Dalmatian of the Year

Date 30 January 2027

Forest Pines, Ermine Street, Broughton, Near Brigg, Scunthorpe DN20 0AQ

Dogs who have qualified

Those dogs that have qualified during 2026 will receive an email confirming their qualification. They will not be required to submit an entry form for the event. All details will be taken from catalogues and previous years’ qualifications. If your details have changed, please contact Alan Smirthwaite, who will be able to update them in the catalogue for you.

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Catalogues 

Catalogues are £3 per copy in advance or £4 on the day. You can order these up till 31/12/2026 via the online form. PURCHASE CATALOGUE

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Dinner Dance Tickets

You can book your Dinner Dance tickets for £42 per person for the Evening Dinner Dance. Ticket booking closes 31 December 2026. Tables are 8 persons per table. (Please be clear on who you would like to be seated with via the booking form). BOOK TICKETS

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Hotel room bookings

Those looking to book a room for Dalmatian of The Year details will need to call the hotel on 0330 1071599 and quote the name and date of the event. Or if booking online this can be done on the Forest Pines website, selecting the dropdown box which says discount code, select: Rate access/corporate code and type DALMATIAN27.

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Timetable of events

8:30am Event Hall opens

9.00am Registration opens

9:45am Registration closes

10.00am Welcome address

Introduction to the ringside of the competitors for Dalmatian Veteran of the Year

Introduction of the Judges to the ringside.

Start of the competitions, in the following order:

Dalmatian Veteran of the Year  

Parade of competitors and presentations

Veteran of the Year Rounds 1,2,3 (if required)

Dalmatian Veteran of the Year Final

Dalmatian Puppy of the Year

Parade of competitors and presentations

Puppy of the Year Rounds 1, 2, 3 (if required)

Dalmatian Puppy of the Year Final

Dalmatian of the Year – Dogs 

Parade of competitors and presentations (Dog Section)

Dalmatian of the Year (Dogs), Rounds 1, 2, 3, (if required),

Dalmatian of the Year -Bitches

Parade of competitors and presentations (Bitch Section)

Dalmatian of the Year (Bitches), Rounds 1, 2, 3, (if required),

Dalmatian of the Year -Final

18.30pm meet in reception

19.00pm sit down for first course

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The Competition

Dalmatian of the year is the North of England Dalmatian Club’s prestigious competition, held in a match format for lucky Dalmatians who have qualified throughout the previous show year.

• Exhibits have qualified for the Puppy of the Year event by winning one or more Best Puppy in Breed awards at a Championship Show at which Challenge Certificates were on offer during 2026, or a Best Puppy in Show award at one of the Open Shows run in 2026 by the various Dalmatian Clubs in the United Kingdom.  The title of the Puppy competition is drawn from the method of qualification, and therefore not all of the exhibits in this competition are still puppies on the day.

• Exhibits have qualified for the Veteran of the Year event by winning one or more Best Veteran in Breed awards at a Championship Show at which Challenge Certificates were on offer and the Society awarded Best Veteran in Breed, during 2026, or a Best Veteran in Show award at one of the Open Shows run in 2026 by the various Dalmatian Clubs in the United Kingdom.

• Exhibits have qualified for the Dalmatian of the Year event by winning one or more Kennel Club Challenge Certificates during 2026.  The dogs and bitches will compete separately until the final pairing for Dalmatian of the Year.

There are a number of rounds within the competition with Dalmatians in direct competition with each other to be chosen by at least two of the three appointed judges to make it through to the next round. The decision of each Judge is kept secret, as is in fact the identity of Judges right up until the competition starts.

The Puppy and Veteran competition is held as a mixed sex competition with the winner of the final round announced as Puppy or Veteran of the Year. The winner of the final round of each of the adult competitions is deemed Best Dog / Best Bitch, they then face each other in one final round with the winner announced as Dalmatian of the Year and the runner up announced as Best Opposite Sex.

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