2007 Field Trial Committee Report to the General Membership Meeting

On behalf of the FTC members, I would like to welcome everyone to the 2007 General Meeting. We are anxious to hear your opinions, feedback and interests. We have added all of the agenda topics submitted as new business. We should be able to keep the meeting to 1 to 1½ hours if everyone keeps their comments “to the point” and respect each other’s points of view. We all have an early start in the morning and a great deal to cover.

As a meeting format, the FTC would like to briefly review what we’ve done (or not done) in the past 9 months and get your feedback. We would also like our “decision-making processes” and goals ratified. This should insure continuity, preclude any surprises and make future FTC committees more efficient.

Some statistics:

We have approximately 125 people attending/entering field trials.

Of the 125 people, only 59 (47%) are ECSCA members:

16 in the east-Barb Haupt (rep)

8 in the South-Martin Bell (rep)

27 in the North Central section-Rumi Schroeder (rep)

8 in the west-Tawney Crawford (rep)

The 59 ECSCA members vote for the current 7 FTC members so we have one rep for every 8 ECSCA members.

We had 14 field trial clubs that gave a field trial in 2007.

We had 28 Field Trials split between 18 in the spring and 10 in the fall.

There were 18 open stakes and 8 amateur stakes in the spring.

There were 10 open stakes and no amateur stake in the fall.

We had 114 dogs eligible for the NCC and 25 dogs eligible for an amateur championship.

The 114 dogs are owned by 62 people casting the votes for NCC Judges.

One person has 7 qualified dogs or votes.

There are 2 people with 6 votes.

There are 4 people with 3 votes.

Half of the all the votes are controlled by 7 individuals (this does not count professional handlers that may control owner’s votes).

Fieldcockers.com has 2007 gross sales equaling $1640.00

It paid out $848.10 in expenses-$448.10 for the Dreamweaver program & $400 for 2006 support services.

Those costs will not be repeated in 2008.

It donated $636.00 to the NCC.

It has $135.53 in the bank.

It will have to pay taxes on the $1,640.00

Old Business:

  1. Gun Committee and Gunning Program—Tom Calabrese- see exhibit C & D
  2. What Clubs have ratified the program?
  3. What should we do if Clubs do not adapt the program? Does the general membership want the FTC to take “punitive” measures against that club?
  4. The record keeping is now being done on Fieldcockers.com, but some clubs are not submitting all the gunner’s names. Should we change our record keeping?
  5. What direction should the Gun Program take next?
  6. Should we urge ECSCA Hunt Test programs adapt a form of this program? At least having the gunners attend a gunning seminar?
  7. Should we continue to tighten up our criteria to be like the Springer Spaniel Program? What time frame would apply?
  1. Electronic Entry System—Buzz Bensen
  2. Should we obligate fieldcockers.com to a $1,000 plus half of the advertising so we can enter field trials over the Internet?
  3. There would be a $4.00 per dog charge to electronically enter a field trial over and above the normal trial fees. However, anyone could still enter a dog using US Post Office mail. The $4.00 will be used to pay for the $1,000 management fees.
  4. This would be a one-year contract for 2008 only. The contract would need to be renewed.
  5. If we don’t do this, Vicky needs an assistant/back-up person. Thanks go to Robin Putnam, Anne Clements and Linda Simons for their support.
  6. Ownership reverting to Sue Rose.
  1. Judges Criteria Committee
  2. Should we create Criteria before someone is allowed to judge a Cocker Trial?
  3. Should we limit the number of trials any single person can judge in a year?
  4. Other Judging issues to consider?
  1. Formation of the FTC.
  2. Should we adapt the following as the Qualification for Nomination to be submitted to the ECSCA Board of directors as the criteria for election to the FTC: “The FTC should consist of a cross section of ECSCA members who are active field trial participants of the highest caliber. They should have a minimum of 5 years experience in handling and/or training an English Cocker. They should own, handle or have trained an English Cocker that is qualified for the NCC as of the date they are appointed. Some exceptions may be considered by the current FTC membership for recommendation to the Board.
  3. The current FTC has had many conversations on the formation and membership of the FTC. In summary the options we’ve discussed are as follow:
  4. 3 Members at Large and 4 Territorial Club Representatives
  5. 3 Members at Large and 4 Territorial Club Representatives with at least one of them a professional trainer to be added if necessary.
  6. Expand the Territories representing the 13 Clubs to 7 territories.
  7. 7 Territories with at least one of them as a professional trainer to be added if necessary.

C. Should we have a “Vice-Representative” named in case the FTC Representative resigns?

  1. Spring Field Trial Calendar
  2. Are Clubs having problems finding gunners etc in the fall?
  3. Limiting the number of events makes attendance larger at those that are scheduled. (An example would be attendance at this NCC)
  4. Do we want to cut the qualification period for the NCC to fewer years?
  5. Discussion of the Amateur for comments
  1. Hunt Test Areas: Martin Bell or Rumi Schroeder
  2. Should we pursue the Hunting Manner Style with the new Hunt Test Committee?
  1. Substitution of a Master Hunt Test Leg to pass as the water test for FT Title-Tawney Crawford
  1. FTC has passed this suggestion. Also passed by Cocker Spaniels. Now pending Springer Spaniel approval. See letter attached as Exhibit B
  1. Bixby Award: Should this system be continued?
  2. Currently the FTC is making nominations with the following criteria in mind.
  3. The nominated names are then submitted to the current NCC committee for vote on the Award winner.

The Bixby Award is to be given annually to recognize an individual who has continually endeavored to promote English Cockers working in the field. It recognizes the individual who, during the course of the year, has unselfishly and distinctly given of themselves to advance the cause of English Cocker field work. This person is selected to exemplify the sportsmanship and high standards set by Harold S. Bixby, the award’s namesake, whose generosity and unselfish support has contributed enormously to our breed’s success in all field events.

  1. Nominees should be people who have contributed in the following ways:
  2. long term supporter
  3. an early pioneer
  4. a major contributor in some specific area (ie the Green Book)
  5. Hall of Fame type
  6. The nominee need not be a member of the ECSCA

New Business (suggestions received)

  1. Election of the NCC Judges- Rumi Schroeder
  2. Allowing other Spaniels to Participate in our Trials- Jim Karlovec
  3. Novice Stake ideas – Buck Grabowski
General Discussion

1. The Cocker Challenge- Barbara Haupt (Exhibit A)

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Exhibit A

COCKER CHALLENGE

Barbara Haupt

I have been thinking about our conference call on July 24, 2007, and the prospect of creating a greater challenge in our cocker trials. Since I am afflicted with the list maker’s syndrome I am trying to think of ways we can further challenge our cockers in field trials and put them into print. I am excited to think that our little dogs could lead the way not only for the betterment of our breed, but also for the possible spin off and challenge to others. We heard several ideas during the call and I am wondering if we can build on these and distribute our ideas to the people out there who are connected to the cocker world as club members, judges, guns, bird planters, etc. The following are ideas that came up during the conference call plus a few others. There is nothing new here, nothing we couldn’t be doing already. Common sense and innovative thinking at every individual trial could provide a unique challenge every time we come to the line.

  • Prior to the trial date, the clubs’ field trial committees should discuss how their particular venues can uniquely challenge the cockers.
  • The judges, the field trial committee, and the bird planters could meet together on the morning of the trial to discuss specific means they can utilize to challenge the dogs and the handlers on that particular course on that particular day.
  • Judges can work together to implement the eye wipe when they see it as a productive challenge.
  • Judges can communicate with each other on retrieves. If the dog on the other beat needs a retrieve, or would be better challenged by a specific retrieve, then let’s go for it. The second series would be a perfect time for this approach.
  • A field trial is supposed to emulate hunting. Therefore, if a bird is shot or missed and comes down in an area safe for shooting, the logical action would be to take the dog, handler, and gun(s) to that area either for a retrieve or another flush.
  • Bird planters can be creative. Handlers should never assume where birds are to be found. Birds may be planted randomly always paying attention to wind while balancing the equal amount of birds for each side of the course. They may do double plants in the third series; in any series, they may plant two birds on one side before planting one on the other.
  • If flags aren’t necessary for portions of the course, then don’t put them out. Try to remain true to the hunt and not to a contrived situation as much as possible.
  • If a dog flushes another bird on the way to or from a retrieve, the guns should feel free to take the bird if it is a safe shot. The judges will instruct the handler(s) how to proceed from there.
  • If the dogs on both sides of the beat are making birds at the same time and birds are flushed on both courses, guns should feel free to take both birds and judges will instruct how the situation should be handled.
  • Judges are empowered to dispense with a third series if placements are evident after the second. The third series should be considered a run off for placements when judges don’t concur.
  • Judges should feel free to challenge the dogs and handlers when the opportunity presents itself.
  • And ...... (I’m sure there are many more suggestions out there. Let’s hear them!!

If those of us in the cocker community could make a promise to ourselves that our club will inject some “new” element into our 2008 trials that will offer our cockers just one more way to demonstrate and showcase their abilities.

Exhibit B

September 7, 2007

American Kennel Club
Performance Events, Field Trials
Dear Mr. Doug Ljungren,
We, The American Spaniel Club, The English Cocker Spaniel Club of America and The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association are requesting approval/adoption of an additional option for the field trial water test for Cocker Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels.

In many areas across the nation it is difficult to find a place where field trial clubs are able to have water test available with their field trials for those dogs nearing or having completed all of the requirements except the water test for their Field Trial Championships. Because the grounds for the Master Hunt Test are required to have adequate water to handle the requirements of the hunt test water tests, this would present another venue for certification of the field trial water test.

We would like to propose that these Flushing Spaniels (CS, ECS, & ESS) who received a qualifying score at the Master Hunter level be certified as having completed the water test needed for their Field Trial Championship. The field trial dog (especially ones nearing completion of the FC or AFC) should be capable of working at the Master Hunt Test level; and therefore, it should earn a qualifying score for the ENTIRE test and not just the water portion to be certified for the field trial water test in this manner.

The Water Test for the Master Hunter Title is of sufficient complexity to be acceptable for the Water Test for a Flushing Spaniel Field Trial Championship and exceeds the requirements of the water tests listed in the Spaniel Field Trial Rules and Regulations.

From the Spaniel Hunt Test regulations, Page 25, Section 12.

A Master hunting dog must find, flush and retrieve two birds to hand on land; it must be line-steady at water and retrieve one bird to hand from water with a shot fired. The distance should be at least forty yards but should not normally exceed forty-five yards.

In addition, a Master hunting dog must be tested on a water blind (a shot is not fired). The “water blind” in the Master is defined as a test designed to exhibit a dog’s ability to take not only a line across a body of water but also to take direction at a long distance across a body of water. Further, a dog that obediently stops on command then looks back and takes direction from the handler should be scored highly as this is the intent of this test. The water blind should not normally exceed forty yards but shall be at least thirty yards in distance.

Basically, the current Spaniel Field Trial Rules and Regulations ask for the retrieve of two birds (ESS) or one/two birds (ECS & CS) after about a thirty yard swim.

This is what is currently written in the Procedures Booklet for Spaniel Field Trials, Section 13. Before an English Springer Spaniel shall receive its Field or Amateur Field Championship, it must have

shown its ability to retrieve game from water, after a swim. The water test shall consist of two back-to-back, open water, 30-40 yard retrieves of dead ducks or dead pheasants, with gunshot. The dog is to be backed up to10 to 15 yards from the bank for its entry.

Before a Cocker or an English Cocker Spaniel shall receive its Field or Amateur Field Championship, it must have shown its willingness and ability to retrieve game from or across water, after a swim. The water test shall consist of a one or two bird retrieve which shall be at the option of the Field Trial Committee. The birds used shall be available dead game birds such as pheasants, ducks or various partridges. The dog and handler are to be backed up 5 to 10 yards from the water entry. The dog shall retrieve a dead game bird, thrown with gunshot, after a 20-30 yard swim.

A water test can be held as a completely separate event, licensed by the American Kennel Club, or in conjunction with an AKC licensed or member field trial. The holding of a water test during a field trial will be left to the discretion of the Field Trial Committee of the club conducting the trial, but such a possibility must be announced in the premium list. It is the responsibility of the Field Trial Secretary or Committee to submit the results, properly signed by the judges, so they will carry championship credit.

Once a dog has been certified by the judges as having passed a water test at a licensed or member club trial, or at a separate water test licensed by the AKC, the certification will apply toward both the Field and Amateur Field Championship titles (a dog needs only to be certified on one occasion). As a stand alone event for English Springer Spaniels, it must have a date approved by the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association and be judged by 2 All Age Judges with a combined record of

12 AKC licensed English Springer Spaniel Field Stakes. The water test is not a stake, therefore the judges will receive no credit for judging the test.

As this last paragraph explains, the water test currently does not have to be at a particular field trial; and it could be at a separate event. Adding the qualification at a Master Hunt Test would allow our breeds (CS, ECS & ESS) to also certify for the field trial water test at any AKC Master Hunt Test. It might encourage them to more actively participate in the hunt test program.

Yours truly,

______

Jane Williams, President Date
American Spaniel Club

______

Kathy Moore, President Date

English Cocker Spaniel Club of America

______

Nancy Johnson, President Date Steve Beyer, Vice President, FieldDate

English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association

Exhibit C

Gun Committee Report

To the ECSCA Field Trial Committee

October 24, 2007

Intro

The Cocker Trial management over the past decade has relied heavily on the Springer Spaniel gunning teams and Springer Spaniel gun program in general. The Springer Spaniel program, which is top notch and has in the past and continues serves our events well, also has at times shortage of available of gun teams. To address this issue and to encourage safety we developed the beginnings of a Cocker Gun Program. This document was distributed in July of this year to 20 clubs who organize Cocker Trials for their review, comment and acceptance.