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Ch. Aldenholme's Gremlin |
Ch. Aldenholme's Mumbo Jumbo |
Aldenholme's Robbina |
| My history with dogs and horses dates back to the approximate age of two. My history with Labradors began in the 1950’s when my best friend Louise and I
decided to get summer jobs in kennels. Up to that point we had been content to
haunt dog shows absorbing knowledge from anyone willing to share it with us.
Those were the great days of two-day benched shows and we arrived when the
doors opened and left when the doors shut, absorbing knowledge like sponges. My particular interest was in Collies (Albert Payson Terhune was in his hay-day) and Louise’s was Smooth Fox Terriers. So, of course, Louise got a job in a wonderful Collie kennel and I was offered one in a kennel full of those plain, black dogs that were still relatively unknown. Yes, almost all were black at that time and unlike today there were so few being shown that breeders often banded together to make points. Entry fees were $2.00. Needless to say, I immediately fell totally in love with Labradors. I was most fortunate and honored to have as my mentor and friend, Barbara Barty- King of Aldenholme Kennels, one of the leading kennels of the day. Joan Read, of Chidley, is another person to whom I owe a great deal and I must also include Dorothy Howe, of Rupert, Charlotte Rockwell of Jonte, and my dear friend Mary Swan of Chebacco. All our dogs to the present day are descended from their bloodlines and through them to the first Labradors brought into this country in the early 1900’s. Thanks to Mrs. Barty-King I received an unparalleled education involving all aspects of the Labrador Retriever - showing, field training, obedience training, pedigrees, breeding and all aspects of kennel work done properly. At Aldenholme, I was allowed to handle the “second string” while Mrs. Barty-King showed “first string.” However, as it is sometimes with children and dogs, I won my first Best of Breed in 1954 with Aldenholme Robbina (a daughter of Chidley Robber). I never looked back. In the 1960’s after school and marriage I knew I wanted to continue Aldenholme lines but unfortunately Mrs. Barty-King was no longer breeding Labs. I managed to find enough of her lines in other kennels to begin breeding and in two generations had what I would consider my foundation. In 1973 I bred my first champion, Ch. Scrimshaw Another Deacon, a grandson of Tweed of Blaircourt and the son of Scrimshaw Mother Carey who went back to all my old favorites from Aldenholme. In 1979 Deacon’s daughter ex Ch. Sandylands Crystal, Ch. Scrimshaw Blue Nun, was the #1 Lab bitch in the US (Kennel Review). She had the distinction of finishing with a Group First from the classes. In 1988 Deacon’s grandson, Ch. CoalCreek’s Gimme A Break was the #1 Labrador in the US. Breaker was co-bred with Debbie Sharpsteen by her Ch. CoalCreek’s Briary Breakthru ex Ch. Scrimshaw My Sin (Blue Nun’s sister). Tanker was owned by other friends, Lillian and George Knobloch. In due time we bred Can.Ch.Scrimshaw Manda Lifeboats to Eng./Am./Can.Ch. Lindall Mastercraft. Manda was by Can. Ch. Scrimshaw Call Mee Ishmael (Ch. Jayncourt Follow Mee ex Scrimshaw Church Mouse, sister of Blue Nun and My Sin) ex Scrimshaw Clearly An Angel UDT, TDX who was herself a sister to Blue Nun and My Sin. The Manda/Mastercraft breedings gave us several champions, hunting titled dogs, obedience title holders, producers of champions, wonderful companions and not least, a guide dog for the blind. This breeding also produced what we consider our “once-in-a-lifetime dog" - Ch. Scrimshaw Duckless Fairbank JH WC. Duckless went on to produce over 100 puppies for Guiding Eyes For The Blind in Yorktown Heights, NY in addition to many champions, show and field winners, hunting dogs, bomb dogs, obedience dogs, trackers, companions, and wonderful, typical Labs. He was a great character who was noted for producing fantastic, positively bomb-proof temperaments, soundness and good looks as well as intelligence and working ability. His legacy lives on in his grandchildren and great grandchildren who are still in evidence today. We are fortunate to still have some of his children with us at Scrimshaw. Throughout the years we have been blessed with many fine dogs, both Labradors and a handful of Smooth Fox Terriers. I am proud to say that we have produced many champions and multi-purpose Labradors both here and internationally. But just as importantly, we have produced generations of mentally and physically sound companions and family pets. You will find more about our history and photos of many of our dogs in “The Book of The Labrador Retriever” by Anna Katherine Nicholas, published by TFH, which is still in print, as well as various other Labrador books and magazines. Although I am now an AKC judge, my husband, John and I still breed one or two litters a year and welcome sincere inquiries and visitors by appointment. |
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Ch. Aldenholme's Robbieson |
Ch. Aldenholme's Juno |
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