WSSCA Awards

Award Listing

Award Requirements

The Deckard Cup Award

The Deckard Cup Award is presented by William & Jane Pferd. (10/6/74). The award should be open to all dogs and bitches registered as Welsh Springer Spaniels with the American Kennel Club. Owners must be members of the Club for the full award year. The award will be administered by a committee appointed by the Club.

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The Olympian Cup Award

The Olympian Cup Award is presented by Rick & Emily Preston. (8/23/78). To be awarded to the Top Winning Welsh Springer Spaniel Bitch. Scoring to be in the same manner as the Deckard Cup.

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The Wildfire Award

The Wildfire Award is presented by Tydaky Kennels, Maurice and Carol Krohn. (2/12/94). To be awarded to the top winning amateur member owned and handled dog. The owner, co-owners and handlers must be amateurs. Amateur is defined as someone who has not taken payment of any kind for showing any dog during the award year. The handler may be the member owner, co-owner, spouse, parent or child. Scoring and membership requirements will be the same as for the Deckard Cup. Prospective winners must submit information on a prescribed form by March 1st following the end of the award year. Applications and/or full rules may be obtained from Carol Krohn or the awards chairperson.

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The Statesman Award

The Statesman Award is presented by Statesman Kennels, Gary and Susan Riese and Meghen and Charles Bassel. The Statesman Award is to be awarded to the top winning Welsh springer spaniel with an AKC hunting title (JH, SH, and/or MH). To be eligible, a dog must have earned an AKC hunting title before the end of the scoring year, September 30. All owners must be members of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America for the full award year. The scoring system and scoring year is to be in the same manner as for the Deckard Cup. In the event of a tie, the Statesman Award shall be awarded to the dog with the highest number of group placements. If this results in a tie, the Statesman Award shall be awarded to the dog with the highest hunting title level, with a JH being the lowest level and a MH being the highest level. If this tie-breaker system results in more than one dog qualifying for the award, each of these qualifying dogs shall be listed on the award.

The award will consist of a Welsh springer spaniel head study mounted on a base. The base will have a metal plate attached for engraving. Each winner will be responsible for the engraving of their dog's name and the year won on the metal plate. The font and size of the lettering is to match that of the previous winner. The award shall be presented at the annual awards banquet each year. The winner shall be responsible for ensuring that the Statesman Award is available at the awards ceremony in the year following their possession of it. Each winner is expected to repair any damage to the award that occurs while the award is in their possession and shall report any damage to the award to the WSSCA National Awards and Trophy steward.

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The Founders Cup Award

The "Laddie Little C" Cup is presented by Carl and Francis Bloom, hereafter to be called the Founders Cup Award. The Founders Cup Award is presented by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bloom. The award is to be presented each year to the Welsh Springer Spaniel who defeats the most Welsh Springer Spaniels in the award year. The award year will be identical to the year that is used in the other awards that are given by the WSSCA. Points are tabulated for Best of Breed, Best of Opposite and Award of Merit in the same manner as for the Deckard Cup; however, no points are tabulated for group wins or Best in Show. To be eligible for this award, at least one owner must have been a member of WSSCA for the full award year

The first cup that will be used will bear the name "The Laddie Carswell Cup" in his memory. When this cup is filled with names of winners, the Blooms have the option of replacing the cup or allowing another club member to donate a cup.

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Scoring and the Scoring Year for the Deckard Cup, Olympian Cup, Wildfire Award and Statesman Award.

Scoring Year:

The time period for scoring the award will run from January 1st through December 31st.

Scoring:

Points to be tabulated for the Deckard, Olympian and Wildfire Awards shall be as follows: (Retroactive to 10/01/2010)

1. BOB receives one point for each dog defeated.
2. BOS receives one point for each dog defeated in that sex.

At the WSSCA National Specialty, Regional Specialty, and American Spaniel Club Specialty, additional points will be awarded as follows:

1. Select Dog - receives one point for each dog defeated.
2. Select Bitch - receives one point for each bitch defeated.
3. Awards of Merit - receives one point for each dog defeated in that sex, less the number of AOM for that sex.
4. If a select dog or select bitch also receives an award of merit, only the select points will count.

Additional points will be awarded for group placements as follows:

1. 1st place - 25 points; 2nd place - 20 points; 3rd place - 15 points; 4th place - 10 points
2. Best In Show will be awarded an additional 25 points.
3. Reserve Best In Show will be awarded an additional 20 points. Retroactive to the starting date of the AKC Reserve Best in Show Award, July 03, 2012.

The Founders Cup and Statesman Award also use the above Scoring Year and Scoring criteria with some modification. Review the Founders Cup and Statesman Award criteria for specific requirements.

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The Ch Cicero Gus, UDT Cup

The Ch Cicero Gus, UDT Cup is presented by William & Jane Pferd. To recognize the Welsh Springer Spaniel which has performed with consistency and quality in advanced levels of obedience. The award will be open to all Welsh Springers competing in Open A or B and Utility A or B classes at AKC recognized Obedience Trials. In the event that there are no Welsh in the advanced classes, the award will be opened to all Welsh competing in Novice A or B classes at AKC recognized Obedience Trials.

In order to become eligible for the annual award, the owner of the Welsh Springer Spaniel must be a member in good standing with the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America, Inc. for the full award year.

The award will go to the Welsh Springer Spaniel which has earned the five (5) highest scores in Open A or B or Utility A or B classes at AKC Obedience Trials.

If there are no qualifying scores in the advanced classes, the award will be given to the Welsh Springer Spaniel earning the three (3) highest scores in Novice A or B classes at AKC Obedience Trials.

Scoring Year:

The time period for scoring the award will run from October 1st through September 30th of the following year. This will allow for all scores to be officially published in the AKC Gazette and tabulated in time for the Annual Meeting.

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The Jesse Award

The Jesse Award is presented by Jim and Debbie Sackrison in memory of Jesse of Limberlost UD. To be awarded to the Highest Scoring Novice A or Novice B Welsh Springer Spaniel Dog/Handler team. Owners must be members in good standing of the Club for the full award year. Scoring is the highest score of the sum of the first three qualifying scores.

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CH “Wynd” UD Trophy

The CH “Wynd” UD Trophy is presented by Karen Lyle in honor of CH Rysan’s Whyrlwynd UD, CH Tydakys Wyndfall UD and CH Lynlee’s Nightwynd UD. This award recognizes the Welsh Springer Spaniel which has performed with consistency and quality in the Utility class. The award will be open to all Welsh Springer Spaniels competing in Utility A or B classes at AKC recognized obedience trials; however preference will be given to the Utility A class. The award will first go to the Welsh Springer Spaniel which has earned the five (5) highest scores in the Utility A class at AKC Obedience Trials. The top qualifying scores (up to five) for each competitor are combined into a single point value. The competitor with the highest point value will win the award.

If there are no qualifying scores in the Utility A class, the award will then go to the Welsh Springer Spaniel which has earned the five (5) highest scores in the Utility B class at AKC Obedience Trials. The top qualifying scores (up to five) for each competitor are combined into a single point value. The competitor with the highest point value will win the award.

In order to be eligible for the annual award, the owner(s) of the Welsh Springer Spaniel must be member(s) in good standing of the WSSCA for the full award year.

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The Limberlost Breeder of Merit Award

(Updated 01 March 2017)

The breeder must be a member of good standing with WSSCA for the full year prior to winning the award (for example, to be eligible for the 2017 award, the breeder would have to be a member in good standing from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 and for the year of the award). The breeder must apply for the award

1. Prior awardees of the Tom Joy Award are not eligible for this award for at least 3 years after the establishment of the Limberlost Breeder of Merit Award;
2. Must have bred or co-bred a minimum of 25 AKC Champions of Record (changed from 15 on the Tom Joy Award);
3. The name of the Kennel of any Champion dog/bitch will be the only name considered in the total number of AKC Champions of Record (this is to acknowledge that there is co-kennel breeding of dogs/bitches);
4. In the instance of co-kennel breeding, only the name of the 1st kennel will count towards the total number of AKC Champions of Record;
5. Foreign titles including Canadian, Mexican, or International championships will not count;
6. The names and registration numbers of the 25(or more) champions that qualify a kennel for the award will be from January 1st to December 31st of a specific year;
7. A breeder cannot receive the award more than once.

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Ron Mengel – Bred By Exhibitor Award.

The Ron Mengel Best Bred by Exhibitor award is an annual award donated by Susan Mengel in memory of Ron Mengel. The award shall be open to all class dogs and bitches competing in the National Specialty Bred By Exhibitor class and will be awarded by the judge of the National Specialty of that year. The competition will be between the winner of the Bred By Exhibitor Dog class and the winner of the Bred By Exhibitor Bitch class. If Winners Dog or Winners Bitch comes from the Bred By Exhibitor class they will automatically win the Best Bred By Exhibitor Award. If both Winners Dog and Winners Bitch come from the Bred By Exhibitor Class the one receiving the Best of Winners ribbon will automatically win the Best Bred By Exhibitor Award. Owners must be members of the Welsh Springer Spaniel club of America for a full year.

The perpetual award will be provided by Susan Mengel. The trophy will consist of a base with the name of the winner engraved on a plaque each year and a topper of some sort. The winner of that years‟ trophy will be allowed to keep the trophy for the award year only. Trophy must be returned to the Trophy chairperson to be awarded to the next years‟ National Specialty BBBE. The award will be presented at the annual banquet. This award will start at the 2009 National Specialty.

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The William Pferd III, Jr. Memorial Fund

Open to juniors who have at least one parent who is a member of the WSSCA for the full club year (October 1st to September 30th). Junior to include persons from eight years of age through seventeen years of age. Only activities acquired while in this age bracket shall count toward the award, though the award may be given to a person who is eighteen years old based on activities while still seventeen years old.

The amount of the award will be in the range of $100.00 to $200.00 (depending upon the account). The Committee shall determine the winner based on the juniors overall contribution to and involvement with Welsh Springer Spaniels. The chairperson shall supply photocopies of candidates activity lists to the Committee by December 1st. The Committee shall determine the award winner by January 15th.

Candidates shall submit the following to the Committee chairperson by November 1st.

1. Full name, address, phone number.
2. Birth date, grade in school.
3. Complete list of all Welsh Springer-related activities (to include date, event, and specific activity, and award (if applicable) for the previous club year of October 1st through September 30th.

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Top Junior Handler Showmanship Award

The WSSCA Top Junior Handler Award is presented by the Welsh springer spaniel Club of America, Inc. The WSSCA Top Junior Handler Award is to be awarded to the junior handler who earns the most points in Junior Showmanship competition. A point shall be earned for each junior defeated in competition. A junior shall only earn points when competing with a Welsh springer spaniel in Junior Showmanship.

Open to juniors who have at least one member of their family who is a member of WSSCA and juniors who are a member of WSSCA.

The scoring year shall run from October 1st to September 30th of the following year. In the event of a tie, the WSSCA Top Junior Handler Award shall be awarded to the junior with the highest number of Best Junior Handler wins during the scoring year. If this results in a tie, the Top Junior Handler Award shall be awarded to the junior with the highest number of open class wins during the scoring year. If this tie-breaker system results in more than one junior qualifying for the award, each of these qualifying juniors shall receive an award.

The award will consist of a Best in Show sized Rosette to be presented at the WSSCA Annual Awards Banquet. The top ten ranked Juniors shall have their names read at the banquet and shall receive a small rosette to commemorate their dedication to the breed. The Rosette(s) shall be purchased using a small portion of the available funds in the William Pferd III, Jr. Memorial Fund account.

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The Holly House Master Excellent Agility Award

1. This perpetual award is presented by Anne Legare in memory of Holly House Daniel O‟Killagay MX NAJ TT CGC, for presentation to the WSS earning a Master Excellent title (MX) in the standard AKC Agility class.
2. All WSS earning a Master Excellent title (MX) in the Standard AKC Agility class will have their names on the trophy. The owner(s) of each dog winning the trophy is responsible for the engraving expenses and supplying a photograph for the photo album. The responsibility of having the name(s) placed on the trophy within one year of earning the trophy rests on the owner(s) of the dog winning the trophy as described in item 3.
3. If more than one dog receives a MX title in an award year, the winning dog will be the one with the most cumulative MACH points earned in the Excellent B Standard class and this dog‟s owner(s) will get to display the award for the year.
4. To be eligible, the owner(s) of the dog must be a member(s) of the WSSCA for the full award year.
5. The calendar year for the award shall be October 1, to September 30.
6. A photograph and pertinent information of every Welsh springer spaniel earning a Master Excellent title will be put into a photo album by the winner as described in item 3. This album will accompany the award.
7. The 81/2 inch trophy will be a silver plated loving cup with two handles. It will be mounted on a walnut base, which can be added onto. There will be individual nameplates.
8. Each year before the National Specialty, the award and album are to be returned to the national trophy steward in time to be presented at the banquet at the National Specialty.
9. This trophy is retroactive, so that every dog that has been awarded an AKC MX Standard title will have their name on the trophy.

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The Rubicon-Middlebrook Master Agility Champion Award

1. This perpetual award is presented by Linda Brennan (Rubicon Kennel) and Mary Mandich-Steigerwald (Middlebrook Kennel) to recognize Welsh Springer spaniels (WSS) earning their AKC Master Agility Championship (MACH) titles.
2. This award can be made multiple times to the same WSS for each successive MACH title (e.g. MACH2, MACH3, etc.) earned.
3. All WSS earning a MACH title will have their names on the trophy. The owner(s) of each dog earning a MACH title for this trophy is responsible for the engraving expenses and supplying a photograph for the photo album. The responsibility of having the name(s) placed on the trophy within one year of earning the trophy rests on the owner(s) of the dog winning the trophy as described in item 4.
4. If more than one dog receives a MACH title in an award year, the winning dog will be the one with the highest AKC agility statistical ranking for the calendar year (January 1 to December 31) of the given award year as described in item 6. The scoring system used by the AKC Agility statistical ranking is the number of Double-Qs X10 plus the number of MACH speed points earned in the calendar year. The owner(s) of the winning dog will get to display the award for the year.
5. To be eligible, the owner(s) of the dog must be a member(s) of the WSSCA for the full award year as described in item 6.
6. The calendar year for the award shall be January 1 to December 31 of the year prior to the National Specialty where the award will be presented.
7. A photograph and pertinent information for every Welsh Springer spaniel earning a MACH title will be put into a photo album by the winner as described in item 4. This album will accompany the award.
8. The trophy will be artwork depicting WSS doing agility embedded in an acrylic easel (approx. dimension are 5” X 7”) and mounted on a wooden base which will be used for mounting the individual nameplates. Additional wooden bases can be added on as needed. The nameplates shall be engraved with the AKC registered name including all AKC titles as of the date when the MACH title was earned. The year that the MACH title was earned should be engraved below the registered name.
9. Each year before the National Specialty, the award and album are to be returned to the national trophy steward in time to be presented at the banquet at the National Specialty.
10. This trophy is retroactive, so that every dog that has been awarded an AKC MACH title will have their name on the trophy.

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Versatility Certificate

To be awarded a versatility certificate (VC) a dog must be AKC titled in at least one area and meet the following criteria in each area:

1. Conformation:
• Must be awarded an AKC championship or earn a major in an AKC licensed show.
2. Obedience: (Any Single Area Required)
• Obedience -
• Earn an AKC companion dog title (CD) or a qualifying score (leg) in Novice A or Novice B at an AKC licensed obedience trial.
• Agility -
• Earn an AKC novice agility title or a qualifying leg in AKC novice agility.
• Tracking -
• Earn an AKC tracking dog title (TD)
• Obedience -
• Earn an AKC Rally Obedience dog title (RN).
3. Field: (Any Single Area Required)
• Field -
• Earn an AKC hunt test title (JH, SH, or MH) or qualify at an AKC licensed hunt test at any level.
• Earn a WSSCA working dog (WD) or working dog excellent (WDX) certificate.

The versatility certificate excellent (VCX) may be awarded to Welsh Springer Spaniels earning titles in three areas:

1. Conformation
2. Hunting
3. And one of the following:
• Obedience
• Agility
• Tracking
4. At least one title must be earned at an advanced level of competition.
• A CDX or UD title would satisfy the requirement for obedience.
• An Open or Excellent title in agility would satisfy the requirement for agility.
• A TDX or VST would satisfy the requirement for tracking.
• A SH or MH title would be regarded as an advanced title for hunting.

Owners must apply for these awards sending copies of AKC registration papers, AKC title certificates or photocopies of the AKC Show Result pages indicating awards such as majors, obedience or agility or hunt test legs, or tracking test passes. 

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Achievement Awards

The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America, Inc. awards Certificates of Merit to members who have submitted photographs of their new title holders to the Club Historian. (Revised 11/94)

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Greenwood Cup

This award is presented in memory of Elizabeth Lee Wasserman (1940-2012) to recognize exceptional service to the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America.

The qualities Beth Wasserman exemplified should be encouraged and recognized by WSSCA. Beth's accomplishments and qualities included:

1. Service as an officer in her regional club,
2. Service to the national club in support of several National Specialties,
3. A willingness to go out of her way to share her knowledge of Welsh Springer Spaniels, field work, conformation and grooming and, most importantly,
4. A deeply held sense of fairness and good sportsmanship.

At the discretion of the Board of Directors of WSSCA, ("the Board") this award shall be made at the WSSCA annual banquet. The Board recognizes that this award may not necessarily be made every year, but instead only when a member of WSSCA meets these high standards of exceptional service to the club. By written application to the Secretary of WSSCA, members of the club may nominate candidates for this award but the board may also select a candidate nominated solely by a board member.

Qualifications for the award are as follows:

• The recipient must be a member of WSSCA at the time of the award.
• Candidates for the award shall be judged on:
1. Their sense of fair play and good sportsmanship.
2. Their exceptional service to WSSCA and/or its affiliated regional clubs.
3. Their dedication to the Welsh Springer Spaniel breed.
4. Their willingness to mentor and/or bring new people into the breed.
5. Their service to the sport of dogs on any level (conformation, field, obedience, agility, rally, etc).

The Greenwood Cup is a silver cup on a custom wooden base, offered in memory of Elizabeth Lee Wasserman (Greenwood Welsh Springer Spaniels) through the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America. The recipient must be a member of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America at the time of the award. After the award is announced, the trophy shall pass into temporary possession of the recipient until the next WSSCA Annual Meeting. At that time the trophy shall return to the trophy chairman until the Board selects the next recipient. The ultimate ownership of the trophy is to be retained by the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America and may not be retired. The names of all awardees shall be engraved on the trophy at the expense of WSSCA. A small pewter cup, engraved with the name of the recipient and the year of award, shall be given to each recipient, at the expense of WSSCA, for their permanent possession.

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The Gambler RAE Award

The Gambler RAE Award is awarded annually at the National Specialty Banquet to recognize the Welsh Springer Spaniel who has performed with distinction in the advanced levels of rally. The award will be open to all Welsh Springer Spaniels who have earned the final qualifying leg of the Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE) title within the club year. The award honors the first Welsh Springer Spaniel to earn the RAE, U-CD HIT CH Rolyart's Read Em And Weep CD RAE NA NAJ OAP OJP CGC, owned by Karen Young.

If more than one Welsh Springer Spaniel earned the RAE during the club year, the tiebreaker will be awarded to the dog with the highest combined Advanced B/Excellent B score earned on the 10th (titling) leg. Should two dogs earn the same combined score for the 10th (titling) leg during the club year, the 9th combined score will break the tie. This method will continue through previous combined scores until there is a clear winner.

In order to be eligible for the annual award, the owner(s) of the Welsh Springer Spaniel must be member(s) in good standing of the WSSCA for the full award year.

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AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award

In the American Kennel Club’s ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate its volunteer club members. The AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award program was established in 2006 to provide each member club with an AKC Medallion to award to one of its own on a yearly basis. This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the sport of purebred dogs, embodied the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC member club. Medallions are awarded solely at the club’s discretion.

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