Country of origin: United Kingdom Country of residence: USA Registration: AKC 917271, Vol 51-3 sired 23 litters; pure for black
Eng. & Am. CH. Banchory Trump of Wingan was owned by Jay Carlisle and trained by his legendary gamekeeper and kennel manager, Dave Elliot. The photograph is courtesy of Mr. Elliot's book, The Labrador Retriever, published in 1936. Banchory-Trump
What is most interesting is to compare the early representative dogs in this country to the representative dogs of today. Trump had obviously received his Championship both here and in England, and no doubt was considered a proper Labrador during his lifetime -- in both countries. Notably, comparing his overall type to dogs of today, Trump could certainly be mistaken for a good looking modern field trial dog, but Trump would hardly be the type of dog you would see today in the ring.
We can learn from this. Those of us who have faulted field trialers for creating a "distinctly American type" better take a hard look at this photograph. If any area of the fancy has preserved the original Labrador, it is today's trialers! Likewise, Trump resembles the English field trial dogs of today far more than he does today's English bench dogs.
All the more reason for a detailed, thorough and comprehensive standard. Unfortunately present breeders of the extreme "English style" show dog today have substantially modified the Labrador, into a rather cumbersome, non-athletic and certainly non-sporting dog. There is not a scintilla of evidence that this "English style" somehow possesses "original breed type." It is nothing more than a modern, passing fad. Yet it remains memorialized by many of us, wrongly, as the true Labrador.
I agree that overall breed type has vastly improved since Trump's era. I prefer a dog with more substance than he as well. But we have taken our obsession with substance to the point where it could rightly be considered "substance abuse." We have long forgotten that Labradors are retrievers first and foremost.
Yes -- retrievers. Dogs that make for a pretty picture at a Specialty should not be our sole criterion. If you have to pursue a single purpose, then maintain the breed's purpose, nothing else. Thankfully many of us are captivated with doing much much more than that.
Eng Sh CH Am CH Banchory Trump of Wingan (grandsire of Dual CH Grangemead Precocious and FC Pickpocket for Deer Creek)
The ninth dog, Banchory Trump, stayed in England until he finished his show championship. After coming here, he finished his American show championship with Best of Breed wins at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and at the Labrador Retriever Club Inc. specialty.
He won numerous Bests of Breed awards and placed in the group several times.
His Best of Breed winning streak included several very competitive shows:
Morris & Essex, 5/23/1936 The Labrador Retriever Club Inc, 6/27/1936 - Best In Specialty Show Morris & Essex, 5/29/1937 The Labrador Retriever Club Inc, 6/18/1937 - Best In Specialty Show Westminster Kennel Club, 2/10-12/1938 International Kennel Club, 4/2-3/1938 Leavenworth Kennel Club, 4/27-28/1938 - Best Of Breed and Group 3rd Des Moines Kennel Club, 11/12-13/1938 - Best Of Breed and Group 4th Trump sired females that passed on excellent genetics. Bred to CH Bancstone Lorna of Wingan he produced Huron's Lady, the mother of Dual CH Grangemead Precocious. When he was bred to a daughter of Eng FTCh Banchory Varnish of Wingan he produced Peggy of Pheasant Lawn. Peggy was the mother of FC Pickpocket for Deer Creek and Bancstone Dinah, grandmother of NFC AFC Massie's Sassy Boots. |