Jane Rawlinson
I have been involved with Labradors and showing for over 36 years. I started at the age of 12 helping a local breeder exercise and show her dogs and very quickly persuaded my parents to allow me to have my own Labrador. My first show dog was Sh Ch Midnight Mystery, who was by Ch Lawnwoods Midnight Folly out of a Cambremer bitch. As well as showing we also competed in Obedience competitions.
Dogs have always been fundamental to my life, having met my husband at a dog show and for the last 20 years I have worked for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, initially as a trainer, but currently as a Puppy Training Supervisor, which entails working with public volunteers who raise guide dog puppies from the age of 6 weeks to 12 months. It is a very rewarding job.
We were very lucky to have Didi Hepworth as our friend and mentor and our foundation bitch was Poolstead Pandamonium at Halshimoor, from which most of our current stock descends. She produced Halshimoor Winter Wishes at Fullwell, who was the mother of the brothers Sh Ch Fullwell Freebooter at Halshimoor, Sh Ch Fullwell Frolic at Halshimoor, who won 30 CC’s between them. We have also enjoyed considerable success with Sh Ch Wilsbury Wildfire at Halshimoor and Sh Ch Fullwell Fly High at Halshimoor. We have won CC’s at Crufts and Best In Show at the Centenary Labrador club . In total, we have made up 11 UK Labrador champions and one Parson Russell Terrier. Winning over 85 CC’s in the process and numerous RCC’s and Junior Warrants.
Showing is very much a family concern, with my husband also involved in showing/judging and our daughter, Lucy, who by the age of 14 made up her first champion (Sh Ch Fullwell Fair Trade at Halshimoor) and regularly handles for a number of top UK kennels – Fabracken, Carpenny and Seatallan. I have been fortunate to judge Labradors all over the world, including Australia, Russia, Japan, Italy, Germany and France to name a few. I am currently a committee member of The Labrador Retriever Club. I am always interested to assess the quality of exhibits in different countries and to understand what local breeders are considering important. I am really looking forward to judging in Sweden as the quality of some of the kennels is known throughout the world.
Shaun Williamson
I have been involved with showing and breeding Labradors for over 28 years. I started originally as a junior handler along with my late sister Sharon, hence my affix “Sharouns” One of my very first dogs, Strinesdale Crispin of Sharouns, bred by the late Fred Balshaw, taught me so much about the breed and together we had a considerable amount of success.
To date I have owned 5 UK Show Champions,4 of which I bred. Sh Ch Sharouns Trademark JW, Sh Ch Sharouns Incognito JW, his full brother Sh Ch Sharouns Illusionist JW ShCM, Sh Ch Sharouns Pandora JW and Sh Ch Harrop Happy Go Lucky to Sharouns JW ShCm, who also did well in group competition. I have also had the privilege of owning champions from other countries who have won top awards in the UK , JKC Ch Bloom of Trackerhouse and ES/Gi IB Ch Kowalski Buffalo Bill, both of whom where a credit to their breeders and adapted well to the UK weather !
In addition, I have bred several CC winners and res cc winners, many of which have gained their Junior Warrants.
I have been fortunate to judge at most of the UK Labrador breed clubs and awarded my first “CCs” at Cotswold and Wyvern LRC in July 1998 and have awarded “CCs” on a regular basis since then. I have been privileged to have been invited to judge Labradors in several overseas countries including Australia, Italy, USA, Japan, Germany, Holland, Ireland and Russia and more.
My next appointment in the UK will be to judge Crufts Labrador Bitches in 2018, something that has always been beyond my wildest dreams, I am very honoured by this appointment.
So back to 2017, when in July I shall be visiting Sweden to judge at your Club Show, something I feel grateful to have been invited to do. I am hoping for a fine day, good sportsmanship and some happy Labradors of good quality! See you soon.