FOR Dalmatian members and others able to look back to 1992 or so, it will be impossible not to remember an outstandingly beautiful liver-spotted bitch who became Champion Boval Beginning, and her equally pretty blond and expert owner/handler, Valentina Black.

A line of Boval Champions followed, carefully bred after in-depth study of pedigrees, with temperament at the top of the list. I myself watched another black-spotted dog (Champion Boval Boomerang) win the dog dicket at Buith-Wells (more heavily spotted than Beginning, but with the same wonderful movement and gorgeous head) and decided instantly that I should like to include him in my own breeding programme, if I was permitted to do so.

The Bovals led an idyllic life with Valentina and her husband, Arthur, and I have a treasured personal memory of going down to Devon to discuss pedigrees and offering to lay the table for lunch. “Lovely”, said Valentina, “put four mats out, will you”. Thus it was that I was privileged to see “Deakie” (B Boomerang) take his customary place at meals, standing unmovingly at the table with his head on his mat! “He always liked to take part in everything”, explained Valentina, and he never moved until we had all left the table!

Then, more than four years ago, out of the blue came the brain tumour which was the start of her own ill health. The tumour was cured with a successful operation but, sadly, after some while, this was followed by the cancer which eventually proved fatal. She was particularly pleased to be able to judge Bournemouth before she was prevented from keeping her other appointments.

Despite his own ill health, Arthur has not only kept the house going, but has been at the hospital at every available moment. An added poignant grief to him as been the immediate rush of dogs to the car on his arrival home, to see if Valentina had returned with him. Gradually, last Friday, she drifted in and out of consciousness and, with Arthur at her side, died peacefully at 4 o’clock on Saturday morning, 27th February.

Valentina loved Arthur’s family, particularly the grandchildren, who now live in New Zealand, and spoke of them often and will have left them a great legacy of love.

As far as the dogs are concerned, she was a marvellous exhibitor, a most able judge and worked ceaselessly for the good of Dalmatians, and all dogs, particularly Labradors, which she also owned at one time. A telephone call was all that was required, night or day, if help was needed. Her work on Rescue was invaluable.

Along with her wide knowledge and understanding of the dogs, she and Arthur had established a wonderfully happy home which they did not hesitate to share with others.

We all send our love and sympathy Arthur, and will look forward to seeing you in the future.

Patches Silverstone

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