19/3/07
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rare Labrador Scoops Historic Win
A RARE dog related to the first ever Labrador to arrive in Scotland has become the first in the historic line to win a top sporting prize.
Just months after the breed was successfully reintroduced, the Duke of Buccleuch’s black Labrador Buccleuch Opal won the Novice Grouse Trial at the Allargue Estate in Aberdeenshire.
It is the first time a dog of this pedigree has competed in any trial.
The prestigious Buccleuch Labrador bloodline has been continuous since it first began with Buccleuch Ned in 1882.
The line survived despite being almost wiped out by the start of the Second World War, quarantine restrictions and a distemper epidemic in 1948.
Now with the help of champion field trial trainer David Lisett, the rare line has been successfully restored and has been trained to competition standard.
Yesterday (Tues), Mr Lissett, a member of the Scottish Gun Dog Team, said he was delighted Opal, known as Moss to her friends, had done so well.
He said: “It is always really rewarding when one of our dogs does so well and I am proud of them all.
“This was extra special as Opal was the first Buccleuch Black Lab to win at a trial – she got off to a great start and I hope this was the first of many successful trials for her”.
In the 1830’s, the 5th Duke of Buccleuch was one of the first people in Britain to import dogs from Newfoundland to use as gun dogs on his Scottish estates.
A strong bloodline developed beginning with Buccleuch Ned in 1882 and Buccleuch Avon in 1885 and all Buccleuch Labradors can be traced back to those first imported dogs.
While Buccleuch Labradors were primarily working dogs and never competed, their bloodline has formed the ancestry of many champions, including the first Labrador to be placed at a retriever championship – FTCh Flapper in 1906.
Roy Green, Buccleuch Sporting Manager said he was confident David Lisett would help bring the exclusive Buccleuch breed back to full strength.
He said: “They are really special dogs and require someone special to help them achieve all they are capable of.”
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