just had phn call from friends,
there at darlington showground...
had planned on caravaning there ....
5 ft on to field and stuck...
tractors are towing people onto the field never mind on the field...
there now coming home.....not caravaning...

so anyone thinking of caravaning be prepared to be towed on and off...

they said rest of fields/showground also all ploughed and deep mud.,...

SO DONT FORGET YOUR WELLIES FOR SHOW....

hopefully the next few days will be dry and ground will dry up....

im sure the society would appreciate patience and understanding at this moment in time...

see you all friday

jayne
xx

thanx to graham and lesley jackson for letting us know
xx

higham press have info /update saying show def going ahead ....contrary to rummours

edited to add...they phnd me back after towed of,
tractor man said keep checking for updates as car park areas foot under water...

I've decided not to go - was going to take a trip up with my friends and their girl (her first show in 8 months as she hs been on maternal duties & growing a new coat) but not going now, I don't like the idea of all the mud, plus I need to be back earlyish on Saturday for a friends birthday.

Good luck though to all those going! :-)

Are there any updates on weather / ground conditions at Darlington?  Or any CD'ers living in the Ripon area who can update for today at least?  We're due to show tomorrow and it's a fair old hike if it's as miserable as Richmond was.

Thanks in advance,
Teri :)

So far no rain today nor yesterday [after 10am] so hopefully the ground should be drying out. The car parks I supect will be churned up.

Thanks for that weima - fingers crossed then :)

Just had text from a friend at the grounds, it said "terrible mud, everywhere, Dog help anyone going on Saturday or Sunday" - 
Great, I'm there tomorrow, after the rain that's forecast for this evening!

Kay

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooo

LOL, just got Oh to confirm hotel booking (best he doesn't see any CD emails )
I may be gone some time, perhaps forever .....  slaughtered in sinking mud following major domestic .... check OH's alibi guys, bet it doesn't hold any water (OK, probably poor turn of phrase there - no shortage of water, lots of in fact, mostly VERY dirty!) :-D

Have just got back from show & OMG it is awful. Cars are stuck, the showground is soooo muddy it is untrue so I suggest wellies for everyone! It has just started raining too

Such a shame the weather is working out like this. Down south looks like its going to be a lovely warm sunny weekend, If only Richmond was on this weekend instead.

Not going to the show but all those who do attend good luck and hope you do well.

Not going myself as Darlington does not offer CC's for my breed and it is an awful long way to go for an open show. Considering the conditions I think I have had a lucky escape. Good Luck, though to all who are going.

Crumbs the weather forecast is not good...I'm tempted to stay at home....

My parents are just back from exhibiting my "beautiful dog" and my "giant dog" at Darlington. They are muddied to the knee, but luckily were exhibiting in the main area, under cover, so it wasn't too bad.  Stuart did say that if it does rain tonight, then it might be a bit tricky in the car park tomorrow.
Don't wear your best clothes.  The mud stinks. :-o

i,m entered for sunday but after reading reports of show ground i,m really thinking of not going
its a long trip for me , maybe if ground is so bad ,they should have thought about canceling show
i wonder how many entered do actually go

Its my local champ show and im entered for Sunday too...unless the weather improves dramatically I doubt ill go either......
Suffering atrocious weather at Blackpool this year was enough for me thanks very much

My friend stewarded their today, and basically thinks I am mad for going tomorrow. Took ages to get in due to 1+ mile queue of cars to get in to the parking areas. Even though it did not rain until they were leaving, she says it is a complete mud bath (except for the BIS ring, which they have kept covered with planks etc, typical). The walkway track that they have layed down is becoming very slippy, cars stuck in the car park and being towed off!

Kay

We showed today and it was appaulling underfoot.
There's NO avoiding it and yes, as commented on the mud does reek a little !!
Queues for car park were extensive but you can understand why when you saw the practicality of things.

I'm afraid it wasn't a pleasant experience and more than a little stressful and tiring as you constantly slipped and slid around the show ground.
What started as a bit of fun soon became a nightmare and we all had a sense of humour failure !!
Goodluck to all those brave enough !

i have to agree, mud was every where, the rings are boggy, but still being used.
and we pay for this plesure, walking in a nightmare, if you have wellies take them,
don't bother with good smart trouser's mine have gone in the bin, mud up to the calf's.

I am back there sunday stewarding, i must be mad, but if we don't turn up the show won't run as smooth, and the committee have enough problems with the state of the ground.

Just had to add this morning that it is totally down to the ridiculous British weather and NOT the show staff, stewards, organisation, planning or any other human error.

Our first trip to Darlington show and won't be the last despite the mud, beautiful setting and practical benching.
Highlight of the day had to be the sight of the 'dapper' Frank Kane in wellies attempting a Torville and Dean to the catering tent !

we were there yesterday...
we left plenty time on the morning for getting into field,was a que but not too bad,
we saw a field taped off what was flooded,
some other sections of car park 2 also taped off in sections where water logged,
yes its muddy...
imo darlington comitee have done the best they can all things considered,
the metal walk ways were a great help,
the entrance once into showground and near toilets was soggy mud,
as we were leaving there were tractor loads of bark type chippings being laid over soggy mud...
we showed in our outside ring from 9.45 till 4.30ish and it wasnt till we were leaving that it started to rain,
i would just like to say well done to darlington comittee for trying your best
you cant please every one....
jayne
xx

just be prepared...wear your wellies...

We were there yesterday too and thought Richmond was bad !! Heard from a friend 2day that people were getting PULLED ONTO the car park LOL not Off ... It could have been the last day if we never knew any better, Not good when you have a white akita bitch to show ;o)

I can certainly sympathise as I have Samoyeds...that's why I decided not to go today! Plus there were no CCs on offer so dont even know if my friends ended up going!