2018 AWSC National Specialty and Hunt Tests

August 8 - 12, 2018

Solon Springs, Wisconsin

The Club is very grateful to the many companies and individuals that supported the 2018 Nationals.  Your support for this event and the American Water Spaniel Breed is very much appreciated and valued by the AWSC.

(Final List of Donors Coming Soon!)

Also, a big "Thank You" to our Headquarters Hotel,
 the St. Croix Inn, Solon Springs, Wisconsin

 

 

AWSC Conformation and Obedience Specialty

August 9, 2018
Solon Springs Community Center
Solon Springs, Wisconsin

Complete Specialty 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 10 - 12, 2018
Douglas County Wildlife Area (aka. the Bird Sanctuary)
Solon Springs, Wisconsin


  

Complete Field Events Results HERE!

Congratulations to the Roustabout Winners!
Eric Wahlstrom, Cole Wahlstrom, and "Max"

All About the 2018 Nationals

   

The 2018 AWSC National Specialty and Hunt Tests were held over five consecutive days at Solon Springs, Wisconsin Wednesday through Sunday, August 8 - 12, 2018.

The club welcomed arrivals on Wednesday with a pizza party, social hour, and libation auction.  The Health and Genetics committee arranged for a very informative presentation by Dr. Eva Furrow and Dr. Brian Husbands, “Basic Genetics for the Responsible Breeder: Promoting Health and Vigor in a Small Gene Pool.”

    Obedience, Conformation, and Rally trials were held at the Solon Springs Community Center on Thursday, August 9.  The weather cooperated fully, and the indoor venue kept dogs and handlers comfortable.  A new event this year was "Trick Dog".  The Trash Duck Challenge, was a again big hit for dogs and handlers, with many teams competing multiple times to see who could hit the trash can with a training dummy consistently.

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

    On Friday, the action migrated to the Douglas County Wildlife Area (aka. The Bird Sanctuary) located several miles south of Solon Springs.  The weather was in the high 80's and sunny for the hunt tests. 

The Health and Genetics Committee, with the skilled ministrations of Dr. Brian Husbands, collected DNA samples and photographs from the dogs for the Health and Genetics Alopecia Study.  Nearly every dog attending and those from surrounding areas donated blood. Thanks to the Health and Genetic Committee members, and the Board who helped to make this happen.

Again this year a combination of AKC Spaniel and AWSC hunt tests  enabled participants to obtain qualifying scores for their dogs in both venues.  Handlers rotated through upland flushing tests, water retrieving tests, and land retrieving tests required by the AWSC Hunt Test program at two locations on the sprawling grounds.  The dual hunt tests went smoothly, and those that were entered in both events had good, long days of it. 

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 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.

Sunday morning was devoted to the Roustabout, a favorite competitive hunting event.  Dogs ran, birds flew, guns sounded, and quickness was the order of the day.  Congratulations to all who entered!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!

THANK YOU! to our Conformation and Obedience judges, Ms. Barbara L. Burns, Dr. Stephen Bloom, and Ms. Karen J. Anderson  for contributing their skills and interest in the American Water Spaniel breed.

Thank You! to our Hunt Test judges Kay Bennett, Greg Brda, Vanessa Everett-Kotyz, and Heidi Reinhart for giving us their time, energy, and expertise.  They were each very skilled,  helpful,  patient, and flexible while we worked all of the dogs through both AKC Spaniel and AWSC hunt tests. Kudos to all!

THANK YOU to the staff of the St. Croix Inn, who made us welcome and provided a fine meeting and dining facility for our event.

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, Cooler Raffle, Dremel Raffle, and Banquet Auction.  We all had a great time raising some funds for the AWSC.

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 Solon Springs,  Wisconsin in 2018! 

Link to the 2018 National Specialty and Hunt Test Invitation