I know I asked this before and I do plan to ring the secretary to be sure BUT in general how can someone make an estimate of when their class will be on? Bearing in mind this is an open show I doubt they'll release a summary of entries so even though I know that Greyhounds in Group 10 are the last group I do not know how many of any other breed will be there! All I know is judging begins at 11 and the show is over at 6.

Should I show up at 11? My dog does not require a few hours to settle so if we were due in at 4 I'd probably arrive at 1 or so.

http://www.dogshowentry.ie/OnlineEntries/Doc/Schedules/BDO_Sch12.pdf

ALSO I've read that open shows don't send out entry numbers etc and I haven't received anything and the show is this Saturday. when I walk in who or what am I looking for in order to 'sign in' and get anything I need?

The schedule isn't very clear but the groups seem to simply be listed in numerical order, there may be 10 rings for all I know with all groups starting at 11, so either get there for 11 or call the secretary.

Did you order a catalogue? There will be a table somewhere near the main entrance with someone giving out catalogues, go here first to collect your catalogue and ask these people what ring you are in and where it is. Find your ring, for most shows it is better to take your own folding chair/camp seat and blanket for the dog to sit on, find a space to put these down near your ring but not blocking walkways. Find the toilets and the coffee stall then chat to other folk while waiting for your class.

Do you have a ringclip? A clip or armband to hold your number? If not take a safety pin. You wait for your class to be called then go into the ring and the steward there will give you a number, no need to book in.

Have fun

>in general how can someone make an estimate of when their class will be on?

I was told that an extimate of 5 minutes per class plus five minutes for each breed change should give a rough idea. (Although I used that method recently and reckoned on a 12.15 start and we weren't in the ring till 1.30, and that was with several classes before us with no entries at all!)

3 minutes a dog is what I was given for an estimate, but I always err on the side of caution, having a couple of times arriving just in time to rush into the ring and brush the dog while waiting my turn!!

I could give 3 minutes per dog but with no idea how many dogs there are, it seems near impossible!

I've been to watch Championship shows in this venue so know my way around at least and there were tons of rings there so you're right, my class may well be earlier than expected. I'll bring a safety pin as I didn't think to get an armband, damn!

I entered online and there was no option to order a catalogue so I'll try get one at the show.

I'm very nervous now!

I always work on 2 minutes per dog -it's almost guaranteed to be more but then you don't allow too much time. (Especially as there are often absentees.) I don't know how open shows work in Ireland but here you arrive at the show and go and collect your catalogue first thing you do and sometimes you get the ring number at the same time, at other times you tell the ring steward your number when you enter the ring and get it then. You often don't get a chance to buy a catalogue unless you've paid/ordered in advance but you can always ask somebody to have a look at theirs.

If I didn't know what breeds (if any) were before me in the ring I'd be there half an hour before judging was due to start.

With open shows where you don't know numbers, I tend to go and look results up online to see how many were entered the previous year to get a rough idea. Do you have open show results listed online somewhere for Ireland?