HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL
GUN DOG CHAMPIONSHIPS
A National Gun Dog Championship Stake appealed to many club members
who were participating in the ABC Gun Dog Classic as well as regional gun dog stakes
during the late 70’s and early 80’s. With increased interest in walking gun dog stakes
and retrieving in the east and west coast clubs, it appeared that some efforts should be
made to make a championship stake a reality. These efforts were spearheaded by the
Nebraska Brittany Club. During this period of time, the AKC held steadfast to opposing
the licensing of an ABC Gun Dog Championship Stake which would be an addition
to the already recognized Open All-Age and Amateur All-Age Championships. The
following is a brief sequence of events and highlights leading up to the rst running of
the Championship in the spring of 1985 and the running of 1986.
At the 1983 Board of Directors meeting, a motion was made that the ABC apply
to AKC for permission to have a National Gun Dog Championship Stake and that the
president of ABC draft recommendations to the AKC to be guided by four proposals
from the Nebraska Brittany Club. The formal application did not change AKC’s opposing
position. A National Gun Dog Championship Committee was appointed by the
president to develop viable plans and guidelines to implement an ABC National Gun
Dog Championship as soon as possible.
The Board meeting in 1984 brought on more involvement and speci cs. The
Purchase your copy on the ABC web site:
National Gun Dog Championship Committee Chairman presented for approval a
clubs.akc.org/brit/ABCItemsForSale.htm
proposed hand-crafted set of guidelines consisting of sanctioning by ABC, a site,
retrieving stakes, fees, trophies, quali cations, etc., for a National caliber stake. The
guidelines were approved.
The Board approved the Nebraska Brittany Club to hold the rst championship
event in the spring of 1985. The championship was billed as a one hour Walking Open
Limited Gun Dog Stake run under the Rules and Procedure of the American Kennel Club
with the winner to be recognized by the American Brittany Club as the ABC National
Gun Dog Champion for 1985.
The inaugural running of the championship was held at the Branched Oak
Reservoir Field Trial Grounds near Raymond, Nebraska, on May 8 & 9, 1985. Twentyeight dogs from fourteen states and one from Canada were entered. Twenty-seven
completed the one hour walking stake under moderate to hot weather conditions.
Overall bird contact was exceptionally high. The grounds were in good condition for
hunting. A permanent rotating trophy was donated by Charlie and Marge Ayres of
Ramons, CA. They al so donated a keeper trophy. The always full gallery wagon added
spice and interest during the running. The clubhouse comforts and environment added
to the enjoyment of all.
At the 1985 Board of Directors meeting, the Nebraska Brittany Club was approved
to be host of the 1986 National Gun Dog Championship. This approval was based on a
change in procedure wherein the host club provided two judge’s marshals who would
serve as bird spotters as well as perform limited scouting when directed by a judge.
In addition, quali cations for the championship to coincide with Chapter 17, Section
2 of the AKC Standard Rules and Procedures covering a Limited Gun Dog Stake were
approved.
The rst National Gun Dog Championship was run on May 3-4, 1986. All activities
and accommodations were the same as in 1985. There were twenty entries, considerably
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