Elaine Grummitt - Breed Notes 13/09/2026

What a week it’s been. We’ve all felt such a profound shock at the loss of Our Dogs. It was a part of my life since the 1960’s. I always had the paper delivered. Not only because I’m old, and online just isn’t the same, but it was so nice to be able to leave a little pile of Our Dogs in my guest rooms when I had ‘doggy’ friends to stay.

I was overwhelmed by the number of you who offered support, and said how much you would miss my notes. Thank you all so much.

It will take a couple of weeks to get the new system organised, but Midland Labrador Club are very lucky to have a computer genius, Matt Bordacs, on the committee. Matt will be posting these notes on a dedicated page, hosted by Midlands Lab, together with a link to the RKC Labrador critiques, using a system called a ‘scrape and grab’, which I thought was something gynecological!!!

Having looked at the ways the notes can be done, this is the best way as you will not have to scroll through other posts in order to find the notes, and the notes can also be archived so that you can look back at previous notes. Over the next week or so, Matt will be collating my notes from when I started writing them, so that anyone who is having trouble getting to sleep can read past notes instead of taking a sleeping pill.

As we are now online, I won’t be listing our championship shows in such detail, as you all have access to Higham and Fossedata, and I would just be repeating them. I would still however be happy to report on open show group successes, so please keep them coming. And I will of course also be keeping you up to date with our Labrador folks success with their other breeds.

Our Dogs was never afraid to call out the RKC when the paper felt that it was justified. However, now that the RKC will, through its publishing partner, be the main source of the information that we previously relied on Our Dogs for, it seems that the RKC will now have control of the narrative. Luckily, we have the previous RKC Chairman, Ian Seath, who is not afraid to speak out, and it’s well worth following his dedicated page smellthecoffeewithian for the latest analysis of the RKC and its workings.

 Many congratulations to Pam Druggan on doing the double at Richmond, taking both the CC’s with Balladoole Black Lace BCC & BOB, and A Sense Of Pleasures Hey Jude For Balladoole, DCC.

It was nice to see Claire Mills, who went BP with Lembas Holly. She was able to give us an update on Chris, whom she says is making excellent progress. My goodness he’s made of tough stuff!!!

RDCC was my travelling companion, Maxine Woodley, with Sh Ch Alkhamhurst Prime Shot. Maxine stoically tackled the MI and M25 whilst I just sat back and relaxed in the passenger seat. RBCC, adding to her tally of such awards, was Judith Charltons, Foxrush Hope So. And it was lovely to see Lisa Finney take BV with Carpenny Kipling. Lisa was looking very relaxed after her recent holiday in the Maldives.  

David Craig was our judge, and he judged efficiently and decisively. Such a treat for exhibitors when we don’t have to try and keep our dogs engaged whilst the judge wanders up and down trying to make up their mind. As Mary O’Donahue says ‘they don’t get better the longer you look at them, they just get older’.

Richmond was also a good day for Erica Jayes and Ed Casey over in the English Springer ring, where Sh Ch Sandylands Send The Roses took the BCC and BOB.

Well this weeks notes have mostly been taken up with the change in format, but rest assured, normal service will be resumed next week.

Elaine Grummitt

manorwell@sky.com