ABC National All-Age Championships

ABC National All-Age Championships

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 qualifications 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 first to be licensed by the AKC and the first to include the Specialty Show as a feature. The 1944 ABC trial has been recognized by many people as the “first” National.

The first trials consisted of a Puppy, Derby and Open All-Age Stakes. In 1951 the first 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 qualifications and recognized the Open All-Age as a Championship. The qualifications 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 first 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 true 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.

The Crab Orchard site remained home for the Nationals until 1967 when the deer problem forced the club to search for new courses. In 1968 the Nationals were held at Ardmore, Oklahoma; 1969 and 1970 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 first 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 find 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 first time in Booneville where they continue to this day to run.

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 Delegates meeting, the request was approved and made effective immediately.

Multiple National winners include; 2xNFC Ban-Dee, 2xNFC Diamond Hill Dan, 1xNFC & 1xNAFC Glade Run Irish, 2xNAFC Gringo de Britt, 2xNAFC Hello Dolly-Miss Kaer, 2xNAFC Hi-Spirit Buck, 1xNFC & 2xNAFC Just Call Me Roy, 2xNAFC Maxwell’s Blew By You II, 1xNFC & 1xNAFC Perry’s Rustic Prince, 2xABC Pontac’s Dingo, 1xNFC & 1xABC Rendezvous Skipper, 2xNAFC Ru-Jem’s “Last” Penny, 2xABC Tess of Chippewa, 2xNFC & 1xABC Towsey, 2xNFC Uncle Kracker.