I have loved springers since I was nine years old - when I convinced the neighbors to give me one of their pups. Punchy was a great pooch for me to grow up with. I even convinced my dad that Punchy could hunt. I used to take him for walks in a large field near home and watch his tail go to work, knowing that at any time a pheasant would flush.
When I married Hal in 1973, I had to convince him, too, that hunting was a fun thing to do with a dog. After much convincing, Hal began to see the light and soon passed me up in hunting experiences.
I liked the looks of the bench springer and became involved with showing. After 15 years in the show ring and a few champions later, Hal convinced me that he needed help training - even if I could just post up as a gun. It wasn't long before I was the one competing in trials. With Hal busy running the hunt club, it made weekends away for him virtually impossible. So, I was hooked. I even learned to shoot!
Since 1990 I've been fortunate in my springer experiences. I have met some of the best trainers and handlers in the game. Learned tons… and am still learning.
Some of Nancy's Accomplishments in the Field:
- 1993 - Nancy titled FC/AFC Sgt. Alexander Brutus to his AFC. (Amateur field champion). That won Nancy the LASHA award for the year. This award is given to the lady handler with the most points on one dog in a year. Alex was also ranked #4 Open dog this year.
- 1996 - On the same weekend that Alex was laid to rest due to intestinal cancer, Nancy finished his daughter, AFC Wainer's Hollywood with back to back wins. This also won her the LASHA award for the year. At this same trial, she took 2nd place with AFC Justamuc's Dynamite, an Alex grandaughter. Holly and Dyna were tied for #2 Amateur dog this year.
- 1999 - Ran a young dog named Smoke, Justamuc's Quickfire. With his help, Nancy won the Ravenna trial. Nancy was only woman in 40 years of the club's existence to win this trial.
- 2002 - Titled AFC Justamuc's Wildfire (Blaze) to her amateur championship at Ravenna. Again, a woman wins the Ravenna trial - only 2nd time in the club's existence; first time won with Blaze's dad, Smoke. Blaze is also the grandaughter of Alex, and sister to Dyna.
Obtained Junior Hunter awards on some of our spaniels; completed senior hunter legs, and master hunter legs.
Been judging ESS and ECS field trials, and hunt tests for about 8 years.
Some of Nancy's Accomplishments in the Ring:
- One CD dog - Cordial's Amaretto
- CH. Cordial's Mandilyn - taking points at the Michigan speciality
- CH. Lordillea's Sam Occom
- CH. Charisma's Cordial Comfort - specialty class placements
- CH. Cordial's Signet
- CH. Critter's Cordial Finesse - with specialty class wins
Today, between Hal and I, we continually train spaniels all year long. We currently have about 15 of our own spaniels ranging from13 years old to -- soon to be whelped. Hal has several dogs that he guides hunts with at the Rustic Ridge Hunt Club. We have a couple in training and a couple that are now running trials.
