Originally Posted by
Boxacrazy
This is what the lady that won the dog CC has written is sounds terrifying!
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.