In 1978 my parents purchased my first pedigree Labrador Retriever for my 20th birthday - a chocolate dog who was by Cookridge Peat x Briarjay Chicory Charm (a Stormer daughter). His name was Creeting Teak, I called him Rosko.
	Mr Rosko at 8 weeks old
	It was he who gave me my love for this wonderful breed. His temperament was second to none and he had a character to match.
Woooo Hoooo!!!
My showing career began in 1979 when Rosko and I went to an Open show at Clarence Park in Wakefield - unfortunately we weren't placed but continued to attend these 'fun' events. However, it wasn't long before he had his first taste of success, in the form of a reserve placing at the Nidderdale Show in Pateley Bridge - under judge Mr. Harry Dunn
	My mum’s enjoying this but I’m not so sure
	Although Rosko's wasn't a distinguished career in the show ring his finest hour came at Three Ridings Labrador Club Open Show in January 1980 where he won the Cookridge Tango Trophy for Best Chocolate Dog
Aren't I a clever lad then? It's steak for tea today!!!
Sadly Rosko died on 22nd August 1980, of kidney failure, at just over 2 years of age. An experience I have never forgotten and never can as he is behind the name DAKROSS - as to me it means Dark Rosko. Therefore as long as I am in this lovely breed his name will never die.
	Rosko

In 1982 I purchased the affix Dakross and two bitches, both Ch. Fabracken Comedy Star daughters, one was a chocolate (Ravenshall Candle Light of Dakross) who also, unfortunately, died at the age of 2 before I could take a litter from her, the other was a black (Rusland Clover Bud of Dakross) who produced my first ever litter in 1983 which contained the black litter brothers Dakross Kajagoogoo, a big striking lad who won very well at shows including 1 CC and the lovely medium sized dog Sh. Ch. Dakross Masquerade JW who won 3 CC’s, 2 with BOB and 3 Reserve CC’s. These lovely dogs were campaigned throughout the 1980’s with Masquerade finally retiring from the ring in 1995 at the grand age of 12 years and 2 months by winning Best Veteran in Show at NWLRC Championship Show. I owe a great deal to these two lovely dogs, a debt that I know I repaid to them by giving them a long and happy life.

With only keeping males at this time I found that unfortunately I lost my original line and so I looked around at the Kennels which I wanted to start my “second” line with and so the tale carries on:

In 1995 I purchased a 14 month old black bitch from the famous Charway kennel (Charway Ballymary at Dakross). I had two litters from this excellent brood bitch. Both these litters produced me a Show Champion, a brilliant achievement for Mary and me and of course many thanks to the late Janice Pritchard of Charway Labradors for letting me have her.

My first litter from Mary in 1997 was by Ch. Cambremer Tom Cobbley of Charway from which I kept the smashing black dog Show Champion Dakross Daniel Widdon JW (Dan the Man), an upstanding, showy dog who gained Show Champion status at the age of 3 years. An enjoyable dog to own with a superb temperament and a brilliant character.

My second litter from Mary in 1999 resulted in me keeping two cracking little black girls by Rocheby Navy Blue, namely the blues singers Billie Holiday and Etta James! These girls have given me a great deal of pleasure both at home and in the ring, especially Billie (who goes to a lot more shows) she gained her Show Champion title at the age of 5 at her first outing since producing her first litter in 2003, out of Billie’s litter there are two high quality youngsters in the show ring, Mary’s natural ability to produce lovely Labradors is definitely carrying on in her offspring, as long as they can produce the lovely headed, good Labradors that I love then that will do for me!!!

I have made some fantastic friends through my dogs and for that I will be eternally grateful to my lovely four legged kids.

Show Champion Dakross Billie Holiday