September 18, 1951
FC Dolobran's Spook x Dolobran's Mighty Mite

The winner's Story from December 1960 Retriever Field Trial News. "Smoke" wasn't given much pre-trial consideration at the 1960 National. He was run in several trials in 1959, but his wins were in the Amateur stakes. It wasn't until the Western Montana Trial in September 1960 with only thirteen entries he finally qualified for the National. He had not been doing well, and owner Richard Hecker had threatened to retire the dog.

Smoke was not the ball of fire a few years ago, but his tail never stopped wagging as he gayly swam for water retrieves and ran on the land. Whatever toll age had taken on his previous tremendous drive was more than offset byhis ever increasing wisdom. We have always contended that the combination of Smoke and Dick Hecker was, a tough team to beat.

Smoke ran a splendid trial. In the critical 10th, 11th, and 12th tests, where a mistake could ave been fatal, Smoke just didn't make any. But as in any other National, he did not beat every dog in every test, but at the conclusion of the stake, the five time double header winner was declared the Champion of 1960. He ended his field trial career with 158.5 Amateur points and 110.5 Open points, which were under an Amateur handler. He finished his AFC in August 1956 and the FC in May 1957. Smoke qualified for five National Opens and five National Amateurs. In addition to the open win he was a National Amateur finalist in 1958 and again in1959.

Smoke sired four titled offspring. Two of his daughters FC-AFC Frances Fishtail and FC-AFC Bean Ball were also National competitors.

Contributed to Working Retriever Central! by Richard Halstead, Lino Lakes, Minnesota.

(Statistics are from The Labrador Retriever Club 1956-1961, The Handbook of Amateur Retriever Trials 1951-1961, 1941-1995 Retriever Field Trial Staticstics by Sue Reynolds, and the offspring list Gooddoginfo.com )