The Trendlewood kennel was founded in 1978. At the time we lived in a new house in an area called ‘Trendlewood’ near Stapleton in Bristol.  As often happens we purchased our first Labrador as a pet and a walking companion. She was the very last puppy in a litter of 10. She had previously been sold & the purchaser had backed out at the last moment. We named the puppy Elsa after the Born Free lioness. By sheer chance,  luckily she was well bred, her dam was a Suddie bitch bred by the late Frieda Simmonds and her sire was Ramah Blazon (by Sh Ch Sandylands Blaze). Elsa grew into quite a good show labrador although she did not quite merit being entered in the Yellow Labrador Club Championship Show for her first ever outing ! She did prove to be a very good foundation bitch as all our stock goes back to her in a direct line of bitches—we are now on our 7th generation.

Echodale Panglima as was her KC name was mated to Sandylands Sovereign of Suddie and from that first litter we kept Trendlewood Early Bird who produced Trendlewood Astra when mated to Sh Ch Trewinnard Not Likely.  Astra went on to win a CC and RCC.

Astra’s first litter to Sandylands April Fool produced our own Trendlewood Diva, who has just gone at 15 years old, and Trendlewood Distinction of Trewinnard who was exported to Holland where he sired two Champions.

Diva was mated for the last time to the famous Poolstead Pretentious at Rocheby, she only produced 2 pups one of which is our Trendlewood Take That - our first stud dog.

One of the first bitches Take That mated was Chris & Claire Mills' Jugaren Moonlight Melody. A puppy from this litter was kept and mated to Sh Ch Sandylands Gad About the result being the prepotent dog Lembas to the Moon and Back.  Take That has a number of lovely sound progeny in the show ring at the moment - the latest being Keenes Take Thyme & Flower Power.

Trendlewood Take That also sired Without a Doubt at Lyndhurst to a Heatherbourne bitch.  He was co-owned with Mrs Ivy Hurst and easily won his Junior Warrant.

Elsa

Our first foray into blacks was mating Diva to Sh Ch Balrion Kings Ransom from which we kept Trendlewood Reine. She was exactly what we wished for so typical, harsh dense double coat, perfect otter tail and a wonderful naughty Balrion character. She danced in the ring just like her father! She is still well, now nearly 13 years old. She had 3 litters the best being her first to Ch Sandylands My Guy which contained our Trendlewood Double Silk a RCC winner and the Mills' foundation bitch Trendlewood Midnight Silk. In her litter to ShCh Ramsayville Raindance she produced our Trendlewood Rainstorm who in turn sired our lovely Trendlewood Catatonia. sadly Rainstorm died of cancer in 2002 aged only 5 years.

Trendlewood Double Silk has been an outstanding brood bitch, producing Trendlewood Blue Velvet (dam of Catatonia and Dido) and Trendlewood Rhythm n Blues in her first litter to Rocheby Navy Blue then Trendlewood Perfect Day and Beautiful Day in her litter to Corn Barley. When she was line bred to Lembas to the Moon and Back she produced the three Rolling Stones sisters, Play with Fire, Dandelion and Ruby Tuesday

See our Girls page for photo of 4 generations of blacks