British Dalmatian Club Ch Show – Sunday 3rd February 2024

It was an honour to judge Bitches at the British Dalmatian Club’s February Championship Show, I enjoyed my day with your wonderful Dalmatians immensely.

Thank you to the officers and committee for their warm welcome and generous hospitality, and to my two efficient stewards who kept the pace moving.

I was extremely impressed with the depth in quality of the bitches today with so many lovely specimens of the breed it meant for some close decisions. In particular, the open class was outstanding and a privilege to judge. There were also some very promising youngsters and I feel confident that many of them will go on to fulfil their potential and I wish them well.

There were several youngsters who were very unsure being examined but I put this down to the acoustics and noise in the hall; some others could have benefited from better schooling. Movement overall impressed me, although front angulation could still be improved, together with tail carriage. It is encouraging to see some younger handlers taking an interest in our breed today, so positive for the future. Finally, thank you all for accepting my decisions so very sportingly.

Minor Puppy Bitch (9,4abs)
1: Quayle’s Cubalibre Wishing Star. Promising L/W youngster, with a pleasing outline and overall symmetry, I liked her proportions very much with nothing overdone. Classic head and expression with a reach of neck into clean wither, she scores in forehand with a layback of shoulder, length in upper arm and defined sternum, balanced with sound hindquarters and a second thigh. A flowing topline, croup and tailset, matched with super underline, with good depth of body, well covered, standing on good legs and feet with strong pasterns and hocks used to effect on the move. Soundly covers the ground in profile with drive, tracking very true, she holds her shape well on the move for one so young. Quality bitch with a bright future. BPB & BPIS
2: Stocks Sophtspot Sparkler at Nospar. Stylish, eye-catching bitch with a flowing clean outline and much to like. Attractive dense black spotting and feminine head and expression, with a lovely arch of neck into a well-defined wither, shapely and nicely covered with correct firm topline, defined croup, she has a good length of body and strength in loin. Firm muscle tone and rounded bone. Used her well angulated hind quarters to good effect on the move in profile, moving out soundly with excellent reach and drive. Not quite as true up and down as 1 today.
3: Healey, Wheaton & Gardinor’s Hebemor Careless Whisper from Dakata

Puppy Bitch (9,0 abs)
1: Philip & Dunnachie ‘s Dvojica Filthy Gorgeous. Another youngster with promise, of pleasing moderate size and proportions. Well-marked with attractive B/W spotting of good pigmentation. Impressed overall in this class with her positive and sound movement, covering the ground freely in profile with excellent extension and tracking true. Typical head with good expression, a strong reach of neck into a sound forehand with a well laid shoulder matched by a soundly made hindquarter with a width of thigh and well let down hocks. Firm topline with equally good underline with depth of brisket. Nice to go over, with a lovely covering and muscle tone, good bone, pasterns and feet. Quite the showgirl who makes the most of herself.
2: Hurst’s Dvojica Firefly for Finnidal. Scopier than winner with a shapely balanced outline, this nicely made youngster also impressed on the move, her soundly constructed forehand and well laid-back shoulders giving forward reach, balanced with angulated muscular hindquarters, with good turn of stifle, width of thigh and well let down hocks used to advantage giving plenty of drive. Holds a firm flowing topline, well matched with a good underline and strong loin. Very appealing with attractive dense black spotting and feminine head to complete the picture.
3: Quayle’s Cubalibre Star Attraction

Junior Bitch (14,2abs)
1: Burrows Shacarlu Bee Happy. Quality B/W appealed greatly for type, very shapely with lovely body proportions and decoration. Appealing head with a reach of neck into cleanly defined wither, correct fluid topline, croup and tailset matched with an excellent underline with a pleasing length and depth of body and firm loin. Very well-balanced, soundly made angulated quarters used most effectively on the move, best mover in this strong class, striding out with ease with good ground covering action in profile, tracking well. Well made, with a super clean outline and in fit order with good muscle tone, bone and tight feet.
2: Cliffe’s Shydally Stage Star. Very eye-catching well marked bitch with dense black spotting and a clean, shapely outline. Feminine head of pleasing proportion and expression, a lovely reach of neck set into a well-made forehand with a layback of shoulder, length in upper arm and defined sternum, balanced with sound hindquarters with a second thigh, standing on good legs, pasterns and feet with hocks well let down. Moved out positively and soundly with excellent reach and drive holding her topline, although carrying her tail a little high today. Has a happy disposition and makes the most of herself.
3: Locke-Mcfadzean & Lopes Fortuna Phoenixx Rising Over Sassafras (Imp USA)

Yearling (3,0)
1: Jenkins & Ridgway’s Luccombe Strawberry Ripple. Nicely proportioned, fit, well bodied L/W with a lovely demeanour and shown to advantage. I liked her length and depth of body with a firm topline and an excellent underline with strong loin, standing on good straight legs and neat feet. An appealing feminine head and expression with good reach of neck into soundly constructed forehand with layback of shoulder, length in upper arm and defined sternum, balanced with angulated muscular hindquarters, hocks well let down. Travelled freely and effortlessly with a ground covering stride holding her outline well, she impressed in profile movement with good reach and drive.
2: Wilkins Salvadorada Honestly Maybe. Beautiful headed Liver of good colour and pigmentation, with a strong moderate reach of neck into defined wither, fluid topline, croup and tailset matched with underline of good length, with a depth of brisket, spring of rib and firm loin. Sound forehand assembly with a layback of shoulder, well bodied with substance throughout and muscular hindquarters with second thigh. Positive efficient mover, not quite the stride of 1 on the move today.
3: Barnett Salvadorada Happy Go Lucky

Novice (13,2)
1: Cliffe’s Shydally Stage Star;
2: Hurst’s Dvojica Firefly for Finnidal;
3: Quayle’s Cubalibre Star Attraction

Postgraduate Bitch (18,5)
1: Davies Tamilanda Continental Boom. Classic, very honest, soundly made bitch who stood out on the move in this class and appeals greatly for type. Well-marked B/W with a lovely typical head, she excels in front assembly with a good lay of shoulder and sternum, matched with well-developed hindquarters with a good turn of stifle and width of thigh. Shapely and beautifully covered with a cleanly defined wither, topline, croup and tailset, held so well on the move and balanced with an excellent depth and length of body, a spring of rib and firm loin. Standing on nice legs, bone and feet with good pasterns and hocks. Moved out freely with super reach and drive, covering the ground with ease and tracking very true. I liked her a lot and she was a serious contender today.
2: Brooks & De Rozario Jemblewood Jelly Baby. Stylish, eye-catching bitch with much to like. Beautifully feminine with attractive dense black defined spotting and a pleasing clean outline with good overall symmetry. Another to track extremely well and move out around the ring with an easy, efficient stride, she impressed me moving. An appealing head and expression with elegant reach of neck into clean wither, good flowing topline, croup and tailset. Sound forehand assembly with well laid shoulders, shapely bodylines with a depth of brisket, good underline, firm loin and well-developed hindquarters, hocks well let down. Just a little shorter coupled than 1. Pleasing size and covering with nice bone, presented in lovely condition.
3: Neath Duggan & Coyne Kelevra Pickle my Fennel with Buffrey (JW SWISS JCH)

Limit Bitch (21,7)
1: Alexander’s Offordale Santtini. Headed a strong class and stood out here with her free and easy ground covering movement, an active mover who opened up well in profile striding out with powerful reach and drive. A stylish eye-catching bitch with much to like, most attractively marked with defined black spotting of good pigmentation. Of pleasing elegant lines and moderate size, she has an appealing head and expression with lovely reach of neck into a clean flowing topline, croup and tailset and a balanced, well covered body with good depth of brisket and firm loin. Soundly constructed well matched quarters standing on good legs, pasterns and feet, with hocks well let down and used to advantage. Shapely and beautifully conditioned, with firm muscle tone, rounded bone and fit for function.
2: Tingey’s Dallyador Secret Addiction. Soundly made B/W bitch, handles very well when you go over her with a lovely demeanour. A beautiful head with attractive expression atop a super reach of neck into a well-defined wither, with correct topline and underline, of good length and well bodied, lovely substance throughout with a depth of brisket, spring of rib and strong loin. Well-constructed bitch with balanced quarters, she scores in forehand with a well laid shoulder and length in upper arm, balanced with well-developed hindquarters and a good turn of stifle, width of thigh and hocks well let down, standing on good legs and feet. A very true mover both fore and aft, moving freely in profile with drive, keeping a firm topline.
3: Whincup’s Tamilanda Instant Star (JW)

Open Bitch (13,2)
The depth of quality in this class meant really close decisions right down to 5th place, all my placings were excellent representatives of the breed and some very good bitches went cardless.
1: Howard-Riddle’s Shydally Star Attraction. Top quality bitch in cracking form presented in superb condition and handled to perfection. Appealed greatly for her size, moderation and bodylines, a most shapely well-constructed B/W bitch of excellent proportions, so well put together, everything just fits and flows. Has a classic feminine head on elegant neck into outstanding wither, topline, croup and tailset, equally matched with a super underline of correct length and depth. Superb angulated quarters and totally balanced confirmation reflected in her sound fluid movement, such a joy to watch on the move, holding her shape and extending so well in profile around the ring, demonstrating free and easy driving movement with a powerful ground covering stride and so fit for purpose. Tracks exceptionally well in both directions. She had the sparkle today and I could not deny her top honours above some really stiff opposition, what a showgirl. Delighted to award her the CC and her Crown. BCC. BOS. RBIS.
2: Gardner’s CH Dvojica Chilli Chutney For Wrendragge ( JW) . A well-made unexaggerated liver presented in lovely condition with beautiful coverage and muscle tone. Stands out for type and scores in overall balance, with great appeal and much quality. Delightful classical head of excellent proportion with a strong reach of neck into wither, a firm topline, defined croup and well-set tail. An excellent forehand with correct layback of shoulder, length in upper arm and defined sternum, well bodied throughout with a depth of brisket, spring of rib and good underline and very well-developed muscular hindquarters with second thigh and firm hocks. Really good to go over, with lovely substance and bone she makes a pleasing picture both standing and moving. Her ideal angulation gives precise, positive and efficient movement, with a good extension. Class act, just pipped by the verve of youth today. RCC. Best Veteran Bitch. Best Liver in Show.
3: Richardson’s CH Mapplewell Limited Edition

Junior Veteran (6,2)
1: Jenkins & Ridgeway Luccombe Strawberry Kisses. A real showgirl who makes the most of herself, presented in great condition with a super outline and decoration. Best mover in this class, sound and true with a ground covering stride. Attractive head and expression with a lovely reach of neck on this shapely B/W bitch with nice length of body, clean wither, flowing topline, croup and tailset, matched with good underline. Body well balanced with angulated quarters, standing on good straight legs and feet with hocks well let down.
2: England’s Dalens Bethany Char at Silverspot (VW) . Soundly made liver with a classic head of pleasing proportion, she scores in front assembly with a good lay back of shoulder and sternum, balanced with well-developed hindquarters with good turn of stifle, width of thigh and hocks well let down, standing on nice legs and feet. Firm topline, good croup and tailset, well bodied with lovely substance throughout, a depth of brisket, spring of rib and firm loin. Moved soundly.
3: McCarthy’s Tolkain Gold Star For Kilndandy

Senior Veteran Bitch (2,0)
1: Dawson’s Washakie Endless Summer. Judged this B/W bitch before as a youngster, she still retains her class even at 10 ½ years. Eye-catching showgirl in fit order with plenty of ring presence. Lovely make and shape and attractively decorated, with beautiful head and neck into an excellent clean wither she had one of the best angulated fronts of the day and is so well put together with superb topline and underline, excellent body proportions and very sound, angulated quarters. Moves extremely soundly with freedom and scope, she has great carriage, and her outline is most impressive for a senior veteran. A credit to her breeder and owner.
2: Wareham’s Tamilanda Blue Water Lilly At Dotsadaisy (Sh.CM) . 12-year-old B/W veteran with character, really enjoying her day out. She too moved out well around the ring with drive with a pleasing outline and tracked accurately. Classic feminine head with strong reach of neck. Sound well matched quarters, with a firm topline and equally good underline, well boned and bodied with a depth in brisket and spring of rib. In great form for her age and a lovely type.

Best In Show
It was a real pleasure to co- judge BIS with Lesley Suggett Today. We amicably agreed on all our joint decisions. I thought the dog and bitch CC winners made a well-matched pair. BIS was Neath-Duggan & Baker’s CH Buffrey Incognito By Dalleaf (JW) a dog I have previously awarded a CC and was delighted to see him in top form today, he just seems to get even better with age and is an outstanding representative of the breed.

Sarah Dandy (Dandale)
Judge