Highampress have just released the info that backpool champinship show has been abanedoned on the third day.
just wondered how this effets those which have won places, cc's, bob's etc from the other two days?

Just heard the BIS tent has come down in the winds and the catering tent, the chef's clothes caught fire, ambulances and fire engines on site, chaos getting out of the showground.

thoughts are with all those trying to get home.
a safe trip to you all.
xx

We got home about half an hour ago after deciding not to wait for pg bitch.
I,m so glad we did the wind was ferocious the dogs hated it and even an hour before we left the show committee were asking exhibitors to leave the showground.
We saw an ambulance as we were leaving I do hope the poor chef is alright.
A card and a bit of ribbon are not worth hanging on for in weather like that, I really feel for the people who are having to battle with those huge marquees today.

Just read elsewhere that apparently, there were some dogs still in one of the benching tents without their owners, when the tent came down.  Hopefully no one is injured.

Goodness I do not remember a show having to be abandoned before and hope everyone and the dogs are or will be OK. Think they will have to sort matters out at some time in the near future as to if they run today's events again and hold BIS etc. Do not think it will have any effect on the awards made on the first two day but would expect the Blackpool committee to be insured against this and to organise another time to complete its show. But may be not one can only guess at what the KC will require and at the moment I think peoples health and safety are far more important.

could not agree more nova.
people's safety comes first, i just wondered that's all as i have never seen this happen before.

Higham press have posted some piccies of the showground if anyone's interested!

Oh my goodness :-(  I hope nobody, animal or human, was seriously hurt.  What a shame for everybody when we have had such good weather here in Lancashire for weeks really.

oh my goodness that's awful, i do hope nobody/dog was hurt

It looks awful.  Hope everyone is ok.

Archiebongo, how do you get the pics on higham press, do you have a link?
Hope all CD'ers, (and everyone else)! who were there today, got out, and home safely.

Pictures

My friends Les and Lynda (Les is a DW photographer) decided to stay rather than drive home in their campervan.  I spoke to Lynda whilst it was all happening and of course she and many others were extremely upset. I just hope that everyone survives in one piece what a nightmare!

We got out just in time. Saw the fire appliance and ambulance coming up the road as we went on our way and wandered if they were going to the show ground. Hope there were no major injuries and no dogs mentally scared. We decided that our dog might never go in a tent again if we kept her there any longer. And as we decided this the event managers told every one to evacuate immediately. Seems our class went on regardless! (and without us) BUT....it didn't finish as the whole side of the tent blew off and then the roof came off....We are now being told. Our friends, who were also in the class asked if the event was abandoned and were told it was still on and they were also told to "stop scare mongering", then they had to scramble for their lives over the debris as the tent came down around them moments later. My wife is on the phone to them now relaying the info. We thought they were just being stubborn and brassing it out. But they had not heard, due to the noise, the Tanoy saying "evacuate immediately". Why on earth were they old the opposite by an official?! People were diving over their dogs to protect them from flying debris....I am being told. I'm sure Aimi will post some more.
Aimi's husband.

Aimi here.

As Jamie (husband) said we got out only because I heard the anouncement on the tanoid. My friend who was still in the SYB class said that the judge finished going over all the dogs but then a steward came running in telling them to abandon and avacuate the class so no one got placed. Whilst folk were packing up there was an almighty noise like an explosion and then the back of the tent and all the ropes with the massive bolts ripped up and the side and roof ripped up. There were people throwing themselves over loved ones, boxers petrified - my friend boxer jumpes in the air and the only way out was through the debry. Very very scary indeed. My friend said she would be supprised if her dog showdagain. Why wern't they told earlier of the danger they were in - it was only by chance I heard the danger on the tanoid - I feel rather bad now as I didn,t know the folk in the class hadn;t heared it. I'm so glad we got out ok, Aimi x

Blimey I have just looked at the pictures. We had our 7 month old puppy there and it was horrendous. It wasn't just puppies getting spooked there were alot of older dogs too. We left before that all happened when they came round and said if you haven't won BOB leave for your own safety.

OMG!! I hope everyone is okay.

Does anyone know what it was like at the caravan site?

I have friends there and we are unable to get them on the mobile phone.

There were a few people at the show complaining about not being able to phone friends. So maybe the lines/mast are disrupted. But, yes, lets not forget people outside of the show and at sea. Seems we left just in time. People keep calling us saying how much worse it got just 10 mins after we left. Skipped church today to come to the show but ended up saying more prayers today than I would have done at church!
Aimi's husband

OMG Just seen the photo's.
We left at 11 am, the tents were even then horrendous. The time we left they had moved everyone out off the outdoor rings inside tents because of the main tent! There were four very large JCB's by the main ring tent being used to hold it down. We thought it was dangerous then and left.
I pray all humans and dogs got home safe.

Diane, please let us know as soon as you hear from Les & Lynda.

Wasn't it Blackpool many years ago when the tents came down?  I know I wasn't there, have never actually made Blackpool, someone took a dog for me.  High winds caused the marquees to come down then, we're talking 15 years ago I think.

Will be thinking of everyone & hoping that they all get home safely.

I text them earlier and was starting to get worried when I didn't hear back from them.  They text me back at 9.30 to say that they'd got home safe and well !!  They did say that they won't have Blackpool Rock for quite a while though.

what a dreadful situation !! - I had entered but woke up Sunday morning with a thumping headache so decided to give the show a miss - I am so glad I did ! .  My neighbours daughter was stuck there as she had taken her caravan and it was just too dangerous to tow it out in the winds - she said that it was a very dangerous situation and it was just sheer luck that more people and dogs were not injured - this show does seem to be jinxed - I vividly remember being towed out of the mud last year due to the torrrential rain  and whilst I feel so sorry for the organisers don't think I'll be entering again next year !!!!!

yvonne

Copies from another forum - this it what happened in the boxer tent. Don't think the OP would mind me cross posting:

"Although this should have been one of the best days so far, of my showing
career, it will probably stay in my mind for ever as the day we nearly
died!! I do not think I have ever been so terrified for myself or my family
+ Todd.
Once the judging was halted due to the terrible windy condidtions at
Blackpool, I stopped to thank the Mr Habig for awarding Todd the CC and to
collect the ticket, which had been left on the table awaiting further
details to be added, along With Barbara Morrison (Xandene)(reserve ticket
winner) and also my husband. A gentleman was frantically telling us to
vacate the huge marquee as soon as possible, I looked over to my bench and
saw my son and his friend looking in my direction with urgent expressions.I
saw people grabbing their stuff and dogs. I told my husband to collect the
ticket from the table whilst I ran to the bench to retrieve Todd and the
children. As quickly as we could, we got the dog off the bench, dismantled
the bench front and loaded everything into bags, I gave Todd to my son to
put on his walking collar and lead, we stood up, everything in hand and my
son said I have put the collar on wrong ! I dropped the bags and readjusted
the collar, as I stood back up, the huge tent peg bases, which hold down the
guide ropes for the marquee, were ripped from the ground by the wind and
swung upwards high into the air, at this point I cannot be exact as to what
happened, I remember people screaming and running, I grabbed the boys and
held them down infront of the bench, my sons friend held the bench front
over our heads as huge poles and metal plates and foot long stakes swung
around our heads and poles javelined through the air, the wind blew and
everything rose to the air again, I grabbed the boys and yelled RUN NOW, a
young lady who benches opposite me (affix- leigharac) was in the same
predicament as us, she ran and pushed my sons friend out of the tent infront
of her. As I ran, Todd ran in the opposite direction, as by now the metal
plates were swinging back in our direction, he was terrified, I told my son
to run and I went back for the dog, during this a massive pole on a rope
came crashing back down to earth smashing into the bench where Todd had been
caged not a few minutes before hand! I yelled at Todd to stop and come,
which thankfully he did , I grabbed his scruff and dragged him back to the
exit, where metal objects were still flying round on the end of ropes and
you didn't have a clue wich way they were heading, I grabbed the show bag on
the way, as a footing plate narrowly missed us, it was like running the
gauntlet for your life, my son ran back in the marquee to help me drag the
dog out, we all collapsed outside the marquee. A lady came to help us who I
am very thankful to (whoever you were) as my son had been hit by one of the
iron bars on his arm, at this point he collapsed on the floor , went as
white as a ghost and went into shock. I heard shouting and my husband had
just realised what was going on and was frantiaclly running towards us, I
shouted at him to stand still as yet again the wind had catapulted the metal
plates into the air, as it tangled itself up he made a run for it. I
understand the young girl Leigharac (affix ) , was hurt also, but think she
helped get my sons friend out of the marquee. I hope she is ok, as we speak
often, but I have never asked her name.
We gathered ourselves up and headed away from the tent as emergency services
turned up, I still did not have my CC in hand, but was thankful we came
through that ordeal alive. How no one was killed or seriously injured, is by
the grace of God. My son says if he hadn't have put the collar on the wrong
way and held us up for that 10 seconds then we would have been ripped to
pieces, by the flying metal. He is proably right. He is only fourteen and is
still badly shaken by the whole ordeal and hardly said a word on the five
hour drive home.He says he feels sick when ever he thinks of it. His friend
admitted that he has never been as terrified in his life or thought that he
was going to actually die before today.
Thanks to Lynne Mair (Glenauld) for retrieving bags and peoples possesions
from the other side of the Marquee, not sure how she got them , but she did
have Todds collar and lead to hand also, but assures me she didn't go back
in the tent to retrieve them herself.
Speaking to Wendy brooks, whilst she was in the Yearling bitch class, we had
a quick conversation about how we must all be mad, us Boxer exhibitors,
showing our dogs in the appaling conditions, to which Wendy said, well at
least we'll die doing what we love !! how right she nearly was!!All
excitement of winning the ticket, had gone, also the dissapointment at the
bitch judging not being finished and the final challenge for BOB. So instead
of driving home on cloud nine, we all drove home subdued and with our own
thoughts of what could have and nearly did happen."

OMG, what an awful story. What a horriable thing to go through, poor people and dogs. Can't imagine what it would have been like. :(

Oh My god how what a story i had tears in my eye reading it just so pleased they all got out safely lets hope everyone else did .
this year is the first time i have missed Blackpool show in many years missed the entry how thankfull i am for that i usally go with my Parents ( they are in there 70's ) and i know they
would never have been able to move that fast and would have been caught up in it all Thank god i missed the show.
Hope all the people and dogs got out ok .

Oh my god what a horrendous story. What time did all this happen does anyone know?

About 1pm ish I think. I thank God I left the yearling class when I did. This happened to my friends and their special dogs. I feel so shocked this morning for them.

I can't beleive such an awful thing like this happened, I don't know many people in the show world as I'm just starting out but I felt so scared for all those people as if they were my best friends, I do hope nobody is mentally hurt from this ordeal, what a terrible thing to go through. Thoughts and prays are with everyone concerned xx

i liked the way she still went to the table to get her ticket!!! :)))

I'm so glad that i did not go this year, awful just awful.
I think the entries may be lower next year.

Peanuts

Sam you have got to get your priorities right tickets before everything :)

I have to say it was lovely when we were up there hard to believe as us Southerners had a lovely bright sunny day although a little breezy certainly not gale force.  Totally mad.

We were there saturday and got soaked to the skin as the dogs stayed outside all day. I complained enough about that , but im so glad all we had to deal with was soggy trousers and wet dogs. Hope everyone is ok after such an ordeal and the dogs weren't too upset by the whole thing.
mel.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Blackpool-dog-show-terror-.4211670.jp

local report & more photos of benching with poles across them - scary!

Apparently it featured in the Daily Mail today as well. My Grandmother rang from hospital to check we were ok as she knew we were going!! Sounds like we left just in time we left at about 12.45pm.

We were there yesterday, benched in the same tent as the boxers. What the cross-post says is true - we couldn't hear any tannoy announcements in that tent due to the general noise, roaring of the wind & also part of the roof of the tent continually banging. Luckily we were being judged in another tent so decided to pack up & move over to an empty ring in that tent so we could show & leave. Before we had started Mr Hall came round telling us to leave. When we got to the car park we stopped so my friend could go & get the car to load up the dogs & trolleys. The wind at that point nearly knocked me off my feet & also the trolley with one of the dogs still on it. Reading the cross-post I thank god we decided to move otherwise we would have still been there waiting for judging.

My parents think they remember the side of a tent coming down at one of the Birmingham shows - that would have been in the early 80s.  There was a terrific sound.  That was pretty much the end of the (very successful) show career of one of our dogs - compounded by a car accident shortly afterwards as my parents were queuing to enter Bakewell Show.  I wasn't there either time - probably dog sitting the other dogs.

hi we were on the campsite at the bottom it was wild there, our awning was coming down around us, we had to get everything out and get it down before it tipped the van.i must say the other people there were brill they ran to us to help,as we got ours down the camper across had to cut there awning loose to save theres and about 2 hours were spent running around getting one after another awning off. it was the first time we had done  a show in the van and it wont put us off because it really did showthat the spirit of dog people is still the best a big thank you to all who helped and will see you all again cheers

Maybe we should have T-shirts printed: "I survived Blackpool 2008"
Do you think they would let us wear them to next years show?
Aimi's husband....sorry I snook on while she went out. Don't tell her.........she shouldn't leave windows open on my laptop.

Phew, it must have been terrifying! I'm glad I don't do the long distance ones with my girl at the moment!

what a day!! we were waiting for Limit bitch class of the GSD's, and I was watching P.G. bitch (wondered where you had gone Sharon as I knew this was your class) My friend was in the benching tent with Inka on a lead, and Tika was in the crate having done her class. I didn't like the sound of the tent from the outside and was convinced something was going to go, metal poles were loose and clanging and the canvas was lifting right up as tho it was going to take off. I ran back in to the tent and said to my friend that I preferred we took the dogs outside and she said the same as she felt really uneasy inside the tent. Half way through P.G. bitch I looked across the field and I noticed the catering tent roof ripping in half before my eyes, and then the next thing all the metal poles and frame had collapsed to the ground. Then there was an anouncement telling everyone to leave the showgrounds straight away, and staff came over to our ring telling us to leave. I took the dogs straight to the jeep while Lisa grabbed all the stuff from the tent. While we were there the fire engines arrived and the police and ambulances came speeding in to the grounds. I didn't hear till later who actually got hurt tho. I'm amazed more people or dogs were not seriously hurt, and it really doesn't bear thinking about, all the dogs still on benches, especially reading about what happened in the Boxer's tent, and the lady and her family trying to get the dog out.
Didn't something similar happen a few years back at Blackpool, but it was mainly the stalls damaged?

I was in the boxer tent only a few minutes before it gave way.On our way accross the showground we heard what we thought was thunder,it wasnt it was the tent going.
I witnessed one young boxer bitch getting hit by the side of the tent and she was lifted off the floor and her owner graciously caught her and wrapped herself around the very frightened dog.I very much doubt this poor little girl will want to be in a tent again.my boy is scared of his own shadow and i know he would never recover.
I got pictures of Grt Danes being knocked off their feet due to the winds and when you see dogs blowing sideways its time to get out and into safety.

We were some of the lucky ones as our breed (Siberian Huskies) finished just before Stevie Hall came round and told us we had to leave. It was doubly lucky for us as we won the dog CC, and the Reserve Bitch CC was won by our dog's daughter. As soon as we had finished we left the showground just before the first tent came down. It was scary enough before we left. I'm just glad we got out nice and early. It was incredibly lucky that more people and dogs weren't seriously hurt.

This was the BBC news coverage of events at Blackpool show.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7470257.stm

I didn,t realise until just now looking at the clip just how very lucky we were,
WE ACTUALLY SAT IN THE CAR AS lOUIE WAS FRIGHTENED BY THE WIND AND i JUAST HAD A FEELING IT WASN,T A GOOD IDEA TO STAY THERE

I,ve only just realised how close we came looking at the film clips.
The GSDs were up to junior bitch when I just felt it best to get out of our tent and go to the car,
We actually moved the car to the disabled parking and were sat in the car on the other side of the fence to the improvised GSD ring to watch the judging.
I saw you Debbie standing  watching the judging and thought I,m going to miss my class as they won,t let me take Sengi back in now but never mind.
I,m actually really proud of our two dogs as I sat in that benching tent for an hour with them and the wind was howling I think all things considered they coped very well.
I know our breed are supposed to be steady of nerve but if we are frightened as we were we couldn,t blame them if they stress out in those conditions.
Sharon

i,V

OMG made a right mess of that posting
sorry everyonet]

was it Louie that got loose off his bench as I was inside talking and I grabbed his collar as he went past me. He was benched at the back of our aisle?
yes I wondered where you were when P.G. bitch was on, I wasn't sure if she had gone in with a handler or yourself. It was all a shambles tho wasn't it, and nobody knew what was happening which under the circumstances was to be expected. Did you notice me glancing at our benching tent all the time while I was stood there. One of the bolts to the metal bar at the bottom was clanging and blowing and getting worse and the side of the tent was starting to lift up as Lisa was stood next to it with Inka. Tika had been with us most the time as she was in the puppy class so kept her out, but Inka had been in her crate on the benches, but Lisa went back inside with Tika while I kept an eye on the classes but I wasn't happy leaving them in there, so we decided to bring both dogs out while waiting. We were going to leave straight after Inka's class anyway, but we never got that far.

We were there with our caravan for a week & watched the devastation first hand,believe the chef has now been transferred to Wythenshawe hospital,thanks to the team of helpers that came onto the caravan site to see who needed help with awnings etc. A lady in a nearby caravan had a heart attack when her awning was blown down onto the dogs,she was taken in an ambulance & believe she is now ok.The BBC clip as shown on the earlier post by Abbeypap,i was one of the one's interviewed (blonde hair,black cardi).On Monday when we left the wind had dropped & the sun was shining.

Margaret

were the dogs ok, the ones hit by the awning? I knew that a lady had a heart attack, but presumed she was actually on the showground at the time. As I said before, I'm amazed more people or dogs weren't hurt on sunday.