The Welsh Kennel Club

Dalmatians

I was delighted with both dog and bitch line ups, worthy winners all demonstrating a good degree of uniformity and excellent breed type. The depth of quality meant I had to make some really close decisions on the day and CC and Res CC awards in both sexes were very strongly contested.

A common fault is upright shoulders, narrow fronts and a lack of sternum. I also found a number of short tails with some tails carried rather gaily on the move, spoiling overall symmetry and balance. I thought fitness and muscle-tone to be extremely good, however quite a few exhibits had ‘dally rash’.

We enjoyed a large indoor ring which gave the dogs an opportunity to really get into a good stride and show themselves at their best. Temperaments were uniformly sound which is of great importance in any breed, with most demonstrating a happy disposition and clearly enjoying their day out, which makes such a difference in the show ring. Thank you for accepting my decisions so sportingly.

Veteran Dog (4,2abs).

1st Hartley & Griffiths’ Ch. Creaganbrec The Favourite At Miragua. A real showman and a dog I have always admired. Liked his moderation and size, attractive black spotting with a super typical head and expression and strong reach of neck. Body well balanced with very sound forehand construction, has a good lay back of shoulder & sternum. Correct topline with an equally good underline. Well boned and bodied with a depth of brisket and spring of rib. Nicely covered with pleasing muscle tone, bone and tight feet, 9 years of age and in great shape not showing his age at all on the move with a free easy ground covering stride and powerful drive. Best Veteran.
2nd Lewis’ Ch. Man About Town at Hunterswood. 11 years old and still showing with style, presenting such a pleasing clean outline. Sound and true both tracking and in profile, retaining his topline on the move. Attractive classical head and expression with a strong neck into wither, firm topline with lovely defined croup and well set tail, matched by a good underline. Body well balanced with very sound forehand construction, has a good lay back of shoulder & sternum, standing on good legs and feet with nice bone.

Minor Puppy Dog (3,0).

1st Hernandez’s Dalminshi Starlight Express. Eye-catching puppy with lovely B/W decoration & dense pigmentation presenting a clean outline. Very attractive head and expression with a reach of neck into a correct firm topline with an equally good underline, he impressed in profile with balanced and well angulated quarters standing on good legs and feet. Nice shape, size and substance with rounded bone, very masculine but not overdone in any way. Best mover in class, moving soundly and freely with reach and drive, tracked true.
2nd Carroll’s Sophtspot Hip Hip Hooray. B/W youngster with appealing head. Pleasing outline, with good overall symmetry, nicely covered with clean neck and shoulders, well defined wither and firm topline. Very well balanced body and quarters with a good underline. Good legs, bone and feet with well let down hocks. Moved out soundly, with reach and drive in profile, not quite the tracking of 1. Didn’t seem very settled today.
3rd Perry & Sampson’s Dalstorm Eternal Spirit.

Puppy Dog (6,0)

1st Whincup’s Tamilanda Midnight Lilly. Most appealing puppy of pleasing moderate size and proportions with clean lines. Well marked with attractive B/W spotting. Impressed me most in this class with his positive and sound movement, covering the ground in profile with accurate tracking. Typical head and expression with a strong moderate neck into an excellent clean wither, topline, croup and tailset. Equally good underline with depth of brisket & strong loin. Scored here on front assembly, matched by a sound hindquarter. Nice to go over, with a lovely covering and muscle tone, good bone and feet. Most promising.
2nd Croft & Cobb-McGill’s Kalokairies Bullet Proof. Nicely made liver puppy with lovely head and expression, a super length of neck into clean wither, good flowing topline, croup and tailset. A clean balanced outline, with well angulated quarters and a pleasing size. Opened up really well in profile with plenty of reach & drive, tracked OK. Has plenty of ring presence.
3rd Hernandez’s Dalminshi Starlight Express.

Junior Dog (5,0)

1st Neath-Duggan & Baker’s Buffrey Incognito By Dalleaf. Stylish youngster with attractive B/W spotting and presented in a fit, honed condition. Took my eye and commanded the ring with his confident ring presence. Standing over a lot of ground but presenting a clean outline with lots to like. Delightful masculine head with good skull proportions, ear set and pigmentation. A reach of neck flowing into an excellent clean wither and firm topline. Has a good length of body with strong loin, balanced well angulated quarters, standing on good legs and feet with strong pasterns and well let down hocks used to effect on the move. Impressive mover with plenty of forward reach and drive covering the ground effortlessly. A real showman who makes the most of himself. Pushed my top winners hard today, extremely close decision.
2nd Green & Sears Boschendal Simply Red At Judally. Handsome boy, with good colour L/W spotting. Lovely classic head of pleasing proportion and expression, a strong neck into a sound forehand with a well laid shoulder and defined wither. Essentially masculine of pleasing size, well boned and bodied with a depth of brisket, shorter coupled than 1. Moved out very well in profile, positive mover with good driving action.
3rd Croft & Cobb-McGill’s Kalokairies Bullet Proof.

Novice Dog (2,0)

1st Carter’s Tyrodal Genesis. L/W with an attractive head of good proportion, expression and eye colour. A strong reach of neck into a very sound forehand assembly with well laid shoulder. Balanced in outline and of pleasing size with correct topline matched by good underline, good legs and feet with nice bone. Moved out freely covering the ground in profile, tracked OK.
2nd Evans & Baker’s Lucky Prince Of Oaks Farm At Troikadal. Attractively spotted B/W male with an appealing head and expression and a good reach of neck. Good legs & feet with nice bone. Balanced in outline and of pleasing size. Moved out in profile with reach.

Post Graduate Dog (6,0)

1st Quayle’s Cubalibre On It. Attractively decorated, handsome B/W with a clean balanced outline. Lovely masculine head with good dark eye and expression. Liked his moderate size and body proportions with a firm topline, sound well matched quarters, a depth of brisket and good underline with strong loin. Well covered with nice bone & feet. Makes a pleasing picture, striding out in profile with powerful reach and drive, covering the ground really well.
2nd Richardson’s Mapplewell Dynamite. Most Attractive, classic head on this liver boy with pleasing eye and expression into a super reach of neck. Balanced quarters with firm topline, good croup and tailset. Has a depth of body with a spring of rib. Shapely and in fit order with nice muscle tone, standing on good straight legs and feet with well let down hocks used to effect on the move. Sound mover.
3rd Wallington’s Rovinjdal Dare To Dream.

Limit Dog (7,0) A strongly contended class of quality.

1st Christie’s Sophtspot Gold Dust. This strikingly handsome liver male took my eye the minute he entered the ring. Looked a picture standing with a typical, clean flowing outline, beautifully covered with lovely substance throughout. On the move he demonstrates free and easy movement with a ground covering stride and accurate tracking. A super masculine head of ideal proportion and expression with strong reach of neck into outstanding wither, topline and tailset, held so well on the move. Excellent forehand with correct layback of shoulder, good sternum and well defined clean wither, well bodied with a depth of brisket, spring of rib a good underline and well developed hindquarters with second thigh and strong firm hocks giving plenty of power on the move. So well put together, everything just fits and flows, a joy to go over and in splendid condition. DCC. BOB.
2nd Goff-Leggett’s Washakie Shoshone Chief. First class male full of quality and such an ideal moderate size without any exaggeration. Striking b/w boy with plenty of style, presenting a lovely clean outline. Appealing masculine head with good expression, lovely reach of neck into a clean wither and excellent firm topline, held well on the move matched with good underline. Particularly liked his overall balance with very well-matched soundly constructed quarters and good bone, legs and feet to finish the picture. Moved freely holding his shape well, with excellent reach and plenty of power using his strong backend to great effect to give drive. Presented in immaculate order. RDCC.
3rd McCarthy’s Domdallino Je Suis Kilndandy.

Open Dog (6,1)

1st Green & Sears Tolutim Yves St Laurent At Judally. Headed a strong class and stood out here with his excellent ground covering stride with super powerful drive in profile and accurate tracking. Well marked liver with an appealing head and expression with strong reach of neck set into a sound forehand balanced with well-constructed hindquarters with a turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Of pleasing moderate size, beautifully covered with lovely substance, balanced overall with a length of body and good underline with depth of brisket and firm loin, standing on good legs with nice bone.
2nd Whincup’s Ch. Tamilanda Panther Lily. Classic B/W male, lovely to go over with pleasing substance and muscle tone. Typical head and expression with a good length of neck flowing into a clean wither and correct topline with lovely defined coup and well set tail, matched with a very good underline with a depth of brisket giving plenty of heart and lung room. Well balanced body and quarters standing on good legs and feet with rounded bone. Moved soundly and tracked very true. As one with his owner, a real showman.
3rd Alexander’s Ch. Offordale Chevalier

Veteran Bitch (4,1)

1st Gibbs’ Ch. Phadante Dixie Lily. Such a soundly made veteran, good in outline with attractive B/W decoration and dense pigmentation. An appealing head and expression with a lovely reach of neck flowing into an excellent clean wither, topline, croup and tailset. Equally good underline with depth of brisket, spring of rib and strong loin. Body well balanced with correct shoulder angulation. Hindquarters well developed with a turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Moved out really well around the ring with forward reach and drive.
2nd Scott-Allen & Davis’ Tolutim Zaffre. B/W veteran in great condition, moving soundly and effortlessly around the ring covering the ground well in profile, using her hindquarters to good effect. Feminine head with elegant reach of neck into a very sound forehand with a well laid shoulder, defined wither, good topline and underline. In great shape for 10 ½ years, clearly enjoying her day out.
3rd Smallwood’s Ch. Mapplewell Dancing Queen Of Lascelles

Minor Puppy Bitch (8,3)

1st Harrison-Stratford’s Dalminshi Dark Dakota at Dalkereve. Promising youngster, with happy disposition, I liked her size, bodylines and proportions very much. Pretty feminine head and expression with a good neck into wither, sound forehand and excellent topline and tailset. Well balanced with a good underline, depth and length in body and angulated hindquarters with a turn of stifle and hocks well let down giving her drive. Has lovely substance and attractive B/W spotting. Sound, ground covering movement, just rolled a bit on the move but still only a baby.
2nd Fellows’ Millbelle Hasta L'vista Baby. Another youngster with promise, presenting a clean outline. Moved out really well in profile and tracked very true. Balanced B/W with classic head, good neck and forehand, well bodied with angulated hindquarters. Good topline and underline, with a depth of brisket and spring of rib, shorter coupled than 1, pleasing bone and feet.
3rd Richardson’s Mapplewell Ely Brown

Puppy Bitch (8, 4)

1st Fillingham’s Tamilanda Valentina Lilly At Dotsadaisy. Elegant youngster with much to like, attractive black spotting and feminine head with lovely reach of neck. Liked her topline, held well on the move with good croup and tailset matched with a very good underline. Shapely bodylines with a depth of brisket and spring of rib. Soundly constructed well-balanced angulated quarters standing on good legs and feet. Nice shape, size and covering with rounded bone. Impressed me moving, her tracking was one of the best today and she extended well in profile around the ring. Effortless movement and very together for one so young. Has quality and type and is very sound. Best Puppy.
2nd Harrison-Stratford’s Dalminshi Dark Dakota at Dalkereve.
3rd Richardson Mapplewell Ely Brown.

Junior Bitch (5,2)

1st Thomas’ Buffrey Magic Moments With Philcarthom. Very feminine B/W presenting a clean outline. Liked her overall moderation and size, very well balanced proportions. Has a good body, level topline and well-constructed balanced quarters, with a very sound underline of correct depth and length. She scored here on front assembly and was the best profile mover in this class, striding out with plenty of reach and drive.
2nd McManus’ Boschendal Ashes Of Roses. Striking B/W spotting with dense pigmentation. Soundly made with angulated quarters, a good topline, croup and tailset matched with pleasing underline with a depth of brisket, shorter coupled than 1. Well bodied with good substance. Used her well-developed hind quarters to powerful effect on the move in profile, moving out soundly with excellent reach and drive.
3rd Stevenson’s Macula Moonlight Mystique.

Novice Bitch (4,2)

1st Richardson’s Mapplewell Ely Brown. This L/W young lady has a lovely demeanour, so well put together and feminine all through with pleasing lines and of moderate size. Pretty head and expression, a good reach of neck into a flowing topline, croup and tailset. Sound front assembly with rounded bone. Well balanced body and quarters with a good underline. Positive and true mover both tracking and in profile.
2nd Carroll’s Castletop Dixie Dew. Well-marked with dense black spotting on clear white background, presenting an attractive and clean outline, an exuberant youngster with a happy disposition, who just needs to settle to make the best of herself, particularly on the move. Shapely and nicely covered with firm topline, defined croup and correct tailset, with good depth and length of body and nice bone. Moved out OK but hard to fully assess. Presented in good condition.

Post Graduate Bitch (8,3)

1st Christie’s Sophtspot Glitterati. Stylish eye-catching bitch with much to like. Attractive black spotting and classical head with an arch of neck into a well-defined wither, super topline, croup and tailset, matched with a very good underline with a depth of brisket, spring of rib. Sound forehand assembly with a layback of shoulder, well bodied with lovely substance throughout with well-developed hindquarters. Balanced, well covered body standing on good legs and feet with strong pasterns and hocks. Has excellent firm muscle tone and nice rounded bone. Caught my eye on the move, a very graceful mover effortlessly covering the ground in profile with a lovely stride and tracking very true. Quality bitch who pushed hard for top honours, just carrying a tad too much weight over her loin today.
2nd David & Saunders’ Dalticino Interlagos From Dallydyl. Another to track extremely well and move out around the ring with an easy, efficient stride, she impressed me moving. Pleasing head of nice proportion and expression with a lovely reach of neck set into a well-made forehand with defined sternum, balanced with an angulated hindquarter. Correct firm topline with an equally good underline of good length with strong loin. Shapely liver with a clean outline.
3rd Dore’s Daldior Miss Hula Hula Girl.

Limit Bitch (8,0)

1st Finlay’s Dvojica Black Swan At Dalfin. Beautifully feminine, a quality bitch that stands out for her ideal size with such an elegant and balanced outline. Most appealing feminine head and expression, with lovely reach of neck into a cleanly defined wither, with a correctly proportioned front assembly. So well put together with superb topline and underline, excellent body proportions and very sound, angulated quarters. A shapely bitch beautifully presented and well-toned with clean flowing lines and lovely B/W spotting. Excelled in movement with an effortless and powerful stride in profile using her quarters to great effect and tracked very true. Consummate showgirl. Very close decision with BCC winner, I was later told they are litter sisters. RBCC.
2nd Dawson’s Washakie Endless Summer. Very eye-catching well marked bitch with dense black spotting. Appealing head of good proportions with sweet expression, flowing neckline and well laid shoulder. Very balanced and well matched angulated quarters, a sound topline and a good length of body, with spring of rib and strength in loin. Beautifully covered with lovely substance and muscle tone, rounded bone with tight feet and well-placed hocks. Great extension around the ring with powerful drive. Has a good rapport with her handler and makes a pleasing picture both standing and moving.
3rd Neath-Duggan’s Buffrey Hey Diddle Diddle.

Open Bitch (6,0) Two beautiful bitches headed this super quality class.

1st Gardner’s Ch. Dvojica Black Again At Wrendragge. I gave this bitch a Res CC in 2014 and I was delighted to see her matured to her full promise. Feminine all through and of ideal size and balance, she has substance without losing her femininity. A classically stylish B/W with such a shapely outline, everything flows on this bitch and she appeals greatly for her type. Typical, classic head with good eye and expression and super arched reach of neck into a flowing wither, topline, croup and tailset, held on the move and matched with a lovely underline. One of the best forehands here today, correctly proportioned with excellent lay back of shoulder, length in upper arm and defined sternum, balanced with well developed, angulated hindquarters with a width of thigh and well placed hocks. Moves precisely and with ease demonstrating superb economical drive with forward reach in profile and tracks so true. Delighted to award her BCC above some really stiff opposition today.
2nd Quayle’s Cubalibre Follow On. Another first class quality bitch who scores in moderation and overall balance. Well-made B/W bitch of pleasing proportions, feminine head and expression with a strong moderate neck flowing into an excellent clean wither, topline, croup and tailset. Equally good underline with depth of brisket, spring of rib and firm loin. Well matched soundly constructed quarters standing on good legs and feet with super rounded bone. Nice to go over, with a lovely covering. Moved freely and soundly holding her shape with an efficient stride in profile.
3rd Petersen’s Ch. Daedalus Cliff Angel.

Judge: Sarah Dandy