Exports remained a major feature in the
fortunes of many British kennels, with
America still the favourite destination, but
American owners were becoming more
cautious with only the top three kennels
able to command prices approaching
previous levels. Laund maestro,
Mr W. W. Stansfield, frequently crossed
the Atlantic accompanied by several collies destined for the more prosperous American kennels, but no journey could have been more memorable than the one made in January 1929. Having judged the British Collie Club’s Championship show, where he promoted the puppy Lucason of Ashtead right through the classes to take Best in Show and the Challenge Trophy, he set sail for America accompanied by six collies, including Lucason’s litter brother Jeanson of Ashtead, now renamed Laund Loyally. Arriving only days before the Westminster Show, where Mrs Ilch had entered Loyally, unregistered, using the name Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven, where he took the American show world by storm, writing Collie history in the process, by annexing the Best in Show award at the tender age of 9 months, the only Collie, and the first puppy to gain this accolade. Loyalty, as we must now call him, never gained his American title as Mrs Ilch considered this win of sufficient importance to withdraw him from further competition. Three months later the litter brother, Lucason of Ashtead, joined the Bellhaven kennel, and on his debut at the Garden the following year whilst not quite emulating his illustrious brother, did add Best of Breed, and a 2nd in the Working Group, gaining his American title, in addition to exerting a lasting influence over future generations.
