Updated 05/02/2010

5th International English Springer Spaniel Symposium
August 3rd - 4th August 2007
Montgomery Community Centre,
Shouldice Park,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
(in cooperation with Alberta Kennel Club
and Wild Rose English Springer Spaniel Association of Alberta (WRESSAA))
 

The symposium will take place at the Montgomery Community Center in Shouldice Park at the show ground, friday 3rd. and saturday 4th.August, Evening, in connection with the WRESSAA regional English Springer Spaniel Speciality Show and the Alberta Kennel Club 3 all-breeds Shows, and Trails 3th - 6th August. 2007.

The Panelists MARIE MERCHANT, (Clanach), Australia Breed specialist, and all-breed judge. World famous breeder of English Springer spaniels All Breeds Judge licensed by the Australian National Kennel Council, for all Groups and Best in Show. Have judged at Championship Shows in England, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, New Zealand and coast to coast in Australia, including Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society "Royal Shows". Breeder of the internationally known Clanach English Springer Spaniels with in excess of sixty show Champions, I have personally handled 50 BIS winners. I have exported to the United Kingdom, Denmark and New Zealand. These exports have had great success including Top Sire in the UK on two occasions, and sire of 17 Champions in the UK and Europe. Top English Springer Show dog in Denmark and a Gold Medal Winner at the World Show 03. Chairperson of the ANKC National Judges Training Scheme, Chair of the SACA Judges Training Panel, an ANKC National Breed Standards Review Committee member, a member of the ANKC Overseas Judges Approval Board and Chair of the National Breed Council's Liaison Committee. ANNIKA ULLTVEIT-MOE, (Whisborne), Sweden Well known breeder of english springer spaniels. Breed specialist and all-breed judge.. International FCI All-breed judge, who has been judging for more than 20 years. Her assignments have included many prestigious dogshows in the world, such as FCI World Dog Show, FCI European Dog Show, Sydney Royal, the Asian International, and in over 30 contries worldwide. She has served on several club committees, and continues to be involved in judge's examinations for several breeds. She has bred different breeds together with her husband, Harald, under the prefix, Whisborne, made up over 100 Champions, many with Group and Best in Show wins through the years. Whisborne Champions have been made up in USA, Canada, Mexico, Luxembourg, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Today she breeds English Springer Spaniels and Lhasa Apsos with a great amount of success,Including the no 2 Top Dog All Breeds in Sweden 2004.  HENRIETTE SCHMIDT (Hillcrest), USA Well known American English Springer Spaniel breeder and judge. Finished her first AKC ESS champion in 1955 with many more to follow in the next 50 years. Titled her first dog in obedience in 1967 & her first working dog title in 1971. She became active in the ESSFTA working dog program in the 60's. She has the honour of co-breeding, owning and handling the first AKC English Springer Spaniel Show Champion to his AKC Master Hunter title. In 1992 she judged the breed at the ESSFTA Nationals. Today she is still very active in breeding, obedience, hunting, tracking and rally and occasionally judging. CAROL CALLAHAN (Donahan) USA I first became interested in purebred dogs in 1959 when my husband, Don, and I began a search for a hunting companion. The English Springer Spaniel most closely fit what we were looking for and we purchased a male puppy in 1960. Realizing that in order to train the dog for hunting we needed some obedience training we enrolled in an obedience class. This eventually led to an interest in competing in obedience and we entered the dog show world in the mid 1960’s. Soon after, we discovered the breed ring and developed an interest in showing in conformation also. We purchased our first show dog in 1966. Since that time we have finished numerous champions under the kennel name of Donahan. We have also had many obedience titled dogs and a handful of Highs in Trial, agility titles and one Junior Hunter title. I began judging obedience in 1977 and am presently approved to judge all obedience classes. I began judging conformation in 1980 and am approved to judge Springer Spaniels, Brittanys and Junior Showmanship. Springer Spaniels have been our only breed for 45 years and I find it hard to imagine being without one.   WENDY BESSEMER (Beswin) Canada I have been actively involved in the world of purebred dogs since the age of 14 when I received a Miniature Poodle for my birthday. I learned a lot from that dog. Conformation, although attempted, was not so successful so Sam became my obedience dog. Dabbling in junior handling with friends’ dogs I decided I needed my own dog and bought my first show Springer when I was 16. This puppy became Am. Can. Mex. Ch Pinehill’s Follow The Sun - a multiple group winner. I was hooked on conformation. During my years at university, I bought another dog, Ch Tasmara’s Ace High, CD and many of the area Springer enthusiasts have fond memories of Tito - top veteran in obedience at WRESSAA’s first specialty. After university I moved to Northern California to travel with renowned professional handlers Bill and Taffe McFadden. It was during that time that I bought my foundation bitch, Am/Can Ch Salutaire’s Sophisticate, A/C CD, and the rest is history. Beswin now has close to 30 champions, most of which go back to Jenna. In my teens and early 20’s I was very involved in the Alberta Junior Handlers Association and will occasionally judge junior handling. I am the founding President of the Wild Rose English Springer Spaniel Association of Alberta and the founding Vice-President of the English Springer Spaniel Club of Canada. I have held several executive positions in both clubs and am currently the Vice President of WRESSAA. I am a member of the ESSFTA. As a handler, I have shown many other breeds to championships, all breed group and BIS wins and specialty wins but my main interest has been in the sporting and terrier breeds - West Highland White Terriers taking a close second to the Springers. I have exhibited my Springers in conformation, obedience and tracking. In the future I would like to concentrate more on the performance side - obedience, tracking, agility and working certificates. I am considering working toward my judging license WAYNE BRENNEN (Brickburn) Canada Brickburn English Springer Spaniels Hunter, Trainer, Handler, Breeder Official Gun Captain CKC & AKC Judge, Spaniel Field Trials & Hunt Tests CKC & AKC President, Eastern Slopes Spaniel Association (ESSA) Member (past Director), Wild Rose Hunting Retriever Club (NAHRA affiliate) Spaniel Council Representative Alberta, NWT, Nunavut. CKC Upland Test Judge & Founding Development Committee, United Kennel Club Facilitator & Developer, Spaniel Field Trial & Hunt Test Gunning Seminar Instructor, Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Association (AHEIA) Some of my personal performance indicators: North American Shooting Dog Championship Pheasant Championship Brooks Kinsmen Ringneck Classic Champion High Point Shooting Dog Alberta High Point Puppy Canada High Point Puppy Western Canada Upland Stake Championship Field Trial Champion Master Hunt Test Title(s) AKC CKC Alberta Sporting Clays Champion   Prof.Dr. BRUCE H. GRAHN, DVM, ACVO, ABVP, Canada Professor of Ophtalmology, Small Animal Clinical Services, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Born in Lloyminster Saskatchewan, Schooling- Marwayne Alberta Graduated WCVM 1977 Mixed Animal Practice Camrose Alberta 1977-1990 University of Sask faculty 1990-present Residency in Ophthalmology 1990-1992 Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practioners 1988 Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists 1994 Professor Dept of Small Animal Clinical Sciences Referral Clinical Ophthalmologist WCVM 1992-present Research interests: Inherited retinopathies of dogs and horses, surgical therapy of glaucoma, and ocular pathology Publications and meeting abstracts > 100, 1 Book Extracurricular activities: Past president of Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, Currently Associate editor Canadian Veterinary Journal, Chief Examiner of CVMA Clinical Proficiency Examination, and Chair of the WCVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital Expansion and Renovation Committee Personal: Spouse Mary Lou, 3 children (Nick, Krista, Jeffrey), Interests: Fly fishing, skiing, canoeing, golf, camping LIZ HANSEN, USA Animal Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine. Coordinator for the DNA bank and seizure study at the University of Missouri  Liz has worked with Dr Gary Johnson at the AMGL for 9 years, coordinating projects and working with collaborating researchers, tracking data and assembling family groups for research, managing websites, presenting info at specialties and other gatherings of dog people, and speaking with breeders and owners of dogs who are participating in the many research projects in progress, and those who are interested in participating. She came to UMC with a background in scientific illustration, and uses the skills gained there to help interpret difficult scientific concepts into manageable information for breeders and owners. Liz also brings over 30 years of experience as a breeder-owner-handler to the table, offering a valuable link between researchers, veterinarians, owners, and breeders. Though the first show dog she owned was an English Springer Spaniel, since then she’s been "owned" by Standard Schnauzers, and her breeding program has produced over 90 AKC champions, plus numerous titlists in obedience, agility, and tracking, many leading producers. She is very pleased and proud to have owner-handled the dog who was BB at Westminster 4 years in a row, a National Specialty and multiple all-breed BIS winner, and was the #1 Standard Schnauzer in the country for 2003, 2004, and 2005   MODERATOR: THOMAS EDWARD NESBITT (Bryden) Canada Breeder of English Springer Spaniels and licensed all-breed judge by the Canadian Kennel Club I have always loved dogs and got smitten by the conformation world when I bought my first show dog, a Siberian Husky, in 1968. The breed proved more callenging than I expected and I later fell in love with American Cockers buying my first cocker in 1982. I thought she was beautiful but quickly was made aware that Misty was not a show dog so I got unvolved with obedience and put my first CD on a pure bred dog. I then obtained another American Cocker, this time with show potential and ultimately she was my first Canadian Champion and the basis of my breeding program in American Cockers. in 1993, David Swartwood, my partner moced to Canada and he introduced me to the wonderful world of English Springers (Bryden prefix)- the joy of his life and they grew on me rather quickly)! We also launched ourselves into the world of miniature wire-haired dachshunds which we have bred and show under the prefix of Prelude. In 1994 I began my judging career first getting my license for the Sporting group and then Hounds and as noted above I have just been licensed as an all-breed judge. I am a theologian by training having graduated Mcgill University and the MontrealTheological Collage. I have had a career in the Health Care Field initially as a Palliative Care Counsellor. Today, I am retired and David and I enjoy our 57 acre hobby farm in Gananoque as well as our new found careers as judges - David just wrote his conformation exam and is on permit for hounds. I have had the privilege of judging in Canada of course, the USA, the Bahamas, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia and this fall will judge in Bogota Colombia and Bermuda. It is a great honour to have been invited to be the moderator for this prestigious International English Springer Spaniel Symposium.   All events listed below occur on the same show grounds, Shouldice Athletic Park, Calgary Alberta Canada.   Thursday August 2nd & Friday August 3rd 2007     * Westwind Sporting Dog Specialty   Friday August 3rd, 2007     * WRESSAA Specialty Show - includes Puppy & Veteran Sweepstakes & all regular and unofficial classes     * Limited Breed Alberta Kennel Club Show & Licensed Obedience Trial     * 1st night of IESSC Symposium - includes dinner for all participants.      This evening will focus on the health presentations by the two health panellists & the temperament of the breed.   Saturday August 4th, 2007     * Alberta Kennel Club All-Breed Show & Licensed Obedience Trial     * WRESSAA Breed Booster at Alberta Kennel Club Show     * 2nd evening of IESSC Symposium - includes dinner for participants.      This evening the presentations will focus on the breed standards of the ESS.    Sunday August 5th, 2007     * WRESSAA Licensed Obedience Trial     * Alberta Kennel Club All-Breed Show & Licensed Obedience Trial     * WRESSAA Breed Booster at Alberta Kennel Club Show     * 2 All-Breed CKC Agility Trials (put on by Golden Retriever Club of Alberta)     * Hunt Test for all Sporting Spaniels (Eastern Slopes Spaniel Association, Kathyrn Alberta)   Monday August 6th, 2007     * Alberta Kennel Club All-Breed Show & Licensed Obedience Trial     * 2 All-Breed CKC Agility Trials (put on by Golden Retriever Club of Alberta)     * Hunt Test for all Sporting Spaniels (Eastern Slopes Spaniel Association, Kathyrn Alberta)   All proceeds from the event will go to the PRA Fund at the ESSFTA Foundation in memory of Dr. Cindy Wheeler.   WRESSAA's website   Alberta Kennel Club's web site:   Show & Trials Page

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