2016 AWSC National Specialty and Hunt Tests

August 3 - 7

Baldwin, Wisconsin

The Club is very grateful to the many companies and individuals that supported the 2016 Nationals.  Your support for this event and the American Water Spaniel Breed is very much appreciated and valued by the AWSC.

See this year's list of donors.

Also, a big "Thank You" to our Headquarters Hotel,
 the Super 8 Motel
Baldwin, WI

AWSC Conformation and Obedience Specialty

August 4, 2016 Mill Pond Park Baldwin, Wisconsin Complete Specialty Event Results HERE. Congratulations to the Best of Breed Traveling Trophy Winners, Lois McCracken and "Blew"!

AWSC Field Events:
AKC Spaniel Hunt Tests, AWSC Hunt Tests, and the Roustabout            
August 5 - 7
Good Go Ing Sporting Dogs and Pro Training Center
Baldwin, Wisconsin



Complete Field Events Results HERE.

Congratulations to the Roustabout Winners!
Sue Liemohn, Frank Schwantner, and "Gator"

All About the 2016 Nationals

   

 

The 2016 AWSC National Specialty and Hunt Tests were held over five conscutive days at Baldwin, Wisconsin Wednesday through Sunday, August 3 - 7, 2016.

The club welcomed arrivals on Wednesday with a pizza party, social hour, and libation auction.  The Health and Genetics committee arranged for Brian Husbands,  a canine oncology specialist as well as an AWS owner and club member, to give  a very informative presentation on Canine Cancer, a disease that affects many of our canine friends in a variety of ways.

    Obedience, Conformation, and Rally trials were held at Mill Pond Park on Thursday, August 4.  An early morning rain  could not dampen the enthusiasm of either handlers or dogs, who performed gracefully under cover of the convenient park shelter.

    Later, the annual Awards Banquet,  Photo Contest, and  Brown Bag Raffle were held at The Orchard Banquet Facility in Baldwin. A good time was had by all, especially the raffle winners!  Congratulations to all award winners!

    After Thursday's rain, the warm and muggy weather moved out  and in its place arrived ideal weather for hunt tests.  Temperatures were in the mid-seventies, skies were clear, and  breezes were light.  Dogs and handlers performed in comfort for the ensuing three days of field events.  Wonderful, crisp weather for Wisconsin in August!

New this year was a combination of AKC Spaniel and AWSC hunt tests that enabled participants to obtain qualifying scores for their dogs in both venues.  Mornings were spent with the upland flushing tests, and afternoons were spent with the additional retriever work required by the AWSC Hunt Test program.  The dual hunt tests went smoothly, and those that were entered in both events had good, long days of it.  The club engaged several young helpers to perform as bird handlers and winger operators, which took those burdens from club members so that they could enjoy all the dogs and socialize with the other participants.

Friday evening, the day's hunt test qualifiers were presented with their ribbons.  Club members gathered after dinner for the AWSC, Inc. Annual Meeting where a new Board of Directors was installed and the President reflected on the year's accomplishments.

Saturday, hunt test qualification ribbons and and new titles were presented again with a lot of fanfare, photos, smiles, and laughter.   The annual AWSC Auction, an important and lively fund raising event in support of the AWS breed, followed soon after. Art Heun did a superlative job in his role as auctioneer, ensuring that all donated items went to the highest bidders!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!

THANK YOU! to our Conformation and Obedience judges, Ms. Carol Jean Hathaway, Ms. Nancy Gallant, and Ms. Patricia Nevins for contibuting their skills and interest in the American Water Spaniel breed.

Thank You! to our Hunt Test judges,  Vickie Dalk, David McCracken, and Dawn Schuster for giving us their time, energy, and expertise.  They were each very skilled,  helpful,  patient, and flexible while we worked through the first combination AKC and AWSC hunt test. Kudos to all!

THANK YOU! to all of the Individual and Corporate Donors who contributed Specialty Prizes and Trophys!

THANK YOU! to all of the Individual and Corporate Donors who contributed to the Libation Auction, Brown Bag Raffle, Winger Raffle, and Banquet Auction.  We could not have done it without your help!

THANK You! to all of the club members across the country who contributed their time and energy to putting it all together

We hope to see you again at Waukesha, Wisconsin in 2017! 

Link to the 2016 National Specialty and Hunt Test Invitation