OBEDIENCE SPRINGER OF THE YEAR:
 

BENSON MCGEE UDX3 OM3 RA SH OA AXJ

Benson

Owned by Jon Pidde and Sandy Pidde

I am very honored to receive both the Obedience and Utility Springer of the Year awards. I appreciate the recognition for Benson's accomplishments in 2010. Benson came to me as my pick of the litter. He was to be my hunting companion as well as my performance dog. I have not been disappointed. Benson has exceeded all of my expectations. In the process of showing Benson how to hunt my way, we were able to complete the WD, WDX, JH and SH titles. In 2007, after getting Bensons fieldwork where I wanted it, we started his performance career. We earned the Front and Finish Platinum award for his work in Novice with his 3 title leg scores over 195. The same year we earned the Front and Finish Platinum award for his work in Open with his 3 title leg scores over 195. Benson has also earned multiple High Combined and High in Trial awards. Benson turned 5 years old in 2010 and had his best year ever in the obedience-rally-agility rings. In rally we finished his RA. In Agility we finished his OA, OAJ and AXJ. In obedience we finished his UDX3, OM2 and OM3. 2010 lowlights: Opening day pheasant season stitches for sticking his head where it didn’t belong. The sit stay problem continues. 2010 highlights: Qualified for a trip to the National Obedience Invitational and qualified over 90% of the time in utility.

Stats:  High Score Average: 395.83 out of 400

UTILITY SPRINGER OF THE YEAR:
 

BENSON MCGEE UDX3 OM3 RA SH OA AXJ

Benson

Owned by Jon Pidde and Sandy Pidde

I am very honored to receive both the Obedience and Utility Springer of the Year awards. I appreciate the recognition for Benson's accomplishments in 2010. Benson came to me as my pick of the litter. He was to be my hunting companion as well as my performance dog. I have not been disappointed. Benson has exceeded all of my expectations. In the process of showing Benson how to hunt my way, we were able to complete the WD, WDX, JH and SH titles. In 2008, after getting Bensons fieldwork where I wanted it, we started his performance career. We earned the Front and Finish Platinum award for his work in Novice with his 3 title leg scores over 195. The same year we earned the Front and Finish Platinum award for his work in Open with his 3 title leg scores over 195. Benson has also earned multiple High Combined and High in Trial awards. Benson turned 5 years old in 2010 and had his best year ever in the obedience-rally-agility rings. In rally we finished his RA. In Agility we finished his OA, OAJ and AXJ. In obedience we finished his UDX3, OM2 and OM3. 2010 lowlights: Opening day pheasant season stitches for sticking his head where it didn’t belong. The sit stay problem continues. 2010 highlights: Qualified for a trip to the National Obedience Invitational and qualified over 90% of the time in utility.

Stats:  High Score Average:  198.5 out of 200

OPEN SPRINGER OF THE YEAR:
 

CH OTCH POLESITTER’S DANICA DAZZLES UDX OM3 VER RE AX MXJ OF

Dani

Owned by Kimberly Berkley and Michael Bockhorn

I was introduced to 10-week old Dani in March, 2009.  I had never had a Springer before, but have always admired them as I think that they are the most beautiful breed of all.  This little puppy stole my heart and I had to have her.  I had just finished the OTCH on my first Golden Retriever, Lucy; therefore, I needed a new project and I wanted to see just how much this young puppy could learn.  I set my goals high for Dani and wanted to have her ready to compete at the ESSFTA Nationals in St. Louis which was just a few months away.  At the Nationals, she got her Rally Novice title and 2 CD legs at the tender age of 8 months.  By 10 months old she was doing competitive obedience, scoring 198 or better to finish her Novice (CD) title.  Again, at 10 months, Dani and I showed in Open for the first time, where she tied for 4th place and earned her first leg towards her CDX.  Then it was off to the Springer Specialty in Des Moines, IA, where she got her first win in Open B. We live in a very competitive area where we have to compete against many OTCH dogs, but once again my goals for Dani were set high.  I wanted to finish her OTCH with a happy attitude before she was 2 years old.  She finished her UD at 17 months old, and at 18 months she won her first Utility class and High Combined.  Nearly every time I showed her she was in the ribbons!  Then, when Dani was 21 months, she won two Open classes in a row, with a 199 in each (out of a possible 200 points!), garnering another High in Trial and High Combined.  Our next trial was in Evansville, IN.  Dani only needed 38 points to finish her OTCH.  That weekend, she placed several times finishing the coveted OTCH at 22 months and two days of age, with a win in the very competitive Utility B class on Sunday.  She finished in style by going High in Trial out of Utility and High Combined.  What a thrill and a dream come true for me! Throughout her obedience career, Dani also competed in agility and the breed ring, completing her Championship at 13 months of age, and earning her AX and AXJ agility titles, once again proving what an intelligent and versatile little girl she is. I was very lucky Dani found me and that I have found the English Springer Spaniel.  I have now gotten my second of hopefully many more Springer’s to come, Dani’s little brother, AJ. Thank You to Mike Bockhorn for breeding this very special girl!

Stats:  High Score Average: 198.83 out of 200

NOVICE SPRINGER OF THE YEAR:
 

SOCIETY’S LONE GUNMAN CD RA

Elliott

Owned by Mary Monteith and Paul Monteith

It is such an honour to receive this award.  Elliott has been the first of many things in my life.  My first puppy; my first obedience dog.  The first dog who walked into the Pre-Novice ring with a very nervous first-time competitor.  The first dog I travelled with away from home to go to a dog show.  Elliott eventually became the first ESS to earn the CKC RE and RAE titles.  At trials, as we grew more experienced, he received lots of first placements, what a thrill!  He has patiently, and with endless enthusiasm and good humour, endured all my first attempts at the dog sports which were all new and unknown to me just a few years ago.   He was also the first dog that I have owned who had to have cruciate surgery, early in 2009.  He was then the first dog my husband and I rehabbed, reconditioned and reintroduced to training after a hard recovery due to complications, and a year off training.  How wonderful it was to gradually bring him back to discover that he had missed it desperately, hadn't forgotten a thing, and was overjoyed to get back to it, his tail wagging non-stop as he worked to a perfect score his first time back in the ring in rally.  I was extremely proud to enter the AKC ring with him for the first time in 2010 and earn 5 HITs from the Novice class, our first AKC HITs. I am privileged each time I enter the ring with my special boy beside me, and grateful each day for his love and joy of life. He brings a smile to me every day, and he is now, and will always be, first in my heart.  Again, thank you very much to the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association for honouring Elliott with this special award.

Stats:  High Score Average: 198.0 out of 200

NOVICE A SPRINGER OF THE YEAR:
 

POLESITTER’S BRICKYARD CDX RA NA

Brick

Owned by Michael Bockhorn and Benjamin Custer

After showing in conformation and breeding springers for over 20 years, I decided to dabble in the obedience ring.  Brick’s littermate Dani was such a quick learner that her owner, Kim Berkley, persuaded me to train Brick also.  With Kim’s help and guidance Brick was a natural in obedience training and I was hooked.  At first the training was very foreign to me, and asking my dog to sit next to me instead of free baiting at the end of the lead was just not right!  We both learned together and the first time that I walked into the Novice A obedience ring I was unsure of what I was getting myself into.  Our nerves settled down and he quickly finished his CD title.  Brick loved to work with me and the retrieving exercises, so we took the leap into Open.  In just 5 shows he finished his CDX title by getting his last legs at the ESSFTA National in Oregon.  We are now working towards his UD. Training and competing with Brick in obedience has given me a new love for the breed and the sport.  For me, there is nothing more joyful than seeing the expression in your dog’s face when he understands an exercise.   Brick’s happiest time of the day is when we are training.   The bond that we have formed is indescribable, and I am sure that we will have a lot more fun in the ring together.

Stats:  High Score Average: 195.5 out of 200