This is the first Labrador we bought whose name was Shrubbins Behe'moth. He was by a dog called Cornlands Black Joker, one of Mrs Peggy Rae's dogs. We bought him in 1985. We had great fun showing him at local exemption shows
After 'Sam' one dog soon became two and two became four. Before long we were up to half a dozen Labradors which were blacks and yellows.
The lines were diverse consisting of Cornlands, Trenow Rocheby and Sandylands.
We both have the same opinion of what qualities we like to see in a Labrador...a good overall conformation with natural intelligence and good looks.
We have gone on to produce our first Champion 'Ch. Saranden Saboteur JW' who was made up to Show Champion at the age of sixteen and a half months.
Saboteur has also produced two fine Champions....
Sh Ch Suttonpark Manifesto JW who was CC and Best of Breed winner at Crufts 2006, and Spanish Ch Chelmscote Star Struck for Saranden JW.
Everyone who knows us and sees us at shows
is very familiar with our son Cameron.
They have watched him grow and are always suprised
when they realise how old he is. Time flies!!
He is very seldom absent from any of the shows,
from Crufts to local open shows.
I think most of us could boast owning their first Labrador in the 60's, which when you work backwards, would have put some of us at maybe 2 or 3 years old!!! This really is the case for us though in actual fact, my parents had a Labrador in the sixties which was bought from a breeder in Kent. He was big and black and we called him Ringo! The Beatles were the biggest thing in the music world at the time, so he could have been called any one of them, but I do recall my mum saying that Ringo was her favourite!!
Over the years in my family as well as Sarah's family we have also had German Shepherds, which at the time in the 70's were still called Alsations. Sarah's parents have an affix in the Cat Fanciers Association which is Betron of which they had bred and shown Persian cats, so inevitably, we were both destined to continue with our passion of dogs and showing.
Our first Champion
Ch. Saranden Saboteur JW
'Abot'
A judging appointment in Italy. The Champion class winner.
Myself and Co Judge Chris Bailiss of Tissalian Labradors
I am on the B list for judging Labradors
Dennis McLellan
Saranden puppies going for a spin
We enjoy taking photo's of other labradors and other breeds to try and capture that "wow" or "aahh" response.
Here are a few photos we have taken of other peoples dogs. The Labradors are owned by our friend
Ena Green of Kandicreme Labradors.
The American Cocker is owned by our friend Alison Mullins, taken while we were at an evening show.
One of my favourite photo's is of our friends Paul and Jannette Yarrow's Brittany "Poppy" taken while we were in Scotland.
Dennis McLellan
Dennis McLellan
Dennis McLellan
Most people who know me, realise how much I enjoy taking photo's. Changing the background, or removing leads from photo's (that I have taken, and own) This gives me a great deal of satisfaction.
In this photo, I added the background of the river which is at Friday Woods in Colchester and then changed the background texture using a photo program. I find the whole process very therapeutic.
