BORDER UNION CH SHOW, 18/06/16

Dalmatians

I was very honoured to be invited to judge what is one of many exhibitors’ favourite shows & I offer my sincere thanks to the committee & my stewards for a wonderful day. I am also very grateful to all who chose to enter their dogs for my consideration. The vast majority of exhibits were fit & healthy & well presented. Just one instance of questionable temperament came to my attention. The placings were based entirely on my understanding of the breed Standard.

Knowing that the Dalmatian Club of Scotland Ch show was following my judging I set my self the target of finishing my judging in 4 hours. Sadly the DCoS chose to start judging at the same time as I finished Post Grad Bitch. This was very disruptive with exhibitors running between two rings which were not in sight of each. I do not consider this to be an appropriate or considerate way to proceed & hope that, if they continue with a two show weekend formula, they should consider the system used in Belfast & on the Continent where the shows are usually run on following days.

PD (5,1a)

1 Gibb’s Phadante Mr Blue Sky, 7 months b/w, correct size for age, good head, dark eyes, well set & carried ears, nicely decorated face. Clean neck into good shoulders, stood on well boned legs & tight feet. Level topline both standing & moving, nicely developed ribcage & brisket with plenty of heart & lung room, at the back correct angles & good hocks, used tail properly. All round a very nice well spotted puppy at the correct stage of development. Moved with style & freedom on a loose lead. BP;
2 Croft & Cobb-McGill’s Kalokairie’s Bullet Proof, 7 months l/w. Slightly leaner & more developed then 1. A beautiful head with more heavily marked ears carried on very clean neck. Good shoulders & front construction but not the depth of brisket of 1. At the back well constructed quarters & lovely length tail. Once again beautifully handled & moved soundly. More profuse decoration then 1 which works well on a liver. These two will swap places many times in the future;
3 Marley & Libbey’s Bellili’s D’Amore De Loin.

JD (5,1)

1 Christie’s Sophtspot Gold Dust, 17 months, beautiful liver boy with correct construction all through, lovely head, well decorated ears which he uses well, dark eyes. Strong neck & shoulders & well developed chest & ribcage. Great bone down to tight cat feet. Good clean loin, well muscled with defined second thigh, good turn of stifle & upright hocks. Tail carried & set correctly. Moved with balance & style. One to watch!
2 Gamble’s Croga Ri Of Taylorstown at Mullabouy, 13 months b/w. Less mature & developed then 1. Plain face, well marked ears, dark eye, would like more length of neck. Good front construction & bone. A little immature at the back which should develop with age. Well let down hocks moved soundly. Should grow into a strong adult;
3 Neath-Duggan & Baker’s Buffrey Incognito by Dalleaf.

ND (5,3)

1 P Mr Blue Sky;
2 Littler’s Dalmark The Wizard Of Oz, well made l/w. Nice head, well decorated ears, clean neck, strong shoulders, good bone & feet. Nice length of body & sound quarters, is still developing his muscle but moved well. Needs maturity to find his full potential.

PGD (18,7)

1 Stocks’ Nospar’s Shaded Lanson, l/w. Strong & well constructed, lovely head, dark ears, clean neck, great front, good bone & feet. Level topline, tailset & carried correctly. Well developed muscled thighs, a bit straight in stifle, but well defined hocks, moved with style & balance. Rather lightly decorated for me;
2 Whincup’s Tamilanda Berry Ice Lilly, b/w. Good make & shape, good head with lightly decorated ears. Clean neck & shoulders, correct overall length, nice dog, well handled but a bit fine all over at this point in time. Would like to see more of him;
3 Dore’s Dalidor Mr Foxtrot.

LD (8,2)

1 Goff-Leggett’s Washakie Shoshone Chief, b/w. Maturing into a very fine dog, Well constructed, strong, muscular, great head, clean neck, lovely front, great depth & width of body. Level topline, tail carried & used well. Depth of brisket & defined underline display a great shape. Front legs good, solid bone, tight cat feet, short nails. First & second thighs clearly visible. Good bend of stifle & hocks well let down. Movement clean, free flowing. The overall picture speaks of an exhibitor who understands the need to work at bringing the dog to maturity, with constant attention to fitness condition & health, which does not happen by accident. I wish I could say the same thing about all the dogs here today. I was delighted to & had no hesitation in awarding RCC today;
2 Hobbs & Whiting’s Boutonneux Baby Buco avec Rapanooey, b/w. Well grown & matured dog, good honest face, dark eyes & well used ears. Well developed front, plenty of width & substance, stood on sound well boned legs, good feet, & correct depth of brisket. A little fine in loin, good quarters & bend of stifle, moved freely. Very well handled;
3 Alcock’s Creaganbrec Face Of Beau at Dalspartan.

OD (8,2)

1 Alexander’s Ch Offordale Chevalier, b/w 6 years bred by exhibitor. There can be little which has not been said about this very handsome & worthy Ch. He is in perfect health & fit for any outing. Standing perfectly, still you can feel the power & energy radiating from him. On the move that power is transmitted to his feet & he moves as only a perfectly balanced Dalmatian can. Without any apparent effort he will run or walk for as long as needed. His head is masculine but not in any way coarse or aggressive, his eyes look straight at you, his teeth are white & meet in a perfect bite. His ears frame his face. If I could, I would sprinkle a few more spots on his face but he does not need them. The neck long, graceful & arched the shoulders powerful clean correctly laid. Chest good width & depth, brisket reaching down to elbow. Legs, great bone & feet with manicured nails & good pads. Good strong loin. First & second thighs speak of regular & correctly balanced exercise, a good bend of stifle & defined hocks. A truly great topline, standing or moving, & a tail that balances the whole package. If I was picky a little more tuck-up would suit him well. Two years ago, at Bath, I judged him & placed him third in his class awarding first place to his Norwegian half brother Ch Solbo’s Kayo. That placing was because at that time his handler was unable to control him & I was unable to assess the true quality of his movement. Today following further training which has improved both his & his handler’s time in the ring I saw vastly improved presentation. I look forward to the day when he runs around the ring on a loose lead I think it will be spectacular. A well deserved CC;
2 Baker’s Ch Dalleaf Devils Disciple, l/w same age as 1. Also bred by exhibitor. Well developed. Good head, nice length of muzzle, well set eyes, lovely ears, neck not as refined as 1. Soundly constructed body with good front, deep & well sprung ribcage. Today carrying a little bit of weight on withers. Brisket to elbow well boned legs & sound feet. At the back strong well muscled quarters, good bend of stifle & correct hocks. A little lighter all round then 1. Moved with drive & purpose;
3 Whincup’s Ch Tamilanda Panther Lilly.

VD (2,1)

1 Hartley & Griffiths’ Ch Creaganbrec The Favourite at Miragua, b/w, 9 years. Always a powerful & worthy Ch, he still covers ground like a youngster.

PB (13,2) This was a class of very promising puppies, most of whom still need their owners to develop a rapport with the puppies so that they can show their finer point to best advantage. The winners showed clear evidence of exercise & muscle development which does not happen by accident.

1 Brewis & Haggie’s Bellili’s L’Elisir D’Amore, l/w 9 months. Very pretty young lady. Good size. Well defined head with strong muzzle, correctly shaped & colour eyes, beautiful ears which she used to advantage. Correctly laid shoulder, plenty of bone & nice tight feet. Ample chest room & a lovely top & underline, long clean tail giving balance, good muscle at the backend with well let down hocks, Worked in harmony with handler & moved clean & true;
2 Whincup’s Tamilanda Berry Ice Lilly, b/w, 7 months. Another very pretty little girl, not as mature as 1. Head still developing but shows promise of feminine strength, good dark eye & well used ears. Great body shape & beautiful markings, sound quarters with correct angles, good feet all round & a tail that never stopped. Unlucky to be beaten;
3 Croft’s Kalokairie’s Barberella from Koroyza.

JB (7,1)

1 Christie’s Sophtspot Glitterati, b/w, 17 months. Attractive & friendly, everything is in proportion. A feminine head, good bite, correct eyes & stop, well carried ears, long clean neck, well developed front clean & deep, sound legs & feet, good tuck-up. Developing quarters with a fair bend of stifle. She is balanced on the move & covers ground easily. I’m sure she will finish up as a beautiful mature bitch. To be fussy I would like a little stronger tail to finish the picture;
2 Lindsay’s Sophtspot Golly Gosh at Appennine, l/w, 7 months. Litter sister of 1. The construction is very similar so is the development. The neck not quite as refined, little upright at the front & at the back the bend of stifle is more clearly visible, & she has a stronger tail. Like 1 she is balanced & moves really well. Has a good relationship with her handler;
3 Stevenson’s Macula Moonlight Mystique.

NB

1 M Moonlight Mystique, b/w. A good size bitch who has been a slow developer. Nice head & ears, good neck & shoulders, good bone & feet, never gets excited in the ring. As a result her topline drops away & her tail droops. I would love to see her on her toes. I know from experience that once a bitch sets her mood in the ring it can be really difficult to bring out her best;
2 Wright’s Offordale Anastasia avec Milbelle, b/w, 12 months. Attractive & attentive. Looked young in this class but still developing. Overall impression is small. Head is not yet in proportion. Shoulders a little upright, underline not yet established. Good quarters & tail moved & showed really well. I think she needs time;
3 Carroll’s Castletop Dixie Dew.

PGB

1 Mather’s Shulune Dragon Rider, b/w, 2 years. Lovely sound maturing bitch in excellent condition. Pretty face, lovely well used ears, attentive to handler. Clean neck, well set shoulders, level topline, deep brisket & nicely tucked loin, nice quarters & sound on the leg. Moved elegantly on a loose lead;
2 Noble & Fort’s Shulune Celtic Snapdragon, l/w. Litter sister of above & a litter bigger in scale, has all the same qualities & strengths but I preferred the movement of 1. I have not been able to remember seeing these two before but they caught my eye as soon as they started moving;
3 Wilkinson’s Gwynmor High Five to Hunacres.

LB

1 Dawson’s Washakie Endless Summer, b/w, 3 years. Lovely mature girl, fit, strong, ready to work. Foreface a touch long, good bite, strong head, nice neck clean, shoulders great, body built as a bitch should be. Good topline & underline. Well muscled & defined quarters, good bend of stifle, the tail never stopped. The whole package speaks of plenty of regular exercise;
2 Suggett’s Dalesbred GeeBee Gold for Kintegus, l/w, 3 years. Profusely marked (which suits livers better than blacks), very dark ears & very spotty face, not the neck of 1 but good shoulders, plenty of chest room with deep brisket & well tucked up loin, good strong quarter. All nicely balanced by correct length tail. Moved freely on good strong, well boned legs & tight feet;
3 Gallager’s Kelevra Madame Defarge of Dalcarla.

OB This was a very strong class, I could have used more than one red card today but there can be only one winner.

1 Alexander’s Ch Offordale Larissa, b/w, 2 years. I first saw this bitch as a 4 months puppy, I fell for her then & nothing has changed my mind since. She is shapely & fit with a pretty face & beautiful ears, a feminine head & penetrating eyes, all of which is set atop a graceful neck. Her shoulders are well made & strong, chest is capacious & deep. The legs have plenty of bone & the feet & pads speak of exercise. Going back, the tuck-up in neat & gives her great shape, sound defined quarters. A lovely bend of stifle, upright, well let down hocks. Correct tail, set carried & used correctly. If I owned a carriage this is the bitch I would want running under it. She is a joy. CC & BOB;
2 Quale’s Cubalibra Follow On, b/w, 3 years. This was a knife edge decision. Everything I have said about 1 can be applied to this bitch, she is equally pretty. She is as well made although she is a touch longer cast. She is as strong & as well developed as 1 & I would love to have them both under my carriage. A real pleasure to go over & only sorry that it had to be the RCC today. Her title cannot be far away. RCC;

3 Gardner’s Ch Dvojica Black Again at Wrendragge.



VB (5,1)



1 Kennedy’s Ir Ch Beebo Betty, b/w, 8 years. Paying one of her occasional visits to England & today handled by her original handler, Danny Gamble. She looked fit, healthy & willing. Going round the ring with drive. Built as a mature bitch should be she was shapely, clean muscled moving with purpose & drive. BV;
2 Gibbs’ Ch Phadante Dixie Lilly, b/w, 7 years today. Carrying a little bit of weight & not quite as fit as 1;
3 Pearson’s Ir Ch Chanadhally Chantilly Cream from Cannabee.

JOHN McCARTHY