General Chairman
Mark Brookshire

Field Trial Chairman
Mike Elsasser and Bill Cosgrove

FT Secretary and Treasurer
Elaine O’Keefe

Judges
George Kittle

Michigan

Dean Koehler

Minnesota

Quick Links

Accommodations

Awards and Trophies

Catalog Advertising

Clothing and Merchandise

Delegates Meeting

Fundraising

Personnel

Photographer

Schedule of Events

Sponsors

National Hosting Rotation

Welcome Letter

Welcome to 2020 NAC Handlers,

Congratulations to all of you for qualifying in the 2020 National Amateur Championship!

Taking into consideration what a challenging year it has been to run in trials, and qualify for the NAC, the 2019 qualifying dogs will also be allowed to enter.   Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we ride the COVID19 rollercoaster!

As we have been navigating the path to the 2020 NAC in Dublin, Ohio, the health and safety of all participants, humans and dogs, is front and center.  It is disappointing to cancel all the social events we look forward to, but it is the right thing to do.  We will have awards at the conclusion of the trial, location and time to be announced during the week, probably outdoors.  The Parent Club High Point awards will be given at this time also.

The grounds have been surveyed, and the agronomist reports have been posted regarding mean seeds. Flags marked where the agronomist found any dangerous plants, and they have been removed.  The survey was done in good faith and on the behalf of our dogs. It is provided to help each handler make informed decisions.

Information for Embassy Suites, the headquarters hotel, and maps to the grounds will be posted here on ESSFT.COM.  The 2020 NAC will begin on December 13^th, and run to conclusion.  Training day will be December 12^th from 10am to 1pm.with birds available for purchase. We welcome our judges George Kittle and Dean Koehler to Ohio, along with Marshal Lussen and Morgan Haglin Co-Captains of the gun team.  There will be ATV’s with designated drivers to help get you to the line on time.  Social distancing and wearing masks are required, except when actively running your dog or when gunners are actively shooting.  In the best interest of everyone involved, if you have any symptoms of COVID19 or do not feel well, do not come to the trial.  We will keep you informed of any changes.

Thank you, and good luck!

Mark Brookshire, Chairman 2020 NAC

STAKES, SCHEDULE AND ENTRY FEES
National Championship Amateur Stake $275.00
8:00 a.m. Sunday, December 13, 2020

ENTER ONLINE AT WWW.HUNTSECRETARY.COM OR MAIL ADVANCE ENTRIES WITH CHECKS PAYABLE TO HUNT SECRETARY TO:

Hunt Secretary LLC
708 CR 3140
Crockett, TX 75835

Note:  Include $8.00 per entry if mailing in entries. Also, if shipping via UPS or FedEx mark “No Signature Required”.

PREMIUM

CLICK Here to go to Hunt Secretary

2020 NAC Premium

ENTRIES WILL CLOSE  AT:
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 at 11:59:59 (Midnight) EASTERN TIME on Hunt Secretary.

DRAWING WILL TAKE PLACE AT:

Drawings will take place at the Event Secretary’s Address at 12:00 PM (Noon) on 12/3/2020.

PLACEMENTS

2020 NOC Placements

Agronomist Reports!

2020 NAC Agronomist Letter and Surveys of Grounds

NOTE:  The PDF must be in full screen so the gray bar appears at the bottom.

This Field Trial is held under Rules and Procedures of the American Kennel Club.

OPEN TO ANY ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL SIX MONTHS OF AGE OR OLDER WHICH HAS EARNED ONE (1) OR MORE POINTS IN AN AMATEUR ALL-AGE STAKE AT AN A.K.C. LICENSED OR MEMBER FIELD TRIAL FOR ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS BETWEEN THE DATES OF November 5, 2018  AND December 2^nd, 2020   OR HAS EVER PLACED FIRST IN THE NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP STAKE FOR ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS OR PLACED IN THE 2019  NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP STAKE FOR ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS.

Personnel
Thank you for Volunteering!

Committee Members –  Bob Fink, Dick Taylor, Ed Haughn, Katie Gorecki,  and Mike Pollack

Gun Captains -Morgan Haglin and Marshall Lussen

Gun Team – Chip Bunker, Donny Pyle, George Akkouris, Mike Young, Steve Collins, and Trent Bosse

Chief Marshal –  Amie Pollack

Marshal Team –  Lisa Pyle, Lori Koehler,  Roxanne Fegley and Wendy Kozal

Bird Supplier – Elk Ridge Game Farm, Bucyrus, Ohio

Game Steward – Monty Kayes

Bird Planter –  Brent LeMaster

Fund Raising – Katie Gorecki, Chair; Cristy Joy, Elaine O’Keefe, Holly Boggess and Jeanne Nabity

Hospitality – Mark Brookshire

Catalog Advertising – Sue Myers

Advertising Letter 2020

Advertising Order Form 2020

Judges
Thank you for Volunteering!

George Kittle

I was born and raised on a farm in Southern Michigan, my father always used pointers for pheasant hunting. As the pheasant population began to decline, pheasants began to seek heavier cover and run, therefore a hard driving flushing dog was the only way to bag pheasants. Our first Springer was a two year old Springer that came from Al Ringenberg and had been trained by Bill Zipp .The springer was not going to make a trial dog but was going to make us a good hunting dog. One of the commitments to getting the dog was to have Bill teach us to handle him. Next thing, I knew, I had bought another dog and began trialing. Like so many others I was hooked.

In 2002, my 1 st apprenticeship was with Ralph Botti and John Hall. Next I was asked by Dean Reinke to apprentice a trial under Alex Stewart and Paul McGagh, all of who I respected then and still do today. I started judging in 2002, since that time, I have been judging trials in the United States and Canada. I have judged the 2010 National Amateur Championship and the 2015 Cocker National Championship.

I take great pride in judging Spaniels and have judged together with many great mentors judges whom, I also respect greatly.

Dean Koehler

My adventures in the spaniel world began in 2003 when I purchased my first field bred English Springer Spaniel. Like many, at the time I “just wanted to have a good hunting dog.” I immediately joined a spaniel training group and began participating in fun trials and hunt tests. At those early hunt tests several people told me that I should steady my dog so we could participate in field trials – and the rest is history.

Within a few years I started a second dog and became active in several spaniel clubs. I currently am president and secretary of the Minnesota Heartland ESS Club, and am a past president of the Minnesota Hunting Spaniel Club. I was president of the 2017 National Open Championship for Springers, and am a past chair of the ESSFTA Midwest Interclub. I have chaired, secretaried, and served on the committees of numerous local field trials, gunned hunting tests and trials, marshalled, carried shag baskets, and helped out wherever I was needed – all the while learning all that I could from the experienced spaniel folks around me.

I’ve had four Springers, and I’ve trained and handled all of them from day one. I’m immensely indebted to the training partners who have mentored me as a trainer – most notably Bill Boeckman, Randy Manore, and the rest of the regular Thursday night training gang at Bill’s. I’ve steadied my own dogs and handled them to Amateur Field Champion and Master Hunter titles, so I know from experience the challenges and rewards of training and handling Springers for success in the field.

It didn’t take me long to get into spaniel judging, and I’ve judged 31 Cocker and 31 Springer all-age stakes in addition to numerous puppy stakes and spaniel hunt tests. I immensely enjoyed judging the 2016 National Cocker Championship held in Minnesota with co-judge Bob Child.

Judging is in my blood, as my father was an accomplished judge of general livestock (beef, sheep and swine) and a coach of livestock judging teams. As a youth I judged livestock and meats in 4-H and FFA competitions, and later participated on the General Livestock and Meats Judging teams at the University of Minnesota. From a young age I learned to judge fairly and impartially based only on the facts before me, and I bring that same approach to field trial judging.

I’m an avid hunter of wild birds, and I rely on this practical knowledge of bird and dog behavior as I judge. Dogs and birds sometimes do unexpected things, and, as a judge, it’s important to use a discerning eye, assume nothing, and maintain a positive attitude toward what is observed in the field. I never lose sight of the fact that our game is a simulation of wild bird hunting. Therefore, while judging, it’s the qualities of a skilled hunting dog that I’m looking for: above all, a good nose, but also efficient ground coverage, skilled marking and retrieving, intelligence, biddability and teamwork, persistence and, when necessary, quick, effective handling. I strive to recognize the positive qualities of each dog, and to treat every dog and handler exactly the same based upon the conditions they encounter.

I am honored to be selected by my peers to judge the 2020 National Amateur Championship, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to judge the best amateur-handled Springers in the land.

Schedule of Events & Maps
Places to Go and Things to Do!

Directions to Training grounds:

Directions to 1st and 2nd Series Grounds:

Accommodations
Host Hotel

Embassy Suites

5100 Upper Metro Pl

Dublin, OH 43017

614-790-9000

The reservation information is as follows

Phone Number 800-220-9219

Reservation code ES 2  or ESSFTA National Amateur Championship

Room Rates $79 per night 2 Queen bed or 1 King Bed Suites

Note  This Hotel normally does not allow dogs in the rooms. They have made an exception for us but there is a $50 fee

Awards and Trophies
National Open Championship Stake

To the Winner:

• The title of “National Amateur English Springer Spaniel Field Champion”
• The title of “Amateur Field Champion”
• The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association National Amateur Challenge Trophy
• Trophy for Permanent Possession
• NFC/NAFC/CNFC Saighton’s Scud National Amateur Challenge Trophy. To be retired by three wins by the same amateur handler.
• The Talbot Radcliffe, Esquire Challenge Trophy. A perpetual trophy to be awarded annually to the breeder of the winning dog.
• Standard A.K.C. Rosette

For Second, Third and Fourth Place Winners:

• Trophies for permanent possession
• Standard AKC Rosettes

To the National Amateur High Point Dog:

• Parent Club Award to National Amateur High Point Dog sponsored by Pro-Plan Performance

Other Trophies

• Don Cande Memorial Trophy for Best Looking Bitch
• Gunner’s Award to the dog the Gun Team would  most like to hunt over”. Donated by ESSFT.COM

Delegates Meeting
Club Dues $75

2020 NAC Agenda

2020 NAC Dues and Delegate Form 2020 V2.0

2020 National Amateur Championship Delegates Meeting: ZOOM

If you want to attend in person, you must be a delegate, wear a mask, and sit socially distanced from others.  The room is large and offers adequate seating to do this. If you can pay your dues and send NAC Secretary Elaine O’Keefe your delegate form in advance, it would be very helpful to minimize contact.

Due to the Covid19 pandemic we will be offering a Zoom meeting, along with the in-person meeting in Dublin, Ohio.  Please contact NAC Secretary Elaine O’Keefe via email only at [email protected] telling me which email you would like a link for the Zoom meeting sent to. Please take note of Zoom etiquette listed below.

1. Please have your device show your name i.e.  John Smith not John’s I pad.
2. Please keep yourself muted unless you are asked to speak.
3. If you have a question please raise your hand (the little blue hand) and if you can, send your message in the chat box.   You will be called on one at a time.
4. Please be mindful that if your video is on we can see you.

At this time, NAC Secretary Elaine O’Keefe has received dues/delegate info from the clubs listed below, if “no delegate” is entered, dues were paid and no delegate was specified. If you want to change that since there is a Zoom meeting, just let her know.

If you have sent your dues/delegate form and you are not listed please contact NAC Secretary Elaine O’Keefe at [email protected] or 608-853-3183.

2019 NAC Agenda 3.0

2021 NAC PROPOSAL Lodi NY

2019 MEETING MINUTES FROM NAC SECRETARY:

2019 NAC FINANCIAL STATEMENT – PROFIT AND LOSS

2019 National Amateur BS & P&L

Catalog Advertising
Support the Nationals!

Advertising Letter 2020

Advertising Order Form 2020

Clothing and Merchandise
Support the Nationals!

NAC Apparel 2020

NAC 2020 Order Form

Fundraising
Help Support the National!

Order your Flags Now!  New this year! You can pay via Venmo @Jeanne-Nabity.

2020 NAC Flag Order Form

Photographer
Smile!

Photography by Geeb

Mark Geebert (aka Geeb)

Congratulations for qualifying for the National Amateur Championship! As part of your entry you are entitled to a 5×7 portrait of your qualified dog.

Portrait sittings start on training day and complete by mid-afternoon of the second day of the trial. I’m usually located some where close to the beginning of the course. Getting the
portrait done on Training Day (even if you are not participating in the training) is a lot less stressful. My general recommendations for getting the best portrait:

• Get the portrait done before running your dog
• Check your dogs appearance. Remove eye goop, burrs, etc…
• Bring your dog’s favorite toy or treat.

Additional portraits or special photos can be done for a fee.

Click Here for Photography by Geeb

Email:  [email protected]

Sponsors
Thank YOU for YOUR support!

Series Sponsors:

Welcome: Mean Seed / Purina

1st Series: Hunt Secretary

2nd Series:  Paragon Farms

3rd Series: Lighthouse Kennels

4th Series: Coldwater Gundogs

5th Series: Good Life Kennels

Water:  The Gun Team

Towel Sponsor: Purina

Bird Planter Sponsor:

Cart Sponsors:  Craney Hill, Triple Ridge Kennels, Whisky River Gun Dogs

Gun Sponsor: Beretta USA

Marshal Sponsors: Robert Montler and Purina

Final Reports
Here are the final numbers!

NEED INFORMATION FROM THE COMMITTEE