My thanks to the exhibitors for the wonderful entry of 107 Dalmatians at a time of year when many have other priorities to attend to. Thank goodness we were not scheduled for the following day when the entry was decimated by the heavy snowfall.
I was disappointed that many exhibits were off-balance when they began to move, which resulted in atypical movement with dogs winding erratically or crabbing, rather than moving in a straight line. Unfortunately, a judge can only go on what he/she sees in that brief 30 seconds or so. Hence, for many exhibits, the opportunity to impress was lost.
The limit and open classes were particularly enjoyable, offering a choice of quality exhibits. Needless to say, I was absolutely delighted with my main winners, even if I surprised myself with my choices – but that is the advantage of judging the dogs on the day!

BEST OF BREED: ALEXANDER Ch Offordale Chevalier JW
Dog CC: ALEXANDER Ch Offordale Chevalier JW
Res Dog CC: TODHUNTER-ROBINSON & ROBINSON Millbelle Young Gun JW
Bitch CC: DAVID & SAUNDERS Ch Dalticino Interlagos From Dallydyl JW Sh.CM
Res Bitch CC: NEATH-DUGGAN & BAKER Buffrey Hanky Panky By Dalleaf JW
Best Puppy: QUAYLE Millebelle Kicking Horse At Cubalibre
Best Veteran: ALEXANDER Ch Offordale Chevalier JW

MPD (4 0)

1 Quayle Millebelle Kicking Horse At Cubalibre. Very promising 6m l/w with even spotting of good colour. Pleasing profile of balanced proportions with straight forelegs, good bone, tight feet and nice length of rib. Well angulated hindquarters giving relaxed smooth movement. BPD and went up a gear in the challenge to gain BP
2 Todhunter-Robinson & Robinson Millbelle Rocky Mountain. L/w litter brother of 1 with many of the same attributes. Ideal size and correct degree of maturity for age. Level topline and good bend of stifle coupled with smooth stride.
3 Norgrove Sassydals Red Amour

PD (4 1)

1 M Kicking Horse At C.
2 Thorne Spotiray Billy Elliot Of Castletop. 11m. Dense black spotting on tight white coat. Dark eye and appealing expression. Well off for bone. Mature in outline. Good ratio of body length to height and deep chest to elbows.
3 Millington Capearlla Pure Diamonds

JD (3 0)

1 Millington Gloriandus Sagaro Of Capearlla. Compact l/w of nice size and appealing proportions. Good reach of neck, level topline and correct spring of rib. Well angulated fore- and rear quarters with good width of thigh. Moved steadily though carrying a touch of weight over the loin.
2 Wheaton Buffrey The Last Word At Acinonyx. Upstanding and outgoing b/w. Masculine head framed by well carried ears and complimented by dark eye. Strong bone and well developed and toned muscle.
3 Nicholson Dalmalli King 'N Country

YD (5 2)

1 G Sagaro Of C
2 Hernandez Dalminshi Starlite Express JW. Dense black pigmentation and evenly distributed spotting. Appealing head proportions, stop and dark eye contribute to kind expression. Sound front with straight foreleg and slight spring of pastern. Relaxed and steady gait.
3 Healey Doshaburi The Cloud Dragon At Hebemor

PGD (6 3)

1 Gibbs Phadante Mr Blue Sky JW. B/w displaying maturity in body and outline. Round bone, deep chest and good length and spring of rib. Comes into his own on the move, when his nicely angulated quarters and well muscled rear combine to advantage to generate a powerful reach and drive.
2 Green & Sears Boschendal Simply Red At Judally. L/w of rich colour. Typical head. Toned muscle with good width of thigh and nice second thigh. Complementary angulation front and rear which provides a smooth rhythmic action viewed in profile.
3 Pace Big Addo

LD (10 1) A class of some quality in depth.

1 Croft & Cobb Kalokairie's Bullet Proof . Powerful and masculine l/w of some substance. Well constructed throughout with plentiful bone. In hard condition with developed and toned musculature. Holds his topline well, moving powerfully around the ring with a long stride.
2 Tingey Dallyador Aramis. Viewed from the side, the sound overall conformation of this l/w is clear to see. Proportioned and balanced without exaggeration. Moving at the correct speed, he displayed such a relaxed long stride and covered the ground effortlessly.
3 Whincup Tamilanda Midnight Lilly JW

OD (6 0)

1 Goff-Leggett Ch Washakie Shoshone Chief JW. Outgoing b/w with dense bold spotting. Well ribbed, defined withers, deep chest, straight forelegs and tight feet. Super bend of stifle and well let down hocks. Moved purposefully with drive.
2 Green & Sears Ch Tolutim Yves St Laurent At Judally. L/w, not overdone in any way. Good reach of neck leading to correctly placed shoulders. Strong loin. Held it together on the move, well coordinated and justifying his place.
3 Neath-Duggan & Baker Ch Buffrey Incognito By Dalleaf JW

VD (6 2)

1 Alexander Ch Offordale Chevalier JW. Need to go over this b/w to appreciate his qualities. Still at his peak at 7y and displays all the attributes required of an endurance trotting dog. Sound construction from nose to tail, a body built on a solid skeleton of correct conformation and complemented by well toned (but not over-developed) muscle, and the balance of length to height of body to facilitate the necessary long stride to perform his role as a carriage dog. A sheer joy to watch on the move, with a powerful reach and drive and long effortless stride, allowing him to flow round the ring. On the day, the epitome of ‘fit for function’. BV, CC & BOB
2 Todhunter-Robinson & Robinson Millbelle Young Gun JW. 7y l/w presents impressive profile with clean lines on a sturdy frame. Defined wither leading to level topline strong loin and correct tailset. Excellent depth and length of rib. Well laid shoulder and good forequarter angulation with straight foreleg and correct slight spring of pastern. Nice bend of stifle and developed second thigh. Positive and smooth action, covering the ground economically. RCC
3 Whiting Mrs J & Mr S Cibrith Captain Kirk JW Sh.CM.

GCD (4 0)

1 Healey Doshaburi The Cloud Dragon At Hebemor. Unfortunately, this l/w didn’t get it together in the YD class, but appeared a different dog here! Lovely ear carriage and correct amber eye colour contributed to kind expression. Generous bone and well muscled. Deep chest and nice spring of rib. Moved with balance and a relaxed lengthy stride.
2 Hurst Philcarthom Xcaliber At Finnidal. B/w with lovely dark eye and nice head and expression. Presented in fit and firm condition. Good bone, level topline both standing and on the move.
3 B The Last Word At A

MPB (5 2) Three lovely puppies, all a little ‘raw’, so could easily chop and change places.

1 Wright Millbelle Fernie. 6m exuberant l/w, certainly enjoying her day! Excellent head and expression, even richly coloured spotting and broken ears. Presents an appealing profile of good proportions and adequate substance for tender age. Good reach and drive when settled.
2 McKenzie Mapplewell Boogley Bones. 6m boldly spotted b/w. Quite mature body of some substance and displaying good length and depth of ribcage. Generous bone and steady movement.
3 Hobbs & Whiting Rapanooey Rascallion

PB (7 0)

1 M Fernie
2 M Boogley Bones
3 R Rascallion

JB (8 2)

1 Neath-Duggan & Baker Buffrey Hanky Panky By Dalleaf JW. Very well constructed b/w of substance and quality. Excellent forequarters with good lay of shoulder and one of the best angles of return of upper arm. Strong foreleg and tight feet. Complementary hind angulation. From behind on the move, legs converge slightly to the centreline and thrust straight forward, hindfeet tracking the fore. From the side, reaches forward well and flexes stifles to provide power and drive. RCC
2 Quayle Chizzmic Carry On With Cubalibre. Compact feminine b/w of sound construction and proportions. Elegant reach of neck, level topline and gently arch over the loin. Good spring of rib, well boned foreleg and tight feet. Collected on the move.
3 McCarthy Tolkain Gold Star For Kilndandy

YB (11 1)

1 Gardner Dvojica Chilli Chutney For Wrendragge JW. Feminine l/w of sound and balanced construction throughout. Excellent front angulation with strong foreleg and cat feet. Good length and depth of rib and capacious chest. Good bend of stifle and visible second thigh. Relaxed, smooth striding gait.
2 Richardson Mapplewell Ely Brown. L/w with many of attributes of 1. Sound and without exaggeration. Deep chest, strong loin and good hind angulation with toned muscle. Free flowing movement.
3 C Carry On With C

PGB (17 8)

1 Croft Kalokairie's Barberella From Koroyza. L/w of sound construction which commanded attention. Viewed in profile, presents such flowing lines from nose to tail. Lovely head framed by well carried ears, and with sweet expression. Balanced fore and aft construction used to provide accurate movement with positive drive.
2 Harrison-Stratford Dalminshi Dark Dakota At Dalkereve JW. Attentive and enthusiastic b/w. Feminine and of smooth lines. Elegant reach of neck and level topline. Balanced quarters and steady on the move.
3 Healey Dalmark The White Witch At Hebemor

LB (10 0)

1 Dawson Washakie Endless Summer. Jet black spotting, tight coat. Feminine head, good reach of neck, level topline, correct tailset. Well angulated quarters, particularly bend of stifle. Straight foreleg with round bone, good spring to pastern, tight feet. Effortless positive movement.
2 Tingey Dallyador The Enchanteress JW. Evenly marked l/w of excellent colour. Impressive profile with smooth transition from elegant neck to defined wither, level topline and well set tail. Underline tapering gently to strong loin. Quarters used advantageously to produce long rhythmic stride.
3 Wilkinson Gwynmor High Five To Hunacres JW (Imp)

OB (12 4)

1 David & Saunders Ch Dalticino Interlagos From Dallydyl JW Sh.CM. Judged this l/w almost 2 years ago as a puppy and was impressed then. Nothing has changed since - she has simply matured to perfection. Presented in firm condition, powerfully built and oozing substance, but not at the expense of sacrificing femininity. Defined forechest, super length depth and spring of rib, correct underline. Defined wither and level topline. Generous bone, straight foreleg, good spring of pastern. Powerful and well angulated quarters used to cover the ground with a flowing ease. Very worthy CC
2 Alexander Ch Offordale Larissa. Quality b/w, balanced throughout and of sound make and shape. Well laid shoulder and correct front assembly. Deep chest and good spring of rib. Well bent stifle and defined hocks. Good length of stride, covering the ground with ease.
3 Petersen Ch Daedalus Cliff Angel JW

VB (2 0) 2 quality b/w bitches who are each excellent representatives of the breed quality. Definitely a class requiring 2 red cards!

1 Gibbs Ch Phadante Dixie Lily JW. Substantial 8y b/w. Excellent body proportions with deep chest, level topline and muscular loin. Sound front with defined sternum and tight feet. Well off for bone. Good reach and driving movement.
2 Thorner Ch Tolutim Drambuie Sh.CM. 9y b/w who scores in profile, displaying overall balance and correct body proportions. Appealing head and expression, lovely arched neck. Sound quarters angulation giving a smooth flowing action. Handled to advantage

GCB (3 0)

1 Bardey Dalcross Caro Emerald. Feminine, richly-coloured l/w with lovely head and expression framed by well carried broken ears. Good front and rear conformation used to effect. Moved steadily, holding her topline well.
2 Bardey Dalcross Destiny's Child. Compact and balanced b/w. Defined wither and well laid shoulder. Chest to elbow. Straight foreleg with adequate bone. Nice rear angulation with developed second thigh.

JOHN STEVENSON