HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The National Amateur Stake began at a later date than the Open competition
with the rst regional stake being held in Ohio in 1948. In this premier event, there were
ten entries and it was won by Madame Duchess II, owned by Ray Baldridge of Michigan.
The judges, Tom Cox and Lee Holman, were professional trainers as were most of the
so the rst years found a few clubs runn ing the stake as a non-regular stake with no
championship points involved. The interest generated soon proved that such a stake
had a proper function and AKC added it to the point-giving stakes.
The idea of a National Amateur Stake found favor as an incentive to interest more
amateurs in handling their own dogs in trials. The stake was added with quali cations
right from its start in 1951. The length of the stake was increased to one hour heats in
1952 only to be cut back to 45 minutes in 1957. Entries lagged well behind those of the
Open Stake in the 50’s. It was the 60’s before sizable entries were the rule. In the early
70’s, interest increased and entries in this stake prompted a return to one hour heats.
The Amateur Championship has been run on the same grounds as, and
immediately following the National Open Championship, except for 1972 when the
Amateur was run at Paducah with the National Open following at Ardmore. In 1989,
the Board of Directors voted to make the Amateur Championship the rst event of the
Nationals and since 1990, it has been the “lead-off ” event.
In 1966, the AKC recognized the stake as a Championship for the rst time with
winners to be designated as National Amateur Champion for 19___. Towsey’s Bub was
the winner that year.
In 1978, when the ABC petitioned the AKCthe ABC web site:
Purchase your copy on for bestowing the Field Championship
title to winners of the National Championship, they also petitioned for the winner of
clubs.akc.org/brit/ABCItemsForSale.htm
the National Amateur Championship to be designated “Amateur Field Champion” if
they did not hold that title. The AKC approved the request at the September, 1978, AKC
Delegates Meeting.
There have been ve two-time winners of the Amateur; Ferdinand of Leeway won
it in 1956 and 1958, Gringo de Britt in 1969 and 1970, Hello Dolly Miss Kaer in 1974 and
1975, Hi Spirit Buck in 1978 and 1981 and most recently, Just Call Me Roy in 2004 and
2006.
Thank you for your interest
in the ABC National Y
earbook!
48