C E L E B R A T I O N    2 0 0 3    

B E L V O I R   C A S T L E

Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, is the family home of the 11^th Duke and Duchess of Rutland. The Labrador Retriever Club celebrated the breed’s 100th anniversary of Kennel Club registration on June 7-8 2003 in the surrounding parklands of the Castle. The Labrador birthday bash coincided with the 300^th anniversary of the Dukedom granted by Queen Anne for services rendered to the state during the reign of William of Orange. The Duke himself is a Labrador owner with a passion for hunting and shooting. On this occasion the LRC demonstrated the versatility of the breed. The displays included a championship show, field and working trials, a parade of champions, guide dogs for the blind etc. A seminar discussed breed standards and their relevance to the present-day Labrador. The evening saw a champagne reception followed by a  hog roast with Caribbean music. The weekend celebrated all facets of the breed. It brought together some thousand people from the show and working worlds.

             Cornlands Labradors at the Parade of Champions               Photo: Dr. Kraft