Clockwise from 1 o'clock: CFC Glenrock Ace, CFC Glenrock Ripple, CFC Rosemount's Rising Star, CFC Rosemount's Rocky and CFC Glenrock Rampant Has anyone ever run five related field trial champions in an American open, amateur or in a Canadian open all age field trial? In a recent Canadian case, the five dogs included a dam, two dogs from her first litter and two others from her second. This was an "once in a lifetime event", for myself as well as my dogs. It took place at the 0pen all age trial hosted by the Club de Chiens de Chasse de Quebec (the Hunting Dog Club of Quebec) at Becancour, near Trois Riveries in Quebec on June 11th, 2005. The dam is my Canadian Field Champion (CFC) Glenrock Ripple, born on December 23rd, 1993. Her sire was the 1998 Canadian National Champion (CNC), CFC Birdrowe Fury of Webbswood (UK), and her dam was CFC Glenrock Red Hot Pepper. The two dogs from Ripple’s first litter are Glenrock Rampant and Glenrock Ace, born on May 4th of 1998. Their sire was CFC Flushing Wing Jake the Snake. The two dogs from Ripple’s second litter are Rosemount’s Rising Star and Rosemount’s Rock, born on April 21st, 2000. Their sire was CFC Flushing Wing Jazz Man, the Canadian High Point Dog in 2003 and again in 2004. Of the five, Rosemount’s Rock was the last to achieve his Championship - having placed 1st, his second win, in the open all age trial hosted by the Prince Edward Interprovincial Springer Spaniel Club that was held on Prince Edward Island on Saturday May 28th, 2005. Following that win, I realized that I now had five field trial champions, though the last time that Ripple had competed in any licensed field trial was some two years ago in the Spring of 2003 in Nova Scotia. As the entries to the CCCQ trials had not closed, I decided to bring Ripple out of her two year retirement and run all five of my champions in the CCCQ’s June 11th 2005 trial. So Ripple, almost twelve years old, ran against two of her first breeding offspring Ace and Ramp, aged seven plus two of her second breeding, Star and Rocky, aged five. The field consisted of 30 entries, with many dogs entered from both Canada and the USA. Handlers included: Jim Keller, Cliff Vinke, Jason Green, David McIntire, Theresa Sampson, Carolyn Oliver, Michel Bourdeau, Bruno Gosselin, Gerry Babin, Alex Smith, Andre Trudel, Mario Gagon, Robert Ford and others. The Judges were Pat Perry from Massachusetts and Cosimo Cristo from Ontario. The conditions were anything but ideal. It was very hot, 32C (90F) with very little breeze, especially in the third series. The cover ranged from mixed high grasses to brush with occasional trees... real hunting cover! Ripple, Ramp, Star, David Dibblee, Ace and Rocky Ten dogs - including Rampant and Star - were called back to the third series. Unfortunately, but perhaps to be expected, Ripple did not finish the trial, (her only training having consisted of two pigeons the night before) but her second series finds were great. Ace and Rocky also did not finish. However, at the end of the day, Star won the trial was and Rampant placed fourth. Needless to say, a GREAT DAY for me and my dogs. To have all five of my Canadian champions running in the same trial was a memorable event in itself. To have Star win and have Rampant place fourth certainly "put the icing on the cake". I plan to attend the Canadian National this fall and to run Ace, Rampant, Star and Rocky. That trial will be held at St. Anne de la Perade, also near Trois Rivieres, Quebec. It will start on Friday, October 7th. 2005. I am looking forward to seeing many trialing friends from both sides of the border at that time. David Dibblee acquired his first field bred springer spaniel, Glenrock Rickmansworth "Ricky" in 1969 from none other than Dr. David "Doc" McCurdy. (See the article on "The Doc" by Shirley Woods published in Spaniel Journal's May-June 2005 issue.) Ricky was out of CFC Saightin's Sort and Saighton's Samantha - both dogs having been bred by Talbot Radcliffe in Wales and sold to the Doc. Samantha was the first female that Talbot sold with breeding privileges. Back in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s, David was actively involved in the formation of the Scotia Springer Club including helping to draft it’s trial standards - well before the recognition of the club by the CKC. He served as it’s third President from 1971 through 1972. Thereafter, while enjoying my Springers, Ricky, then later, Candy and Ruff, the pressures of business precluded any serious trialing on Dibblee's part during the period from 1973 until 1993, though he trained his dogs and hunted them each fall whenever he was able. In 1993, Ruff was eleven and the Doc agreed to sell Ripple to David - with breeding rights. He acknowledged that his breeding days were coming to an end so, if Dibblee wished to establish his own line, he could choose a female and be free to breed her if he so wished. David Dibblee says that he owes a great deal to Dr McCurdy. He also credits John Mitchell who has been his trainer, as well as my dogs’ trainer, too, from time to time. Ripple was Dibblee's first female. He bred her to Flushing Wing Jake the Snake in 1998, when she was five. She had six puppies of which he kept two: Rampant and Rawdon, and his son-in-law bought a third, Ace. Rampant and Ace showed real promise. Rawdon was given to his grand daughter, Myriam, in Quebec. Based on Ripple's performances afield, and upon the promise being shown by Ace and Rampant, David bred her again in 2000 to Flushing Wing Jazz Man. Dibblee had had Jazz for six months, hunted him throughout the Fall of 1999 and was very impressed. Ripple was his first bitch. He made a good choice for Ripple's second mate as Jazz was championed early in his career and named the high point dog in Canada in 2003 and again in 2004. He has been bred many times since Ripple and has sired a number of other champions. Rosemount’s Star and Rocky are two of the three dogs from his first breeding. As with Ripple’s first breeding, Dibblee kept two and gave the third (Risser) to his daughter Diana. He has four daughters - and they have eight springers in their families... seven of which are from Ripple’s breedings - four of which are champions. The other three are just great family dogs. Ripple achieved her championship with her win in PEI in 1998. Ace received his in 2000, Rampant in 2001, Star in 2003 and Rocky in 2005. Star and Rocky are also registered with the AKC. All five dogs have also placed in championship - both open and amateur - stakes in the USA. Dibblee comments, "I have enjoyed training and trialing my dogs in both countries. I’ve made many friends because of our common interests in springer spaniels. I hope to be able to continue to run my dogs in both countries for many years to come and to continue to enjoy the camaraderie that comes with sharing days afield with great dogs and good friends."