Elaine Grummitt - Breed Notes 27/9/26

A busy day over in Northern Ireland. Erica Jayes and Ed Casey’s Sh Ch Berlan Get Up And Go At Sandylands joined an elite group when he became one of only three Labradors to win 2 CC’s in one day, under two different judges. The other two being my own and Anne Dempsey’s GB Sh Ch, Ir Sh Ch, Rom Ch, Int Ch, Dromtacker Made To Order, and Caroline Campbell’s Sh Ch Binnaig Sea Salt. He took his first at Belfast under Jill Peak, where he also went BOB, and the second under Mary O’Donahue at The Labrador Club Of Northern Ireland, where he went BIS. Congratulations to Erica and Ed.

 Congratulations also to Barry Brackner, whose  Brupurhat Star In Sight gained her crown under Jill Peak and is now Sh Ch Brupurhat Star In Sight, (subject to RKC confirmation).

Other winners at Lab Club Of NI were RDCC & BV Naimh Callaghan’s Ir Sh Ch Victor Victoria’s Royalty At Bannabeach. BCC Leah Givan’s Sudeo Our One And Only. RBCC Cyril South’s Ir Sh Ch Roselieve Rolling In The Deep. BPIS Sue Merrill’s Zephan Hello My Lovely From Gostwyck.

All results from Belfast are on Fossedata, and Tracy Douglas will be posting full results from Lab Club Of NI shortly.

Sunday saw Three Ridings Labrador Club Open Show, where the judge was Emily Evans. BD & BIS was Rachel Pattisons Dysonleigh Titan For Pattilands. RBD & RBIS Mac Percival’s Ch Wynfaul The Wizard JW. BB & BOS Judith Charlton’s Foxrush Hope So JW. Mac also took BPIS with Wynfaul Tango. BVIS went to Anthony Allen & Linda Hess’s Am Ch Tampa Bay & Eagle Pond Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, and BBPIS was her daughter, Allenie Tampa Bay Beatrice, also owned by Anthony and Linda.

Now that autumn is here, a reminder that Horse Chestnut Conkers are toxic to dogs. Their poison, aesculin, can cause vomiting, stomach pain, tremors and seizures. They give off a scent which makes then attractive to dogs, and their hard shiny appearance also makes them an attractive plaything, bringing with it the added risk of choking.

On a very sunny Saturday yesterday,  myself and Linda Haslam, together with a car full of puppies made  the trip to Michael and Judi Neachells lovely house, where they were hosting a ringcraft class run by Sutton Coldfield and District Canine Society. This was just one of many events that Michael and Judi have generously hosted this year, and as usual, the fields were  immaculately mown, the garden looked stunning, and the set-up perfect. Michael must spend a great deal of time playing on his groundcare equipment, aided of course by his right-hand man, Kyle Bridgman. It was very educational for the puppies to meet other breeds, and quite a surprise that not ALL dogs are Labradors.

Finally……there is SO much controversy surrounding the RKC’s decision to have three judges for our breed at Crufts. With Moa Persson taking on Good Citizen, Minor Puppy, Puppy, Field Trial and Special Working of both sexes. The RKC need to clarify how this will work in relation to the unbeaten dog rule. Who will be responsible for judging best puppy. What if you enter your puppy in puppy and junior and it wins puppy but is unplaced in junior. So many variables. I can see the thinking behind it, but the RKC seems to be fixing a problem that doesn’t exist. I can’t remember a time when the Labrador didn’t make it to the big ring in time for the group. That being said, we are lucky to have such an experienced and respected judge as Moa Persson to judge some of the classes and I think we should reserve judgment until we see how this system works.

All we need now is for the RKC to see sense, and allow exhibitors to purchase early exit passes, which would ease the dreadful rush for the car park at 4pm, and the awful traffic jams at the exits. And I actually think that MORE people would visit the trade stands if they could get their dogs settled in their vehicles and then shop in comfort, knowing that they won’t have to lug the showing paraphernalia AND their purchases back to their cars. A lot of exhibitors don’t visit the trade stands at the moment because they don’t want to leave their dogs unattended on their benches.