The International English Springer Spaniel Award of Merit in 2006 to Judith Hancock (Hawkhill), United Kingdom

The name Hawkhill is synonymous throughout the English Springer world with the word "QUALITY."

The Kennel was started in the Fifty’s by Judith Robinson later to become Judith Hancock, and enjoyed astonishing success, being the foremost English Springer Kennel of the sixties and seventies.

It was a dog owned by her Father, Moorcliff Major and bred by Arthur Froggatt the Father of Ernest, (Moorcliff) that first took Judith’s interest in Springer’s

She was so keen that on leaving school at 15 that she went to train with Miss Barbara Sedorski for 12 months and later with Mrs Till of the renowned Stubham- English Springers, so with a grounding like this no one should have been surprised when the teenage Miss Robinson started to win CCs with her own dogs, making up her first full homebred Champion in Hawkhill Brave.

Over the years Judith has bred and owned a number of breeds Cockers, Clumbers and working Bloodhounds and her great interest in thoroughbred horses gave her a wonderful insight into correct conformation in both the dog and horse.

It was with Springer’s that she had the most success. Judith and later in partnership with Jimmy Cudworth bred 26 Champions. The most famous being Sh Ch Hawkhill Connaught. Connaught was for many years the Breed record holder for CC with 51 ccs.

Sh Ch Hawkhill Connaught, the greatest English Springer Spaniel show and stud dog of all time in the UK, and one of the greatest in all Breeds went BIS 7 times at All Breed Championship Shows and was 3 times Reserve best in Show.

He took the Gundog Group 17 times including Crufts and was Reserve Best Gundog on another 9 occasions.

He was DOG Worlds very first UK Top Dog in1974 the year he won the Group at Crufts.

Conn, not just a great Show dog and Sire, but also a thorough gentleman, was the beloved house pet and bed mate of his handler and co-owner the one and only Jimmy Cudworth and was admired by all till the day he died at nearly 14 years old.

Whilst Hawkhill is very famous for Connaught, the Kennel was by now means a “one hit wonder” with many famous and influential dogs and bitches of the ilk of Champions H. Royal Palace, Derby Day Dream, St. Paulie Girl, Humble Duty, Hello Dolly, Mon Fils, Finlandia, High Society to name a few.

Many top producing Kennels in the UK, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand owe a great debt to Hawkhill for the excellence of their stock.