Levenghyl Field Trial Champions at the 2009 IGL Retriever Championship
L2R: Levenghyl Bee of Featherfly, Levenghyl Silvercloud of Drakeshead, Levenghyl Lionheart,
Levenghyl Beetle, Levenghyl Peacock, Levenghyl Sun Dancer
Peter Bates’ Levenghyl Line of Labradors is the result of an exceptional labrador bitch, FTCh Glenpatrick Eve. She was the bedrock of the Levenghyl line. For over 15 years Peter Bates has achieved and continues to achieve excellence in his line of Levenghyl Labradors by meticulous breeding and training. His method of producing the finest gundogs is simple, breeding determines health, potential and aptitude while training brings it all to fruition.
A chance conversation between Peter Bates and John Castle in 1998 resulted in Peter buying Glenpatrick Eve as an 8 week-old puppy from John. She grew up with Peter’s home bred cocker spaniels Toby and Mille. Glenpatrick Eve showed extraordinary qualities very early on. With her ability, the exceptional training opportunities and Peter’s enthusiasm she became a legend.
The chance for bitches to have the same opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to produce champions is harder than for a prolific stud dog. However breeding history has shown that Glenpatrick Eve had a major influence. Glenpatrick Eve was born in 1999, she was by FTCh Garedon Captain (who won the 1998 IGL Retriever Championship) and out of FTCh Glenpatrick Halo. FTCh Glenpatrick Eve was 3rd in IGL Retriever 2001 Championship. When Peter Bates put her to FTCh Willowyck Ruff, FTCh Pocklea Adder, FTCh Hamford Zealot and FTCh Strad Benis she produced 9 champions. An astounding fact is that out of 54 entries in the 2009 IGL Retriever Championship, 6 of them were progeny from Glenpatrick Eve.
(In the above photograph of the 2009 IGL Retriever Championship, the dogs pictured were out of three different litters.)
“My dream is to breed a labrador that can both win trials and produce progeny of the highest health standard, temperament and working ability.” Says Peter Bates founder and owner of the Levenghyl Line
Peter Bates’ Levenghyl line remains strong and healthy, with homebred pups in training the hopes and dreams of producing future Levenghyl Field Trial Champions is the driving force at the Levenghyl kennels. FTCh Levenghyl Malusi and OFTW Levenghyl Rock n Roll are competing and standing at stud.
Some more significant bitch lines
A well used stud dog will normally have more opportunity to prove their worth as a producer but it is harder for bitches to have the same opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to produce champions. However, there are some bitches which have certainly proved to have more of a significance on the next generation than might normally be expected whether quite tightly line bred or less so. This is in spite of the difficulties in ensuring time to fit in breeding, allowing some normal seasons (rather than risking the possible side effects of chemical suppression or delay of seasons that can occur) and still allow time for training and competition and being able to take a bitch to her title. It is the opinion of many that quality comes through the bitch line.
When Eve was mated to F.T.CH. Strad Benis she produced F.T.CH. Levenghyl Peacock for Jamie Bettinson and when mated to Willowyck Ruff she produced the FT.CH. Littermates Levenghyl Bee of Featherfly for Phil Highfield, Levenghyl Cranefly for Tess Lawrence and and Levenghyl Beetle for Claire Raymond. When mated to FT.CH. Pocklea Adder three more FT.CH. littermates were produced, Levenghyl Silvercloud of Drakeshead for Sandra Halstead and Levenghyl Sun Dancer for Mr S Richardson and Levenghyl Lionheart for Peter Bates.
Produced by kind permission from:
Labradors 2010 Champions for the New Millennium by Gary Johnson & Dr Isabella Kraft