Hi

I'm interested in going to a dog show at Belfast.  Any ideas on how to get there, with a dog and two people? 

Just looked on one website and it was nearly £400 just for the return ferry journey   Surely there's something cheaper than that?  How do people afford to go over there and pay these kind of fares???

We went over to N. Ireland last year (July) to deliver a pup to a friend, we took the ferry from Cairnryan to Larne, it cost us £135 return for the car with 2 people and there was no charge for the 2 dogs we had with us.
I just checked now on P&O's website and did a quote, picked Septemebr as that is when Belfast is, leaving on a Friday, coming back Sunday (can't pick the fast ferries as they do not allow dogs), standard return, 2 people in normal car, that came to £206. http://www.poirishsea.com/

£387 for the show that I was wanting to go to.  Looks like I'll have to stick with the boring import register classes here :d

Oh how annoying! That really is rdiculously expensive. :(

That does sound ridiculously expensive. I'll try and check to see if there will be any offers coming on. Which show is it? The one at the end of September??

I know somewhere you could stay for free :D :D You might need to count your dogs carefully as you leave though

Seriously though, it would be great if you could come over. Then the OH could meet and fall madly in love with your dogs and I could finally stop begging

I've just done a quick quote with HSS (Stena-Line) fom Friday to Sunday in September (Stranrear to Belfast) and it came out as £174 for car plus two passengers. My friends use this route a lot with their BMD as he stays with his breeder in Scotland when they are on holiday. The dog does have to stay in the car but the crossing is less than 2 hours and he sleeps the whole way anyway.

Here's the website if you want to check it out: <a class='url' href='<a class='url' href='http://www.stenaline.com/stena_line/gb/stena_line_uk.html'>http://www.stenaline.com/stena_line/gb/stena_line_uk.html</a>'>http://www.stenaline.com/stena_line/gb/stena_line_uk.html</a>

Have you looked at Stenaline, I know that they do discounted fares for the Belfast show. Norfolkline is another company who have taken over from Norsemerchant and this sailing goes from Birkenhead to Belfast but it is 8 hrs long.Their prices are around £115(0ne way day sailing)  to 5 day returns at £160. I did travel on this ferry last week going over for Crufts(car,dog, 3 people) and the service was really nice and you had a 3 course meal included in the price. The only thing is that you can't see the dog once the sailing has commenced and it is a long journey for the dog, especially one who doesn't travel well or a very young dog. Clare

It's the show Easter weekend, so that's where the price rise is!!!

Shaynlola I was going to take Lastar :d :d   Especially as it's a European judge and not an Irish one, nothing against anyone in Ireland :d just that he'll more than likely know the breed as they didn't have a clue when I went there with a Spanish 5 years ago :d

Thanks for the offer :d :d  Will try this other one but I don't know whether Lastar would behave for 8 hours on his own in the van.  Think I'll save my pennies up for the Irish Circuit instead!

is that the Ulster Fox Terrier Club show on easter tues???

Aah, I didn't realise there was a show Easter weekend. Is it at King's Hall?? That would account for the ridiculous price hike then. The circuit would work out as better value for money I suppose. Shame though if the judge suits :(

Sure, just stick a few 1st Class stamps on LaStar and post him over. I'll take verrrrry good care of him *insert evil laugh smiley here*

If it is the show on Easter Tuesday, I've just had a quote from Seacat (Cairnryan-Larne) for £181.50 travelling on Easter Monday and returning on Wednesday 19th and it's a short crossing (110 mins). Can you tell hoe desperate I am to get my hands on Lastar?? :rolleyes:

It's on Easter Saturday and it's an FCI show.  Oh well, as I say I'll save my pennies for later in the year.  Oh and no, Lastar's not coming over with first class stamps stuck on him, I wouldn't get him back between you and Rachel !

I didn't realise there was a show on easter sat, what is FCI  show ??

It was in DogWorld this weekend and I managed to find it on the Irish KC site too!

Can't remember the name of it now but it's definitely on the 15.4.06, entries close this Friday.

FCI is the European KC, Federation Clinique or something or other, someone else will be able to spell it correctly :d

So many of the European breeds that are here in the UK that can only be shown in import register classes or not at all here can be shown in their respective breed classes where shows are under FCI rulings.

cheers, Clare

Are you sure it's in Belfast? There is an FCI show in Dublin 15.4.06. It's the Combined Canine Club Championship Show.
The closing date was  10.3.06, but i rang on Monday and they still sent me an entry form, recieved it Tuesday and sent it back on Wednesday.
If this is the show you are talking about i can give you the contact details.

Jimbob

Mr Z Kraljic (Croation) is judging the Spanish Water Dogs at the Combined Canine Club Show.
Forgot to put this in the previous post.

Jimbob

The Ferries normally do a cheaper deal for Show travellers. They do in Oct. i think it was about £140 ish

It isn't a cheap weekend, I think I was about £450 -500 last year including my hotel for 2 nights , we have 2 shows one the Beflast champshow and our Irish club show the next day so that is why most people will go.

>I wouldn't get him back between you and Rachel

:D :D :D

What on earth would make you think that need an 'innocent' smiley here ;)

Looks like you'll just have to save for the Circuit then and make a little holiday out of it.  

What with me, Lastar and an armed security guard ? :d

Trying to drum up business for a few of us to go!

Wait till the schedule comes out, there is always a special deal for the show but phone and book as soon as the schedule is out as it books up quickly. I've been to Belfast show many times. I love it :) It's a great atmosphere and lovely to have all the groups on on the same day and also obedience too. It's sometimes seen as an 'easy' ticket as the entries are usually a lot smaller, I've won CCs there with several different dogs but thankfully they had won others elsewhere too.