Saffronlyn Labradors was established in 2007 with the acquisition of a Black Labrador puppy called Murphy (Swaine Dentanum Of Saffronlyn). Murphy was my foundation stud dog and sired some beautiful litters. His sire was Garronpoint Ross of Drakes head and his Dam was Dearnedike Dolly. Murphy was bred by Graham Elderton of the Swaine Kennels. Murphy was a very good working dog, biddable and a great game finder. He won many awards in the shooting field and in the working classes at shows. He was a great dog for a junior handler both in the field and the ring. Sadly Murphy passed away in 2019 at the age of 12.
My foundation bitch and the mum to my litters was Molly, She was born in 2008 and I brought her home to my kennels in 2011. Her Sire was Danomic Denzel Washington a lovely winning show dog and her dam was Spyhill Partridge a lovely working bitch. The combination of Show and Working Labradors produced some lovely litters with both the looks and the ability to work in the field. Molly unfortunately passed away in 2020 aged 12 years. However one of the litters Murphy and Molly had gave me the opportunity to keep a dog pup (Saffronlyn Swift) Bailey and a bitch pup Dixie (Saffronlyn Skylark). That was in 2013. Both Bailey and Dixie acquitted themselves in the field. Dixie was an exceptionally quick bitch that excelled on runners. Her forte was working on the shoots on live game, she wasn’t thrilled by the canvas dummies in working tests, whereas everything came alike to Bailey and he would pick anything. He won many awards both in the field and the ring. In fact on one working test one of the judges were so impressed with him they used him on one of their bitches and I had a pup from the litter called Abbey (Abbots Leigh Hazel To Saffronlyn). Unfortunately Abbey passed away at a young age before having the opportunity to fulfil her promise. Bailey passed away in 2024 aged 11 years.
Dixie had a litter by FTCH Derrity Mustard Of Balswad in 2017. One of those pups, Saffronlyn Woodcock went to Germany and was made up to International FTCH in 2025. One of her daughters, Silva Nigra Labrador Aphrodite was also made up to International Field Trial Champion in 2026. I am so proud of Lyn and her offspring. From Dixie’s litter
I kept a bitch, Evie (Saffronlyn Capercaillie). She was just like her mum, very quick, which unfortunately was to be her undoing when she lost her life at the age of 3. Out of Evie’s litter, whom I mated her to FTCH Gosberry Governor, I kept a Yellow dog, Ferdy (Saffronlyn Castleway Ferdy). I also bought in a yellow bitch Ada (Molesbreath Ada Of Saffronlyn). Her Sire is FTCH Stauntonvale Moose Milk and her Dam is Eco Girl Of Molesbreath. Both Ferdy and Ada won a few awards in working tests.
In addition to my Labradors I had a Irish Setter called Riley, (Mantafield Red Devil Of Saffronlyn SHCM). Although Riley was showing bred, I instilled work ethics into him and he won many awards in the show ring and had worked a few times on the moors at Reeth in North Yorkshire. Riley was born in 2008 and passed away in 2022 at the age of 14. More recently I bought in a Cocker Spaniel called Rory, (Brutus Amazmia For Saffronlyn). His sire is Falavale Ebor and his Dam is Hear The Echo. Rory’s grandsire FTCH Kiltonbeck Rollo won the Cocker Championship in 2019. Rory loves his work and we go beating on our local shoot throughout the season.
I am a Kennel Club NP judge for retrievers and I recently retired from show dog judging but steward from time to time for the show dogs.
I am an assessor and trainer for The Gundog Club for many years offering one to one and group training including puppies and beginners handlers and dogs to the world of field work and Gundog training.
Thank You
Andrew