Just happend to look at the SKC's own website and unfortunately there is a notice on their home page that due to adverse weather conditions this year and ground damage they are moving the show layout back to the style of previous years.  So dissapointed as the new layout this past May was a HUGE improvement.  Now we are back to the cramped rings with no access to the central rings past 9.00am because of trolleys, and grooming tables.  Apart from the poor conditions for the dogs there is a big health and safety issue with the tented layout as there is absolutely no emergency escape route out of one of the tents due to the fact SKC refuses to open the tent on all 4 sides. The rings on the back side of the tent have only 3 ft of walkway between the rings and the tent wall and these are completely blocked from early morning onwards.  Even if they had to move back to a smaller area of the showground they could have re-planned it better but no, I just phoned to check.  Benching tents unuseable as miles from the rings.

Notice was in last week's dog world and saw it on Facebook too.  Yes May's layout was far better but can't control the weather and other events unfortunately.

> Even if they had to move back to a smaller area of the showground they could have re-planned it better but no, I just phoned to check.  Benching tents unuseable as miles from the rings.

I totally agree, fair enough they can't use the upper section and there is nothing they can do about that but why return to the rubbish layout when they know so many exhibitors dislike this?
So yes once again benching is too far from the rings (we have PGD, LD & OD) so will have to get there megga early so we can find a cage space before all the trolleys/tables etc gather round our ring.

> Yes May's layout was far better but can't control the weather and other events unfortunately.

Nope can't control weather.  But the person / people who have laid out the ring plans / tents in previous years have obviously never shown a dog in their life, nor owned one probably!  Wonder how they get around the risk assesment for the emergency routes, steel tent pegs 6 inches up in the air, and the guy ropes you have to negotiate just to get to the ring.  Then there is the added skill of avoiding the tent support posts dotted around inside some rings.

Hope they can go back to the May 2011 layout next year.

We've always managed to avoid the poles in the middle of the ring, but maybe one day .....  I too hope they go back to May's layout next year, but am still looking forward to Saturday.  Remember 20 odd years ago when it was all outside, no tents and that wind!!!!  Hey ho ....

We still had poles in May :-(

However the entry for many breeds is so small this August, perhaps there will be more room as there will be less people :-)

I have heard that the Toys and Utilty may be indoors in the big hall.