The Labrador Retriever Kennel Club
A Celebration of Fifty Years
Synopsis
The Labrador Retriever Kennel Club (LRKC) has embarked
on an ambitious exercise to celebrate the first
fifty years of the Club’s existence. Regrettably,
in the pre-digital era, there was a reliance on
those pioneers of the breed to record the early
days of the LRKC, the dogs, the members and the
club activities, committees came and went and, inevitably,
some history was lost over time. However, 2008 and
the 50th Anniversary of the LRKC provided an ideal
opportunity to create a Celebratory Book to record
for posterity what information, history and records
are available – be they anecdotal or formal
records. The book is to be modelled on a similar
publication that was generated by the Labrador Retriever
Club (of England) to celebrate its 75 year anniversary.
For Labrador owners and anyone
interested in the breed it is important to be reminded
of the origins of the Labrador. There are many versions
given in the numerous existing books on Labradors
but the LRKC book commences with a useful and insightful
summary of the various theories with respect to
the world’s most popular dog.
From the arrival and development
of the breed in England we move to the arrival of
Labradors in South Africa and first registrations
with the KUSA, before introducing George Jenkin,
the Club’s founder and a World War II hero
who dedicated his life to Labradors. The Club is
fortunate because George provided a handwritten
version of his recollections of the LRKC’s
foundation and its early days (including the politics!)
before he died in 2007.
In the next chapter those dogs
and kennels are highlighted that have had the most
significant impact in South Africa and laid the
foundation of a breed that now consistently ranks
in the top three most numerous registrations with
the KUSA. Reviewing the more recent and current
kennels, one continues to see how certain British
bloodlines have stood the test of time and also
how our breeding has been strengthened by imports
from different parts of the world including the
USA.
The origin of Field Trials is described
together with the role of the LRKC in establishing
Retriever Trials in South Africa, an activity essential
both to the past of the Labrador and to its future.
After an outline of the early working tests, the
book contains some fascinating anecdotes from the
early years and the challenges that were faced by
the organisers of these events. This chapter provides
a very useful introduction to retriever field trials
for readers who are unfamiliar with an activity
that has become synonymous with the breed and been
around almost as long as Labradors.
The other key activity enshrined
in the Club’s Constitution is the holding
of breed shows to evaluate the conformation of South
African Labradors, and chapter six provides an outline
of the purpose and structure of such events. Most
often it is the top show winners who will have the
greatest influence on the breed’s future quality
and development and descriptions of some of the
top dogs are given. To understand the key breed
characteristics that a judge looks for in the show
ring, refer to chapter eight for an excellent pictorial
presentation of the Labrador breed standard.
The book continues with a description
of the breed’s versatility. One of the Labrador’s
best known roles is that of guide-dog for the blind
and the LRKC’s long relationship with the
South African Guide-Dogs Association is described.
There are also some accounts about other important
functions or roles that Labradors have fulfilled
in South Africa.
The book concludes with a comprehensive
selection of breeders’ advertisements and
a useful section giving the pedigrees of the influential
dogs in South African going back several generations.
If you would like to advertise in the book please
click
here to download the necessary
documentation.
This book is a must for all LRKC
members and indeed anyone who owns or has an interest
in Labradors.
By Mike Holman