This was a difficult entry to judge as there was so much variation in type & I could not find any consistency, with my basic requirements so often lacking. I like to see a flowing outline on the move with no bumps or rocking & rolling. The flow means the dog will be basically well constructed. I like a well coupled Dalmatian who is firm & fit, which means well conditioned with good muscle. Ideally spots should be well distributed & distinct. I was surprised to find so many with tick markings & lacking spotting. Also some had uneven colour. It goes without saying that a Dalmatian should be able to move well.

It is not a head breed so heads come low down on my list but big coarse heads usually mean the dog lacks quality. In the main the bitches were much better than the males.

I am sorry to be so critical but this has always been one of my favourite breeds & I feel sad to see the drop in overall quality. Obviously one is not going to find perfection, & we still have some good Dalmatians, but I hope the overall standard can be improved in the near future.

MPD (4) 1 Beeston's Tyrodal Special Encounter with Sanadal, well grown, profusely spotted, good body & rib, very good teeth, in nice condition; 2 Ingham's Risdonfarm Rocky, only 6 months & a real baby but shows some promise. Pleasing head, nice black spotting, good tail; 3 Hitchens & Livermore's Tyrodal Special Feature.

PD (7) 1 Polhill's Fincham Hurricane Jack, not overdone & scored in movement, profuse liver spotting but has too many ticks. Typical head, good tail, nice bone, legs & feet, firm hindquarters; 2 Pearson & Dodds' Kelevra Hudson Hawk, big bold black spotting, firm neck, good thighs, in very good condition. Needs to steady in front movement; 3 R Rocky.

JD (6,1) 1 Croft's Doubtwell Show Stopper, bold distinct black spotting on a pure white background, in lovely condition, nicely balanced, well made hindquarters, good tail. Moved out well but can improve in front; 2 Williams' Phadante Brightonrock, nice headed liver, good front, legs & feet, nice topline. Spotting well distributed but too many tick markings; 3 Beaumont & Croft's Koroyza Candy Man.

YD (6,1) 1 Story-Taylor's Major Tornado at Kesteven, nice dog, made on good lines. Carrying a little extra weight over his shoulders which slightly affected his front movement. Nicely balanced & kept his good outline on the move; 2 Hernandez's Dalminshi Star Gazer, nice masculine well coupled dog, in lovely condition, the best mover in the class. Not as calm as 1 & I would like a few more black spots; 3 Christie's Sophtspot Abracadabra.

PGD (7,1) 1 Adderley's Leiahart Chicago Bear, well grown, sensible head, good expression, nice neck & shoulders, good topline, well developed hindquarters, looked the part & moved out well; 2 Clement's Perdita's Right As Rain at Caldecacre, shapely liver, well distributed spots, good tail. Coat not in best condition. Nice legs & feet, moved well; 3 Moate's Major Sheer Will at Sundown.

LD (5,1) 1 Rance's Olbero Owtkachit, big dog but everything in balance, good front, legs & feet, well distributed liver spots, very good strength in thighs, moved & showed well; 2 Jubb's Dalmark The Double Agent, pleasing head, bold spotting, good front, legs & feet. Not the flow in topline & quarters of 1 but well coupled; 3 Beeston's Leaveslake Timeout for Sanadal.

OD (12) 1 Bliss' Ch Riverdore Rags To Riches, delightful dog, in lovely condition, good spotting, well coupled, good hindquarters, real strength, well bodied, good ribs. CC; 2 Bolt's Ch Fakenham Flash Gordon, at first did not particularly stand out but when he settled I saw his very good movement & good liver spotting of nice colour & well distributed. A racier dog than 1 but a good outline on the move, nice legs & feet, well made hindquarters. RCC; 3 Lewis' Man About Town at Hunterswood.

MPB (4) 1 Page's Winflash The Final Magic, very nice baby, pleasing head, nice neck & shoulders, topline & tail, very even well distributed black spotting, moved well; 2 Burton's Hameldal Aphrodite, I also liked this baby but she lacks confidence when being handled. Nice bold black spotting, good bone, pleasing turn of quarters, moved soundly; 3 Ingham's Philpen Dusky Maiden.

PB (8,1) 1 Dunnachie's Dvojica Voulez Vous, lovely puppy, everything to like at her age, good black spotting, nicely balanced, good head, pleasing front & hindquarters, nice legs & feet, good tail, moved & showed well. BP; 2 Neath-Duggan's Buffrey Gift Wrapped, I also liked very much, pleasing head, good bone, legs & feet, nice depth of brisket, good body & rib. Her black spotting was good but she has some tick markings; 3 Smallwood's Lascelles Lady Marmalade.

JB (10) 1 Dore's Daldior Ace Of Diamonds, made on good lines & has quality, moved & showed well, good black spotting, well made hindquarters; 2 Thorner's Tolutim Drambuie, that little better coupled but not as evenly spotted & 1 had the edge on eyes, good thighs, nice legs & feet, good tail; 3 Cheetham's Koroyza Cute As Candy for Dollywood.

YB (8,2) 1 Alexander's Offordale Solitaire, pleasing head though eye could be darker. Good outline leading to splendid tail & hindquarters, nice legs & feet, moved & showed very well; 2 T Drambuie; 3 Thomas' Stewardess Chinook with Philcarthom.

PGB (14,3) 1 Richardson's Pearly Naughty Las at Jomihvar, very pleasing black spotted bitch, made on good lines, good neck, shoulders, front, legs & feet, well spotted, moved well; 2 Navarro's Caldecacre Chuzzlespots, good bold black spotting, good body & brisket. Just carrying a little extra weight over her shoulders. Excellent hindquarters, in very good coat condition, moved out well; 3 Last's Darling Clementine at Lega.

LB (15,2) 1 Smallwood's Mapplewell Dancing Queen of Lascelles, pretty feminine liver, nice head, pleasing for balance & shape, nice hindquarters, moved well keeping her balance; 2 Haywood & Ridgway's Luccombe Hazel Nut Cluster, bold liver spotting, good front, well developed thighs. A bit hesitant standing but moved out well & firmly; 3 Lewis' Hunterswood Razzmatazz.

OB (12,1) Best class of the day. 1 Alexander's Ch Offordale White Lady, elegant, feminine, quality bitch, good head, very expressive, pleasing neck, shoulders, outline & tail, good black spotting, moved & showed well. CC & BOB; 2 Lewis' Ch Hunterswood Tittle Tattle, wonderful at 9 years, the same graceful lines, good black spotting & her coat was in splendid condition, lovely head & expression, moved soundly with purpose. RCC; 3 Moore's Ch Manchando Choc Chip Cookie from Fincham.

FERELITH SOMERFIELD