I owned my first Dalmatian some 35 years ago and have seen the breed change and develop over the years, some of those changes for the good and some not so positive for the breed .
I consider that when judging a breed it is a window to what is happening in that breed at that time and on that day and as the judge Selected on that day I can report only what I see as honestly as I feel I must . Today I felt that the bitches outweighed the males considerably in quality and breed type, the Minor puppy bitch class was to prove that from the start .
I feel that the main problems within the breed at the moment lie in front assembly with the shoulders being placed far too far forwards with poor upright shoulders and upper arm placements giving way to weak narrow fronts and no depth in brisket, incorrect upright and weak pasterns .No depth or width to second thigh with weak and narrow hocks. Moving these dogs at great speeds will not produce the strong working trot that I was looking for , it will only throw a dog of balance and produce incorrect and or no muscle development which I saw far too often .
On the brighter side my principal winners were shining examples of breed type and can hold their own in any company, the future bodes well with some of the youngsters that were present today .

MINOR PUP DOG 5.

1ST GARDINOR: JAMELSLEY PYRACANTHA AT DAKATA. Smart blk/wh puppy dense black markings on pure white coat, presents a pleasing balanced outline. masculine head with gd length of neck into well placed shoulder, well ribbed up and short loin super hindquarter angulation , good tail set and well carried moved well showing good length of stride , should have a bright future. Best puppy dog.
2nd.FELLOWS: BUFFREY KING OF THE CASTLE: heavier marked b/w of good size and pleasing angles sufficient length of neck into gd lay of shoulder , well off for bone , moved steadily.
3rd; THOMPSONS ; BLAZINSTUNTS DEL TORO.

PUPPY DOG.1 .

1ST LINDSAY:CUBALIBRE STRIDE ON AT APPENNINE. Lightly marked b/w , attractive young man with appealing head. Correct size and body proportions, fair length of neck into pleasing lay of shoulder , still a little immature in forehand , short coupled and correct hind quarter angulation, moved a little erratic but I gave him time to settle to win here and in junior class, time will enhance him . promising puppy.

JUNIOR DOG 3 .

1st LINDSAY; CUBALIBRE STRIDE ON AT APPENNINE . 1ST in last class.
2nd. WHEATON;DALAMANTI PHANTOM MEDAL AT ACINONYA. Blk made on stronger lines than 1st and well up to size. Masculine head with kind expression , fair lay of shoulder, immaturity showing in his front, tail set on high and carried that way on the move that spoilt the picture somewhat, needs to develop more drive to establish a more definite foot fall.
3rd. BRYANTS THEAKSTON TIME TRAVELLER.

POST GRAD DOG 8 3abs.

A difficult class as such a variety of dog present that movement proved to be my ultimate decision on placements;
1st GARTON JABBAAWOCK THE GOLDEN SNITCH. L/W boy of good colour, with pleasing head and expression , gd dark eye, clean in front and well ribbed up, well balance in angulation , hocks are a shade high , moved steadily to win class.
2nd; HOBBS & WHITING BOUTONNEUX BABY BUCO AVEC RAPANOOEY JW.b/w boy who is of correct size and proportions, attractive head, gd length of neck , gd depth to chest although a little weak in his pasterns he is still quite a youngster and promising, he now needs to develop a more established driving action for stronger foot fall, shown and handled well.
3rd PRATT ; GWYMOR FINCH HATTON AT SOLOSTAR (IMP NLD)

LIMIT DOG 14 1abs.

1st WHINCUP; TAMILANDA PANTHER LILLY JW SH.CM . This lovely BLK/W of ideal size and balance, super masculine head and expression, gd length and clean neck into correct lay of shoulder, quality bone and tight feet, gd depth of chest and clean fronted dog, short coupled and sound strong hind quarters ,gd low hock . moved very sound fore and aft with style and drive, shown in super fit order , could not be denied here or later for the CC and BOB showed his socks of later to be short listed in group.This is just the breed type I was looking for.
2nd GREEN & SEARS TOLTUIM YVES ST LAURENT AT JUDALLY. Another nice one, L/w with the most correct colour liver markings, gives a lovely balanced outline , well laid shoulder and well ribbed up pleasing hind quarters , stands four square on gd tight cat feet. moves well and freely ,shame he had to meet 1st on such sparkling form . yes ok, he has a little pigment to fill in as of yet, but his overriding soundness cannot be ignored, I liked him very much indeed , pushed hard for res cc.
3RD CUTHERBERTSON ; KALSIDONI CAMEO.

OPEN DOG.6 2abs

1ST. ALEXANDER;CH OFFORDALE CHEVALIER JW. A dog that needs no introduction, And much has been written of him that I would agree with .Built on quality lines and a good example of the breed, he fills the eye in all departments but for me he was a shade long in loin and stands over a bit too much ground when stacked. A very noted and worthy champion . res cc.
2nd. WHINCUP&SIBSON; TAMILANDA VINTAGE PINK JW; quality l/w boy with attractive head and expression, built on lighter lines than 1st and had to give way to the maturity of 1st. that being said he is made correctly through with balanced angulation and this he demonstrated on his clean sound movement. Shown and handled well
3rd McCARTHY; KILNDANDY OLD COPPER.

VETERAN DOG;2;

1st STOCKS CH DALMARK THE SHADED MOON AT NOSPAR JW. Lovely quality l/w boy of correct size and attractive markings , gd head and reach of neck into quality lay of shoulder gd depth of brisket and sound front ,good topline and sound hq,moved very well but today the youngsters just pushed him out of top honours , a good honest Dalmatian and well worthy champion who is a credit to the breed and his owners. BEST VETERAN
2ND ALCOCK ; MAPPLEWELL CHOCOLATE BOX FOR DALSPARIAN. Another lovely l/w boy , masculine in head and strong in muzzle, soundly made and standing foursquare on strong cat feet ,showing good strong sound movement , shown well and enjoying his day.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH.5.2abs.

1st CHRISTIE; JEZEBEL THE ASTONISHING SOPHTSPOT (IMP) . A suprising and pleasing jump up in depth of quality here. Good class headed by this lovely attractive b/w , sweet head and expression, darkest of eye and pigment , gd length of neck and sound shoulder, quality bone and feet, sound and well angulated h/q, tail set on well and carried well, moved so well for such a baby , shows very well, maturing nicely and should finish well, I liked her a lot.
2nd.NEATH-DUGGAN;BUFFREY HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE. Another nice one , b/w . shade smaller than 1st. gives a lovely outline when stacked and does not disappoint when going over her, not so together on the move as 1st as of yet but should mature well.
3rd.WARDS; FRANKISH CHAMOMILE.

PUPPY BITCH 4.

1ST ALEXANDER;OFFORDALE AMETHYST. A lovely , lovely b/w puppy, of excellent type and quality, correct size and balanced outline, the best of heads and darkest eye , clean long neck into a super shoulder and front assembly, gd bone and feet , short coupled and sound well angulated h/q , moved so soundly and well showing great reach of stride, top that with her showmanship and here you have a truly beautifull Dalmatian, could not deny her this class and later I did a thing I never could believe I would have done in 35 yrs of knowing this breed awarded this puppy bitch the bitch CC, as each class winner came in I could not get past her depth of quality and breed type .A stunning bitch who must have a sparkling future. CC & BPIB.
2nd. CHRISTIE;JEZEBEL THE ASTONISHING SOPHTSPOT (IMP) 1ST in minor puppy.
3rd. HARTLEY & GRIFFITHS CREAGANBREC GLORY BE AT MIRAGUA.

JUNIOR BITCH;4.1abs

1ST MORGAN;WINFLASH OLYMPIC STAR JW.B/W Correct size and balanced outline, feminine head , gd lay of shoulder and quality bone and feet, short coupled and a sound h/q Moved out well and soundly, shows well, very promising.
2nd.PICKUPS; ROADCOACH REINE DES ROSES. Larger framed than 1st and rangier throughout, b/w with feminine head , gd length of neck and lay of shoulder, hocks could be a shade lower , but that said she moves very well with definite footfall.
3rd.THORNES ; CASTLETOP PENDERYN.

POST GRAD BITCH. 7 .1abs

1st FILLINGHAM/WINCHUP; TAMILANDA BLUE WATER LILLY. Lightly marked b/w with feminine head and expression , gives a gd outline, sound front and h/q , feet need to tighten, moved the best in this class and shows well. Quality bitch who I see is litter sister to my dog CC winner, the breeder must be very proud to produce such sound typical Dalmatians.
2nd PHILIP. DVOJICA BUBBLE N’CHIC AT NORDALSET. Lovely youngster at just over 12 mnths.attractive b/w markings, feminine head ,gd shoulder and bone, correct size , and short coupled , moved very well , just needs to mature throughout to carry a win in Post grad.
3rd. ELY; WINTERMINE FLAMENCO.

LIMIT BITCH.8 .4abs.

1ST STOCKS; KALOKAIRIES LADY BOLLINGER AT NOSPAR JW. Lightly marked b/w, A bitch who I have done well by before. Correct size and balance. gives a compact outline. Well angulated in shoulder , gd depth of rib and strong loin, sound well angulated h/q. moved well and with ease, pleased to award her the res cc. a lovely quality bitch.
2nd.LAMB;DALPETRO DIVA JW. Another nice one . correct size with good bone and feet, well angulated and clean front, well ribbed up and sound h/q , now needs to develop more front extension on the move, but she is sound fore & aft, shows well.
3rd. GARDINOR; DALISPOTS DUBYANA AT DAKATA.

OPEN BITCH. 11.2abs

1st EMMETT & LEES DALLIVIRO REBA AT ELLAMSTRA JW SH.CM.B/w of correct size ,lovely head, gd shoulder and sound front, gd strong bone and tight feet, short coupled and balanced h/q , very sound on the move showing good reach and drive , lost out on top honours by dipping her topline behind the wither when stacked in the challenge, but a gd quality bitch,
2ND PAGE; WINFLASH BORN TO BE WILD JW. Lightly marked b/w. very attractive head, gd length of neck, gd shoulder and sound front ,lovely low hock and good h/q angulation, showed and held a good topline on the move and moved with some gusto, sound fore & aft, I liked her a lot and maturing into a gd quality bitch.
3rd: QUAYLE; CH CUBALIBRA SPOT ON JW

JUDGE ; HEATHER STICKLEY.