English Springer Spaniel Field Trials

2024 ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL NATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

PINCKNEYVILLE, ILLINOIS| DECEMBER 9, 2024 TO CONCLUSION | ENTRY FEE $325.00| 2 POINTS

Placements

1st: NFC Windrifts What a Lulu MH “Lulu”

O/H: Chad Betts

2nd: FC AFC Absolute’s Brutus Maximus “Maxx”

O: Bob Davis
H: Dan Murray

3rd: FC AFC Cattails Stella Artois MH “Stella”

O/H: Amelia Baxter

4th: FC AFC Cattails Lovesick Blues “Hank”

O/H: Amelia Baxter

BEST AMATEUR HANDLER

Chasin’ Tules Quick To The Gun Johnny Ringo “Johnny”

O/H: Phil Lincoln

CERTIFICATE OF MERITS

2xNFC FC AFC Rockey’s Solo “Solo”

O: Chuck Cloninger
H: Jason Givens

FC CNFC Coldwater’s Spark will Fly “Sparky”

 O: Todd Allen
H: Clay Earl

GUNS AWARD SPONSORED BY ESSFT.COM

Rinn Seimhne Maximus “Max”

 O: Paul Noyce
H: Alex Cacchio

2024 National Open Champion

*Placeholder For #1 Dog Photo*

NFC Windrifts What a Lulu MH “Lulu”

Owner/ Handler: Chad Betts

Welcome letter

We welcome you to the 2024 US National Open English Springer Spaniel Championship! Our team has worked hard to provide an outstanding event with detail to ground, game and amenities. 

Kindly review the schedule of events for the training, delegates meeting, trial series locations and social events. All callback and trial information during the event will be posted on www.essft.com and on Facebook social media essft links. 

All we ask is for everyone to enjoy the dogs, enjoy yourselves and above all as my friend Camie said many times remember to smile at your dog!

All the best,

Jim Keller
Field Trial Chairman 

 

Entry information

national team members

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
JIM KELLER 

PRESIDENT
MIKE NOLAN

VICE PRESIDENT
GARY RIDDLE

VICE PRESIDENT
RAY HANKINS

FT SECRETARY AND TREASURER
MHARI PESCHEL

JUDGES
BILL COSGROVE
OHIO
GEORGE AKKOURIS
CONNECTICUT

Field Trial Committee Members – Jim Keller (Chairman), John Dunn, Amelia Baxter, Ted Lagala  Morgan Haglin,  Dan Lussen, Kevin Martineau, Gary Riddle, and Todd Stelzer 

Grounds Committee Members – John Dunn, Amelia Baxter,  Morgan Haglin,  Dan Lussen, Gary Riddle,  and Todd Stelzer  

Gun Captains -Marshall Lussen

Guns– Trent Bosse, Chip Bunker, Mike Mocniak, Kevin Reinhart, Josh Riddle, Mike Young and Pete Zueleger

Marshals – Deb Olszewski (Head Marshal), Cristy Joy, Suzanne Smith, Mhari Peschel

Bird Planter – Don Manning

Game Steward – Kevin Martineau

Bird Provided By:  Elk Ridge Game Farm – Mike Wilson

Steward of the Beat – Kevin Martineau

Official Photographer – Mark Gebert

Catalog Advertising – Connie Kieckhefer

Catalog Editing – Mhari Peschel, Connie Kieckhefer, Megan Doleschy, and Sue Myers

Catalog Printing – Digital Edge

Fundraising, Clothing & Merchandise -Kevin Martineau

Graphic Design – Sue Meyer

Hospitality –Ted Lagala

Training Coordinator – Gary Riddle

Trophies and Ribbons – Mhari Peschel and Mike Nolan

Website – Holly Boggess and ESSFT.COM

SCHEDULE

Maps to the Grounds

Grounds / agronomist report

Illinois Botanizer (Chris Benda) will be conducting the Agronomist Report.  John Dunn will oversee.

November 11, 2024: Received updated report from the committee.

Delegates meeting

The Annual Meeting of the National English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association will be held on
Saturday December 7, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at the Rend Lake Golf Resort, 11712 E. Windy Lane, Whittington, IL 62897.

Lodging - Headquarters Hotel

Rend Lake Golf Resort – Whittington, Illinois

If they stay longer than the week I can pro rate the days over.

The up and down manor will be the price of a 2bedroom\2 bath condo. The cabins will be $220 per night or $1100 for the week.
 

When anyone calls in to reserve a room they will need to let the desk know that they are with the English Springer Spaniel Nationals so I can get their rate in there. I just need a credit card to hold the rooms.

 
Jamie
Rend Lake Golf Complex
800.999.0977

Room rates at Rend Lake Golf Complex

Our rates for the field trial event are as follows:
  1. $75 per day at the lodge. That is for a double queen standard room.
  2. Suites are available for $20 more. The suites have a king bed and sleeper sofa or two queen beds without a sleeper sofa, plus a mini fridge and a sitting area with table and chair.
Condos rates are as follows:
  1. 2 bedroom\2 bath condo-$200 per day or $1000 for a week.
  2. 3 bedroom\2 bath condos-$220 per day or $1100 for the week
  3. 3 bedroom\3 bath condo-$240 per day or $1200 for the week

Additional Information

Judges Biographies

George Akkouris

I am truly humbled to be entrusted with the prestigious position of judge for the 2024 National Open Championship. With a lifelong passion for the sport, I began my journey in the springer game over 35 years ago, competing in my first trial at just 10 years old and earning a 3rd place finish at LASHA. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of handling, gunning over and judging exceptional national-caliber dogs, learning from the best in our sport. I look forward to seeing great dog work and good luck to all!

Bill Cosgrove

I have had some great journeys over the years with Springers mostly. Cockers. some. Judging Nationals with Tom Menzel, Alex Stewart, Marty Knibbs, Casey Butz, Jerry Barrett, Ralph Botti always coming away seeing eye-to-eye is a pretty amazing thing.
Rather than share where else I’ve been with these wonderful dogs, and how much they mean to me, allow me to share some personal beliefs. I believe our trial game attracts good people, I believe in my family, I believe in the Almighty, I believe I have been blessed. I believe in destiny but, I don’t believe in luck.

Good luck to all 😉

National Open Championship Stake Award and Trophies

To the Winner:

  • The title of “National Springer Spaniel Field Champion”
  • The title of “Field Champion”
  • The Field and Stream Sterling Silver Challenge Trophy
  • The Sterling silver Prescott Challenge Trophy
  • The Trophy for Permanent Possession
  • The Sterling Silver Saighton’s Sizzler Challenge Trophy donated by John M. Olin.
  • The Evelyn Monte Memorial Trophy presented by the Ladies Spaniel Field Trial Club of Greater Newark and Friends of Evelyn Monte to the First Place Dog and Owner. This is a perpetual trophy to be awarded annually at the National Open Championship.
  • The Talbot Radcliffe Sterling Silver Cup. A perpetual trophy to be awarded annually to the breeder of the winning dog.
  • Special AKC Rosette with Medals
 

For Second, Third and Fourth Place Winners:

  • Trophies for permanent possession
  • Special AKC Rosettes with Medals

For the Best Performance by a dog handled by an Amateur, provided the dog completes all series of the trial:

  • Special AKC Rosette with Medal
  • The Heather Challenge Trophy awarded to the best amateur handler. To win the amateur must have placed first, second, third or fourth or received a certificate of merit. The Dansmirth Trophy was retired in 2011 by John Hall handling the same dog, Heather.  In 2016 Jeff Miller retired the Heather Trophy and redonated it as a perpetual trophy.
 

The William E. & Patricia K. Lane Memorial Trophy (silver)

Presented by the Southern Michigan Springer Spaniel Training Club, Inc., is to be awarded to the best amateur handler in the National Championship. To qualify the amateur handler must place first, second, third, fourth or be awarded a certificate of merit. This is to be a perpetual trophy with no permanent possession. Each year the name of the winning handler and a date awarded is to be engraved on the reverse side of the trophy, is to remain in his or her custody for one year, to then be returned for presentation the following year at the National Championship.

 

Guns Award

Gunner’s Trophy
Awarded by the Guns

This distinguished award, donated by ESSFT.COM, is presented to the dog that, in the judgment of the field trial’s gunners, is “the dog they would most like to hunt over.” This honor recognizes not only the dog’s skill, stamina, and responsiveness but also the invaluable qualities of bird finding and teamwork that make it a trusted partner in the field.