Northern New England Brittany Club

History

30th Anniversary August 2008

FORWARD

The project of compiling some historical notes for the Twentieth Anniversary of the Northern New England Brittany Club became more complicated for me than anticipated. My sources for the early years have been incomplete, and the statistical information may contain factual errors I would be grateful to have corrected. I hope this summary may inspire some membership from early years to provide records and anecdotes of interest for the present membership. We are fortunate that Ron and Dot Stevenson are available to assist with identification of pictures from the early years for the Club archives and for their general knowledge of every aspect of the Club's history. While the list of unselfish contributors to the Club over the years has many names, none have been more crucial to the Club's continued existence then Ron and Dot Stevenson. While I have no desire to embarrass them with accolades, their contribution may not be ignored. JoAnn Godin, Tim and Lorraine Davis, Bryan Clark, and the Stevensons were the most kind and cooperative in helping with this project. Nor can we ignore the inspiration of our Brittanys for what they contribute to enjoyment of life and family. My Brittany, Jenny, is ultimately responsible for it all.

EARLY HISTORY

It began in an organizational meeting in a firehouse in New Hampshire in July, 1978 where a group, including Ron and Dot Stevenson and Jeff and Linda Smith, met for formation of a Club supporting "cooperation and friendship among owners and breeders of Brittanys". Twenty years later the specific dogs that inspired their owners to such organization are no longer present, and may be found now only in the memories and hearts of their owners and admirers or in named memorial trophies. Ron, Dot, Jeff and Linda are still active and as devoted to the Club's business and activities as they have been from the beginning. Other "charter members" from the early years include Car Lacaillade, Nancy Fletcher, and Manuel Vagos, who was the Club's first President. On March 12, 1979 the Articles of Agreement for the incorporation of he Club were filed with he Hopkinton Town Clerk and later filed on April 3, 1979 for the record with the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
At least two links to the early years of the Club persist today-the use of the Community Center in Contoocook, New Hampshire for the early spring and late fall banquet meeting of the Club (labeled for many years as the GAME DINNER and the CASSEROLE DINNER), and the annual recognition by an award to a Club member for good sportsmanship and contribution to the success of the Club know as the Gaines Medal (later the Ken-L-Ration Medal and, beginning in 1997, replaced by the RonDo Award in honor of Ron and Dot Stevenson).
By 1981 the Club had qualified with the American Kennel Club to hold it's first licensed field trial on May 23 and 24 at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire. By November, 1982 the Club was described as the largest Brittany Club in New England. While the membership over the years has varied, and average of about fifty active members and their families has been the usual census. The decade of the 1980's was thus begun with a successful licensed AKC field trial and a healthy membership. The Directors and membership meetings were held in private homes, at the Fish and Game headquarters, at the office of a Concord, NH Bank and at the enduring location of the Community Center in Contoocook.

DECADE OF THE 1980'S

The sites for the Club's licensed field trial shifted to Elm Brook Farm in 1982 on the flood control dam area of the Contoocook River. The Club's initiation of a summer fun day labeled "Members Day" was an annual event by 1982, and the location for Members Day remained Bear Brook State Park during the decade. Events included fun stakes for dogs of Club members, including designation of a "Club Champion", and some show competition and instruction.

The Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown Memorial Trophy for the winner of the Open All Age Stake at the Club's annual trial was first offered in 1982, and will not be retired until won three times by the same dog. The Trophy was donated by Ron and Dot Stevenson in honor of their liver and white Dual Champion Brittany.

In 1985 the Club became interested in a new event described as a hunting test for pointing breeds being formed under AKC guidelines. As a licensed field trial club, a qualifying sanctioned Plan "A" test was required to qualify the Club to offer a licensed hunt test. A preliminary Plan "B" hunt test has been held in 1985. On September 1, 1986 at New Ipswich, New Hampshire at the grounds of Tony Haigh's Skat Game Preserve the Club offered a sanctioned Plan "A" hunting test under the supervision of Stan Morono as test chairman. The following year the Club held its first licensed AKC Hunting Dog Test for pointing breeds on June 14 at Bear Brook State Park. The availability of hunt tests for the bird hunter not interested in field trial competition for his dogs added a dimension to Club membership that has been helpful in retaining interest and Club support.

The Brittany has always been promoted as a "dual dog" and the Specialty Show interests of Club members wee active in the decade. In 1987 the Club was approved to hold its first licensed AKC Specialty Show in July, 1987 in Burlington, Vermont. Correspondence shows Club members busy in the early 1980's showing their Brittanys with at least seven show champions owned by Club members in 1986. As in the hunt test area, the goal of Club members to qualify to to hold an AKC licensed specialty show, a fun Members Day, and Membership meetings involving a Spring Game Dinner and a Fall Casserole Dinner was established as annual activities of the Club Membership.

Ron Stevenson Memorial

DECADE OF THE 1990's

A great deal of cooperative dog club effort helped to organize and obtain from the Army Corps of Engineers in 1990 the use of a field trial area named Sharpe's Farm Field Trial Area, Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Hunt Tests, Members Day events and Field Trials were shifted to this location. Club members also were instrumental in developing a new licensed field trial location at the Franklin Falls Flood Control Area at Hill ,New Hampshire and a wild bird trial area in the Kilkenny area of the White Mountain National Forest near Berlin, New Hampshire. A non-regular Amateur Walking Hunting Dog stake was added to the licensed field trial program in 1991 for participation of the hunting dog, and the Kosowicz Trophy was established for the highest placing Club member.

The popular Pheasant Shoot for members was started in November, 1990, and is now scheduled for the day of the Casserole Dinner. Today the name has been changed to "Club Day".

Our hunt tests now draw strong entries, and our field trials usually run at last 100 dogs. Club members Ray Gorman, Jim Kennedy, Kevin Flanders, Paul Mirski, and others have been involved at the Regional and national level with field trial wins. From the Show area the leadership in this decade has been from Barbara Goss, Phil Thayer, Jo-Ann Godin, and Donna Howe. In 1997 Northern New England Brittany Club was host club for two American Brittany Club National Events: the ABC Summer Specialty Show on Saturday, July 12 at Essex Junction, Vermont, with a total entry of 152 Brittanys, and the ABC Grouse and Woodcock Championship on October 30-31 at the Kilkenny Management Area near Berlin, New Hampshire on wild birds. Both events went off very well thanks to the cooperative efforts of many. It was a nice way to enter the twentieth year of the Club's existence.

There are a few more summaries prepared for record to close out this exercise. A 1997 calendar of scheduled events shows the activity of he Club at this time. A list of the officers from 1978 to date (with some omissions and probable errors). A list of the winners of the President's Award, and Award given to those who were of particular help to the President during the year and who have contributed to the good of the Club are recorded back to 1986. If there are prior recipients, we should discover them, as they all deserve recognition. I have added the names of our Club Champions (call names) and owners for the last six years.