FUTURE EVENTS

The panelists

DR. JEFF SAMPSON, (The Kennel Club,UK, Genetic Co-ordinator)
Dr Jeff Sampson is a molecular biologist, who has many years of experience of owning and exhibiting dogs (Schipperkes). Prior to the commencement of his appointment as the Kennel Club Canine Genetics Coordinator in April 1998, he was based at Leicester University, where his laboratory made a valuable contribution to the mapping of the canine genome, now based at the Kennel Club UK. He is well known and respected in scientific circles as well as by the many breed clubs at whose seminars he has communicated the basis of canine genetics.

This Kennel Club initiative provides a focal point for the assimilation, interpretation and communication of canine genetic, scientific and epidemiological information, and it will clearly accelerate the application of scientific progress to the world of dog breeding.

England

MARIE MERCHANT, (Clanach)
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".
Have been on the judging Panel at seven of the States of Australia's Top Dog of the Year Competitions and have judged the Finals of the Junior Showmanship titles in three States.
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.
In addition, I have owned and /or titled several other breeds including Afghans, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and West Highland White Terriers. I am on the "A" list for Australian Cattle Dogs in the UK.
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.

Australia

FRANK W. BJERKLUND, (Westaway)
Frank has been breeding springers for 27 years. First known under the affix Inu-Goya (established 1975) and today has the affix Westaway together with Stig-Arne Kjellevold.
Apart from springers Frank has also owned and bred Irish Waterspaniels and Welsh Springers.
Frank is an authorized judge and is judging springers as well as many other gundogbreeds.

Norway

HENRIETTE SCHMIDT, (Hillcrest)
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

USA

CAROLYN MUIRHEAD, (Shipden)
I was born in North Norfolk and spent my childhood on a farm with livestock and poultry. In my teenage years, my father acquired a few racing greyhounds and these were my first experience with dogs. At this time my interest was mainly in my pony and gymkhanas, however, in 1953, the family bought a blue roan Cocker, born on Coronation Day. She was my first introduction to the show ring. As I shortly became friendly with my husband to be and his English Springers, dogs took over from ponies and the sphere of competition changed. Exhibiting was limited between 1955 and 1957, as I was attending teachers’ training college, although I did manage to find time to breed my first litter of Cockers in 1956.
Showing eventually, led to judging, and after various matches and exemption shows, I judged my first open show breed classes of English Springers in 1964. My first Championship Show was Leeds in 1971, my dog CC was the crowning one for Hawkhill Connaught. Since then I have awarded CC's many times including Club Shows and Crufts. I also give CC's in Clumber Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Field Spaniels and Sussex Spaniels. I also have owned Cavalier King Charles, Field Spaniels., Sussex Spaniels as well as oddments of other breeds. The kennel at the moment consists of English Springers and Border Terriers. Abroad, I have judged in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Holland, Spain, Germany and Australia.
At open show level in England I have judged most breeds and varieties, mainly in the gundog, hound, terrier and toy groups, also groups and BIS.

England

CHRISTINA DANIELS, (Mistily's)
Christina Daniels has owned and bred English springer spaniels for 30 years with the wellknown prefix Mistily's.
Apart from many bred and owned champions and CC-winners, several Mistily's-springers have also had great influence for many other breeders in Sweden and other countries.
Kennel Mistily's has exported springers to Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Finland, Australia and England.
Breeder of the first springer born outside the UK to get the Show Champion title in the breed's country of origin.
Christina has judged springers as well as many other breeds on an open show level in Sweden, Denmark and England.
Kennel Mistily's has also bred champions in American cockers, Shih-Tzu's and English cockers. Owned and shown five Ch Clumber spaniels, all champions and also owned and showed Hamltonstovare, Pekinese, German Hunting Terrier and English setters.

Sweden

Prof. Dr. PETER G.C. BEDFORD, (Ophthalmogist)
RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology
European Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology
Chair of Veterinary Ophthalmology
Professor Peter Bedford gained his PhD for work on the aetiopathogenesis and treatment of canine glaucoma and was awarded his RCVS Fellowship for studies on aqueous production and drainage. He received the BSAVA Simon Award in 1977 for ‘outstanding contributions to veterinary surgery', the BVA William Hunting Award in 1983, the BSAVA Bourgelat Award in 1986 for ‘outstanding contributions to the field of small animal practice' and the BSAVA Blaine Award in 1995 for ‘outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal medicine and surgery'. A Past President of both the British (BSAVA) and the World (WSAVA) Small Animal Veterinary Associations, Professor Bedford is an RCVS Foundation Diplomate in Veterinary Ophthalmology (1982) and a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (1993). He is a RCVS Registered Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology. His interests include all aspects of veterinary and comparative ophthalmology, particularly inherited disease, and his current research includes angle bypass for the treatment of canine glaucoma and the aetiology of retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy in the dog.
He have been Chief Panelist for The Kennel Club, UK's BVA/KC/ISDS Hereditary Eye Diseases Panel, and is Chairman of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Ophthalmology Hereditary Dieseases Committee.

England

GILL AVERIS, BVMS,MRCVS (AI-specialist)
Hello, my name is Gill Averis. I have been qualified for longer than I would like to say! After working in Lincoln, London and Keighley, I opened this surgery in 1983. I have a special interest in canine reproduction having trained at International Canine Genetics in America.

I own many dogs. I show and breed mainly Weimaraners but also Labradors, Sussex Spaniels and German Shorthaired Pointers. The Weimaraners are my first love and I have been lucky enough to breed quite a few Show Champions and Champions. I judge all the gundog breeds at open shows and have been the judge of Weimaraners at Crufts. I am on several committees including the Kennel Club and have written Veterinary Advice for Gundog Owners and The Pet Owners Guide to the Weimaraner.

England

MODERATOR:
DAVID SHIELDS, England

England

Program
  SATURDAY 15th
  PROGRAM & TIMETABLE FOR SYMPOSIUM DAY 1
   
  9am for 9.30 start  
  9am Coffee/tea/cold drink ~ registration  
  9.30am David Swank introduces the panellists and the moderator. Panellists in turn give a brief resume of their involvement in the breed  appx 5 min. each   
  09.55 am Panellists each give a short illustrated overview of the breed in their respective countries (PowerPoint presentation - optional) appx 8 mins each   
  10.35 am Question and answers   
  10.50 Gill Averis talk of Artificial Insemination   
  11.20 pm Questions and answers   
  11.35 pm Jeff Sampson talk on genetics   
  12.15 pm Questions and answers   
  12.30 pm LUNCH - Hog Roast   
  1.30 pm Marie Merchant to explaine the differences between the Origin/FCI standard and the AKC standard   
  1.50 pm The Standard of the ESS. Each panellist in turn interprets the standard with supporting info and examples (powerpoint presentation) appx 10 min. each   
  2.40 pm Questions and answers   
  3.00 pm Coffee/tea/cold drink   
  3.15 pm Roll of the ESS in the field Colin/Carolyn Muirhead   
  3.45 pm Peter Bedfords presentation   
  4.15 pm Questions and answers   
  4.30 pm Moderator to sum up   
  4.40 pm Close David Swank   
  4.50 pm

  
SUNDAY 16th
  PROGRAM & TIMETABLE FOR SYMPOSIUM DAY 2  
  10am start Marquee and centre ring   
  10am Lecture and demonstration of judging protocols in Scandinavia by representatives from Sweden and Norway    
  12 mid-day Parade of Champions with full history and commentary     
  12.30 pm Lunch     
  1 pm Lecture and demonstration of judging protocols and an 
   explanation of the various class definitions in the UK     
  3:00 pm Open question time for panellist. Each panellistmemeber 
   will be available to answervquestions from the public on 
   any subject relating to the English Springer Spaniel 
   (in marquee)     
  3.40 pm Jan Fennell (The Dog Listener) to give a talk with Q&A 
   Canine Communication     
  Agility equipment will be available for use throughout the day
  Prof Peter Bedford will be running an eye testing session   
  5 pm close