Hi has anyone received there skc passes yet?

thanks
Mbrod

They will probably be sent out sometime this week

Several friends have still not had Birmingham National passes let alone SKC ! 

Thanks
i spoke to fosse thay should be out in the next day or so :)

Arrived this afternoon, Thursday.  There is a notice on OD & DW online that SKC are having to revise the ring layouts, car parking, and caravan site due to weather. 

Oh dear skc is lovely when there is sun but if its raining.. ;/ will take a look now online

Thanks
Mbrod

I am dreading it now, apparently the grounds already a mess from a event already held there :/

Of all the show venues the "old" layout SKC do is one of the least thought out (Richmond runs a close 2nd).  I'll swear non of the organisers have ever shown a dog in their life, maybe not even owned one.  The tent sited at the far side of the grounds is only ever open on 3 sides with totally inadequate grooming areas, one at each end to cater for 10 + rings.  Benching tents are always empty.  I know they have to abide by the Royal Highland designated areas but it could be so so much better thought out.  The trade stands have preference over the exhibitors, we are just stuffed away as though we don't matter. 

Inclement weather and wet ground conditions are unavoidable, but poor management of show ground layout is not. 

I voiced this complaint too, they say unexpectedly but it's the same every tIme. Funnily enough richmond is also my second least favourite, thInk its time the society's took note.

> I voiced this complaint too, they say unexpectedly but it's the same every tIme. Funnily enough richmond is also my second least favourite, thInk its time the society's took note.

>

Yes Brody.  I have written and phoned to voice complaints before but no notice is taken.  2 years ago the far tent was so congested you could not get from the rings to the grooming areas to switch dogs between classes.  The aisles were crammed with grooming tables and crates although we who had arrived early had been prevented from putting 1 crate near our middle ring.  I missed a class because I could not get to the designated crate area, I have a breed too heavy to pick up and carry over the ankle biters on flex leads blocking the aisles.  On the day several of us complained to the yellow jacket officials who just shrugged and "tough like it or lump it".

On the back of last May when they did rethink the ground layout I entered this time.  If it is back to the old ways my camera video phone will be very useful and a complaint to the KC and the local Health & Safety executive will be following on.  If there was a fire in the far tent NO ONE in the middle rings would stand a cat in hell's chance of getting out.

The trade stands have the firm ground and Tarmac walkways, why oh why do SKC not use that area for in / out benching tents?  The trade stands could easily cope with the far side, even the ice cream vans get preference over exhibitors. And yes I have run large out door events so am experienced in planning ground layouts.

In these conditions they should also consider relaxing the last entry time onto the show ground from 11.30am to later on.  At then it would be less congested in dire weather, and our dogs would be so much more comfortable in a dry vehicle rather than hanging around a sodden ground until 3.00 if you are one of the unfortunate breeds to be last in your ring.

Harkback I can't understand why the don't do the logical things you suggest the way the tent posts all get tapped up and sectioned off is terrible and like you say if anything happened the stampede would just cause chaos. I was really annoyed earlier when on Facebook I was told I was just trying to make more hard work for the committee but they fail to see if more and more people stop going to skc they won't have ashow to worry about.

People are not entering in my breed because of the rings, in 4 years we have lost 2/3rd of entries.  This time I entered as I mentioned on the back of last May and the improved layout, plus we have a decent judge.  But I am still making up 25% of the entry figures this time.  When will they listen?  When all breeds numbers are in single digits?  It seems to be heading that way.

Am I right that SKC is on this weekend coming?

right... hearing so many stories about SKC in May and August outside shows... just been reading on dog world that they are changing the rings and that you enter the show from the normal way into the large car park... we have never done the outside shows in Scotland only  in the halls... are we in for a bit of a shocker.. anyone in the know can give me any tips please do.. thanks

Roni

yes skc is this weekend

its not completely outside like leeds but the rings are in opensided tents, watch out for the badly placed poles holding the tents up as i have nearly run into them, god knows what the layout is going to be, but i have been their in some horrendous conditions, rain, muddy & soaked to the skin & somtime if the sun is out you can get it nice, the rings for us are tiny for a large breed, best take some wellies ;)

Bring wellies & give your self plently of time, especially if they have reverted back to the old layout which was rubbish!

Looks like Friday is to be rainy, Saturday to be dry.
Off course, I'm going on the Friday, typical.

so will be fun by Sunday when we are going .. OMG

Does anyone know what time judging is please? :-)

Judging starts at 9.30, and guess who is in the first class on Friday :-(

Starryeyes I've been to many worse shows than the SKC. The good thing about it is that the paths inside the showground are all concrete and the car park is all hardstanding. So compared with a lot of shows where you park in a grass field and walk through mud around the showground it's really very good :-)

The downside is that the hardstanding in the car park is shale, so if you have long haired white footed dogs and it is or has been raining you need to either carry them or put boots on them or just not worry about red toes :-) also as already warned the rings have poles in them - look where you're going :-)

thanks chaumsong... have done the scottish shows numerous times but usually the winter shows when they are inside... we usually put thier boots on or if its really bad weather they go in the crate on the trolley with a cover and are transported in all nice and clean...

Just the thoughts of moving the dogs in the mud ... which is the norm from stories I am hearing... :)