a fall recently). It's building routine for the dog, too. Neither of us can relax if it's a case of just a quick swipe with the brush as he is distracted by everything else going on. If he can sit on top of his crate he can see what's going on and know that he needs to stay sat there. I'll be enough of a wreck for both of us as it is :)

Thanks, having only ever shown one larger sized breed who after the prep is done at home only needs a brush when you get there, I always wondered :)

By the time you have got a Bearded Collie to a show, even with all the preparation done in advance - by the time you've walked them from the car park, I wouldn't want to walk straight into the show ring!