BATH 2004 Judge's Critique Mrs Julie Evans

Sorry for the delay in writing this critique(I really did not want to do it) the saying comes to mind 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all' but like minded friends and judges persuaded me other wise, so here it is...

I am sorry to say I found the general standard of the Dalmatians I judged today very disappointing, unless I was looking for... pitta pattering, pretty spotting, showing fools with light eyes and conformation not consistent with the standard, in which case they were here in abundance! Beauty is now only skin deep in the Dalmatian.! We are tragically losing the wonderful working attributes of a dog designed to have the skeletal structure to withstand up to 40 miles of road going stress to the bones and joints, instead we now have the SHOW Dalmatian. Here are some of the major constructional failures I think are becoming 'acceptable' by judges and breeders alike, Poor feet, (in the majority), uneven toplines (prevalent) lack of forechest (to find a dog WITH forechest was the exception rather than the rule) no width of thigh with a developed second thigh (if they lack the former, they cannot develop the latter) no length of stride (it is essential for a carriage dog to have a long stride, or he will be burned out in no time at all) they must extend from the front assembly and drive from the rear, far to many were pitta pattering around the ring. These points are the very essence of the Dalmatian and it is here were their true worth lies and rewards should be reaped, NOT in exceptional spotting and showmanship.

MPD.(5) 1. Carvell's, Timmy Willy of Lilal. Black. Very nice youngster everything for me to like about him, same make & shape has his sire but with better spotting, so this one should make it to the top. would have liked a shorter hock. BP. 2. Stokes, Elaridge Quincie.Liver, another very promising pup, just preferred the outline of 1. 3. Parkin-Russell's, Spaclere Flash Gordon.
PD.(4) 1. Timmy Willy of L. 2. Clements, Caldecacre Call Me Burburry. Liver, at the legs & wings stage, could have a better head shape but his overall conformation & movement was respectable. 3. Ely's, Wintermine Commando.
JD.(13) Good Class. 1. Shirley's, Dallydil Way Beyond Blue. Liver, lovely make & shape on this dog, had forechest, level topline, width of thigh & long striding movement, could do his work. 2. Bolt's, Fakenham Flash Gordon. Liver, another sound dog, moving very well, little to chose between these two, both are typical carriage dogs. 3. Parla's, Washakie With Distinction.
ND.(6) 1. Page's, Winflash Spring Wonder. Black, res in the good JD class. Correct conformation for a working dog With movement to suit. 2. Spaclere Flash Gordon. Soundly constructed dog moving well, needs more confidence 3. Hammett's, Bryedal Mayan.
PGD.(15) Poor class apart from 1. Locke-McFadzean's, Olbero Osojolly Over Sassafras. Liver, a super dog with very correct construction, forechest, level topline, width of thigh with developed second thigh, reach & drive with a long stride covering a lot of ground my kind of dog, pleased to give him his first CC. 2. Washakie With Distinction. Black. Good construction & movement on this boy but there is a lot of him, good decoration. 3. Barrett's, Kenzed High Flyer.
LD.(14) 1. Wright's, Ffiglina New Horizons. Liver, Great front assembly on this boy, level topline, great mover & fit to work, again my kind of dog, pleased to give him the res. CC 2. Wakelings, Sophijace Mr Webster at Klewagin. Black. This boy has finished his maturity really well, a really well balanced free moving dog that pleased the eye. 3. Swinburn's, Truganini Trusteppa From Bynton.
OD.(13) 1. Locke-McFadzean's, Ch. Secret of Somerset in Sassafras. Black. I have always admired this very soundly constructed dog, he has the best of fronts, great topline, great hindquarters which all of course produces great movement, a pleasure to judge. 2. Stevenson's, Ch. Gemmont Marauding Mutineer at Macula. Liver. soundly constructed with a really good long stride, another of the few built to do his work. 3. McCarthy's, Ch. Tollwood Lionel of Kilndandy.

MPB.(7) 1.Wakeling's, Klewagin Kholmoglory. Black. Really well constructed puppy at her first show, dark eye, good front, level topline, correct hindquarters, good stride, a real little carriage dog in the making. 2.Grant-Silverstone's, Tanstar Amethyst Rose. Liver. Another really promising baby with loads of quality, preferred better eye colour and exuberance on the move of 1 at this stage, 3.Haywood & Ridgeway's, Luccombe Strawberry Tart.
PB.(4) 1.Clement's, Caldecacre Chenin Rouge. Black. Another at the legs & wings stage, quite good in conformation but perhaps not flashy enough to get it noticed, good feet round and tight, moved well. 2.Pavey's, Polidot Partythyme, nice balanced puppy, going ok, feet not good. 3.Reid's, Ghandalah B'dazzled.
JB.(19) 1.Page's, Winflash Spring Fury. Black. Exceptionally well put together bitch, (by today's standards)! because everything was has it should be, good forechest, neck & shoulders, good topline & hindquarters which enabled her to cover the ground the way a Dalmatian should. 2.Neath-Duggan's, Buffrey Maybee. Black. lovely strong round bone,  (why is it so hard to find, the standard asks for it), everything fitting together the way it should, moved very well. 3.Beaumont's, L'angelo Caduto.
NB(7) 1.Polidot Partythyme. 2.Morley's, Olbero Onemillion Girl. Sorry no notes on this one. 3.Letch's, Washakie Tribal Dance.
PGB.(16) 1.Willis's, Cibrith Hazel Nut. Liver. well here she is! the one that has it all, great head, dark eye, strong round bone, tight cat feet, forechest, excellent topline, depth of chest, nice tuck up and to my complete delight strode out around the ring covering has much ground in one stride has the pitta patteres were in two! I was indeed pleased to find her, a true 'old fashioned' Dalmatian. CC & BOB. 2.North's, Buffrey Abbi-Belle at Moorcross. Black. very like her litter sister in JB. with strong round bone, a good quality bitch with lots for me to like about her, moved well. 3.Lamb,s, Leaveslake Lily at Dalpeto.
LB(8) 1.Baker's, Abbydal Angelica by Dalleaf. Liver, another beautifully constructed, well boned 'old fashioned' bitch, she also gave the impression that her powerful movement was effortless, she would be very capable of doing her job, most unlucky to meet my CC winner who just had the edge on a couple of minor points. RCC. 2.Mitchell's, Caryach Crime Pays. Liver, always liked this well boned substantial bitch, she is sound in body & movement. 3.Black's, Boval Britannia.
  OB(13) 1.Kay's, Kaytian kat's Broomstick. Liver, very nice well boned bitch with good hindquarters, she possesses quality in both body & movement, but did lack forechest, otherwise she was very sound. 2.Carvell's, Phidgity Phoebe for Lilal. Black, substantial girl with a beautiful neck in to well laid shoulders, lots of quality, moved well. 3.Rance's, Ch. One in a Million at Olbero.

Julie Evans (Judge)