Two special perpetual trophies celebrating our Dalmatians and was awarded for the first time in 2024. In order to keep commemorating Susan’s memory appropriately , The Susan Gatheral-Graham Trophy will be awarded to the top scoring Liver Dalmatian (Dog or Bitch) achieving the highest score at Championship Shows over one calendar year from 1st January to 31st December. There will be an additional trophy, kindly donated by our Patron, Lord Kirkham, which will be awarded to the top scoring Black Dalmatian (Dog or Bitch).
Who is our Patron Lord Kirkham KCVO?
Our Patron Lord Kirkham KCVO has a long established connection with Dalmatians having bought his first Dalmatian over 50 years ago. Lord Kirkham and his wife Pauline discovered that “we loved Dalmatians and from that moment these friendly athletic, loyal animals became a massive part of our lives” Additionally he states “We love the company of like-minded people too, and the NEDC with its proud, 120 year heritage provided the opportunity to meet new people – nice people – to make friends (2 legged and 4) and to learn more.” Our Patron states “For me, it is a huge honour to be Patron and I wish our club a vibrant, long and happy future promoting a wonderful, fun “spotty breed”.
Lord Kirkham became our Patron in 2003 and has actively and generously supported the NEDC Dalmatian of the Year event, which he and his wife attend annually. In order to honour his unique and longstanding contribution to the Club we introduced an annual award for the Top Winning Black Spotted Dalmatian donated by Lord Kirkham KCVO. It is held for one year presented to the black spotted exhibit gaining the most points in that year.
Lord Kirkham has well established connections in the dog world and was recently elected a Vice President. An Hon. Life Member of the Royal Kennel Club of which he has been a member for several decades, he is also President of Driffield Championship Show Society.
Who is Susan Gatheral-Graham ?
The Phaeland Dalmatian Prefix was first registered in 1932 by Lucy, Susan’s mother,. Lucy had her first Dalmatian, Serena, when she met Colonel Gatheral who exhibited Sealyhams, so both parents were established in dog showing and three of their daughters, Susan, her twin Mary, and Caroline carried on this tradition in different breeds. Born in 1936, Susan started handling the Phaeland Dalmatians in the early 1950s and when her mother died in 1968, Susan took over the Phaeland prefix, even though at that time she had her owner Conyers prefix, which she retained for her Minature Dachshunds. The Phaeland prefix is devised by contracting ‘Phaeton’ and ‘Landau’ (carriages). Phaeland Dalmatians were based very much on line breeding and Susan had many successes. She was very proud of the fact that Ch Phaeland Phishpie was never beaten in puppy classes and this was repeated with Phaeland Phassionfruit.
Bill Gardner very helpfully compiled a list of the 17 champions bred or owned by Susan, 8 bred and 9 owned,over many years. All of her dogs were unique in that she carried on her mother‘ s tradition of their kennel names always being spelt with a Ph – including Phaeland Phishpie. She had an exceptional eye for a good dog and of the 9 owned and made up, one of the most important bitches in her breeding line was Ch. Konavlje Miss Gorgeous bred by Monica Davidson. Others included Ch Delvallie Dark Bronze who sired 12 Champions and Ch Colonsay April Jest who sired 8 Champions, both of whom had an enormous impact on the breed. Additionally, she won additional CC’s with several Dalmatians who carried her prefix giving a grand total of 27 CC winners owned or bred by her. The Phaeland kennel was extremely successful and well respected and is behind several current lines in the UK.
Susan was an incredibly talented breeder and exceptional handler. She was one of those handlers who could take more or less any dog and bring out the very best in dog the how ring. Susan gave advice freely and helped many people; she had firm views on breeding and exhibiting; was kind to many exhibitors and was extremely witty. Her judging career covered over 50 years including Crufts. She carried out a lot of work in the welfare and rehoming of Dalmatians before we had a recognised service and continued when our Club founded a service in 1971.
Susan was active in the NEDC for many years and served as Chairman in the 1980’s and was a Vice President for many years.
Susan was renowned for her love of livers and the colour green so that she inevitably showed on a green lead and all her written correspondence was in green ink. She was a character and a her legacy in Dalmatians lives on. Although Susan lived in Co Durham for many years, in 1991 she married Norman Graham and moved to the Gateshead area where she lived until her death in 2019.
The NEDC introduced the Susan Gatheral-Graham Award for Top Winning Liver Spotted Dalmatian to honour her legacy and her great love of livers. It is awarded and held for year to the Liver Spotted exhibit to win the most points in that year.
How do the points work?
Points will be awarded in both awards as follows:
- 2 for a Challenge Certificate
- 1 for a Reserve Challenge Certificate
In the event of a tie, the number of Best of Breeds will be calculated to determine the awards. Both trophies will be awarded at the AGM held for one year and returned to the next AGM and are confined to NEDC members only, residing in the UK. A keepsake will also be given to those attending who are retiring the trophies.
Susan was throughout her life, a great lover of liver Dalmatians and our Patron Lord Kirkham, has happily owned several black spotted Dalmatians.