HISTORY OF THE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
A primary function of the American Brittany Club is the running of the Nationals.
Here the best dogs in the nation contend for the honor of AKC title of National Champion!
The quali cations for entry and national participation make this the “World Series” for
Brittanys.
The ABC held trials exclusively for Brittanys in 1942, 1943 and 1944 but they were
not designated as Nationals. The 1943 trial was the rst to be licensed by the AKC and the
rst to include the Specialty Show as a feature. The 1944 ABC trial has been recognized by
many people as the “ rst” NATIONAL.
The rst trials consisted of Puppy, Derby and Open All-Age Stakes. In 1951, the
rst Amateur Stake was added, the Futurity was incorporated and the Open All-Age
increased to one-hour heats. Later the Puppy and Derby Stakes were dropped; the Puppy
because of lack of time and Derby because it consisted of the same dogs that made up the
Futurity.
In 1957, the AKC established quali cations and recognized the Open All-Age as a
Championship. The quali cations have become more stringent over the years in an effort
to keep the entries limited to the top dogs in the nation. Subsequently, the American Field
title was awarded to all winners through 1962.
The rst trials, all half-hour heats over one course, rotated among various
locations in Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey and Indiana and settled permanently at Crab
Orchard Wildlife Reserve near Carbondale, IL, in 1950. The continuous courses on native
Bobwhite Quail at Crab Orchard provided a truer test for the hunting dog and in 1951, the
heats were changed from one-half hour to one hour and emphasized the necessity for
developing a hunting dog with endurance and stamina.ABC web site:
Purchase your copy on the
The Crab Orchard site remained home for the Nationals until 1967 when the
clubs.akc.org/brit/ABCItemsForSale.htm deer
problem forced the Club to search for new grounds. In 1968 the Nationals were held at
Ardmore, Oklahoma; 1969 and 1970 saw Paducah, KY as the locale. From 1971 through
1974, the Nationals rotated between Ardmore and Paducah. Conway, Arkansas, was the
site of the 1975 running and from 1976 thru 1979, the Nationals returned to Ardmore. The
1980 Nationals rst tried the new grounds at Rend Lake, Illinois, and 1981 saw a return to
Conway. In 1981 the ABC Board of Directors voted to establish a rotation between Rend
Lake and Ardmore commencing with the 1982 running.
It had long been the dream of the ABC to nd permanent grounds for the
Nationals. In 1986, Lloyd Manck proposed we move the Nationals to new grounds in
Booneville, Arkansas. This proposal was accompanied by an invitation from the Governor
of Arkansas, and the Board voted for the move. In 1987, the Nationals were held for the
rst time in Booneville where they continue to run to this day.
In 1977, the ABC Board voted to petition the AKC to bestow the title “Field
Champion” to the winner of the National Championship if the winner did not already hold
such title or the win did not complete the established point schedule. At the September,
1978, AKC Delegates meeting, the request was approved and made effective immediately.
There is only one 3-time winner of the National Open All Age, that being Towsey,
and three others with two National Champion titles – Pontac’s Dingo, Ban-Dee and most
recently, Diamond Hill Dan.
Thank you for your interest
in the ABC National Y
earbook!
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