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May 23, 2007 - ECSCA FTC Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM PDT by Chairman Vicky Thomas. 
Present:  Sue Rose, Tawney Crawford, Martin Bell, Paul McGagh, Barbara Haupt and Nancy Murphy

Vicky informed us that she had updated the field champion section of Fieldcockers.com to an Excel spreadsheet that will now allow sorting.  She has a volunteer to keep it up as well as to update Hunt Test titles.

The Gunner’s Committee is finishing up the work on the Gunner/Gun Captain Guidelines and is expected to report on it at the next meeting.

Vicky gave a report on her attendance to the ECSCA Board of Directors meeting and participation in the ECSCA Hunt Test held in conjunction with the National Specialty.  Many attended the Hunt Test on the day prior including ECSCA President Kathy Moore, Sandy Marr and Karen Spurlin.  Vicky felt that they found it to be an enjoyable and informative experience.  There was a minor gun infraction that was witnessed and dealt with, but this led to an increased awareness that a gunner’s program should be considered for Hunt Tests as is now being prepared for Field Trials.

At the Board Meeting, it was approved for the Montana group to host the 2008 National Cocker Championship.  A previous AKC paperwork delay which resulted in a fine and short suspension to the ECSCA was again brought up with emphasis placed on appointing a competent trial secretary.  Apparently there was another similar glitch with the 2005 NCC and the ECSCA is becoming concerned.  The Field Trial Committee shall try to encourage all field trial secretaries to be more diligent and direct any questions to Sue Rose.

The ECSCA Board of Directors also discussed the possibility of holding a set of field trials in conjunction with the National Specialty in 2009 in Pennsylvania in the towns of Lancaster and Chester Springs.  This would coordinate with the Pennsylvania trial dates as follows:
April 12 Hunt Test
April 13 Tracking Test/ Tracking Test Excellent Test
April 14-18 Specialty Show
April 19, 20 & 21 Field Trials
The FTC has asked Martin Bell to check with Mike Gilpin and the Mid Atlantic Hunting Spaniel Club to see if they have any interest in hosting this event.  These are the options that the board gave us: 1) Amateur National (over Sat & Sun), 2) 2 Amateur Trials (Sat & Sun), or 3) 1 Amateur and 2 Open Stakes (over Sat & Sun) in that order.  An Amateur National was rejected due to the time of year for bird quality.

The ECSCA Board of Directors will make a final decision on the Hunt Test breed style description based on a conference call to be set up between the FTC and the HTC (Hunt Test Committee).  The BOD is not willing to delete the terminology “merry temperament” from the description as it is also included in the conformation standard.  This telephone conference call will be set up in the near future.  The FTC revisions to the original HTC version is on Fieldcockers.com.

We currently have approximately 25 qualifiers for a National Amateur Championship Stake.  At the present time, the minimum entry required is the same as a regular stake: 10.  The National Open stake went from 5 years, to 3 years and may possibly be lowered to 2 years.  All 2006 NCC participants were qualified within 2 years.  The FTC unanimously supports a 5 year qualification status for the first National Amateur which can be adjusted as needed. 

Although no formal complaints were made, there has apparently been some criticism received regarding spousal (or other family participation) of trial handlers in key roles such as gunning and bird planting.   This committee wholeheartedly rejects the notion that any impropriety has taken place or will take place.  In fact, this Field Trial Committee unanimously supports any cocker enthusiast who chooses to participate in any trial process in which he or she is qualified.  It has been standard procedure thus far for all trials workers to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner.   We have been fortunate in our sport to have nothing but ladies and gentleman involved.  There shall be no “nepotism rules” emanating from this committee.

The qualifications for membership on the Field Trial Committee came up for discussion.  Since the FEC has been divided into the FTC and the HTC, a new set of qualifications should be defined.  The FEC membership qualifications are listed in the 7/31/04 minutes that can be found on Fieldcockers.com.  Ultimately, the BOD of the ECSCA appoints and approves all committee members; however we would request that the following criteria be considered.  We would like to see a cross section of ECSCA members who are active field trial participants of the highest caliber. They should have a minimum of 5 years experience in handling and/or training an English Cocker.  They should own, handle or have trained an English Cocker that is qualified for the NCC as of  the date they are appointed.  Some exceptions may be considered by the current FTC for recommendation to the Board.

The FTC is currently made up of 4 Regional Representatives and 3 members at large, which includes the Chairman.  There was some discussion that at least 1 Professional Trainer/Handler should be included and perhaps even two.  Rumi would like to see the regions dived into 7 sections, but was not present at this meeting to elaborate.  We want to hear her ideas before we make any final decisions. 

The new “live bird” rule for Hunt Tests that concerned Barbara Haupt has been resolved through interpretation of the language.  The rule says that a live bird “should” be thrown, not that a live bird “must” be thrown.  At the discretion of the test club, committee &/or judge a dead bird, with a shot fired, may be used if the alternative is considered unsafe.  Therefore, at the discretion of the judges, a freshly killed dead bird, with a shot fired, may be used.

The FTC would like to begin the process for selecting the NCC judges for 2008.  All names suggested will be considered by the FTC and the top contenders will be voted upon by the owners of qualified dogs.   The distribution and publication of these minutes shall serve as notice for name suggestions from the cocker community at large.  Please contact your Regional Representative or anyone on the FTC.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:20PM PDT and the next meeting tentatively scheduled for 2 weeks from today (June 6, 2007)

Respectfully submitted,
Tawney