Bruce Outhouse
Halifax, Nova Scotia

I grew up in a small fishing village on an island off the coast of Nova Scotia.  I have hunted since age 14.  The island had a good resident population of pheasant and offered what was probably the finest woodcock shooting in North America during the fall migration.  Back then, however, springers were not in the picture – pheasant were hunted with beagles and labs; flighting woodcock usually with no dogs at all.

I was first introduced to springers by Jamie Armour in 1970.  Jamie and I were classmates in law school and we spent many enjoyable fall afternoons afield when Jamie should have been studying.  Jamie had two springers at the time, Razor and Sinbad.  They were not polished field trial dogs but I was amazed at their ability and desire.  I have hunted over springers ever since, although I did not officially own a springer until 1987.  My wife, Judy, and I were busy raising three young children – Ian, Jackie and Aaron – and thought that adding an energetic puppy to the mix would be more than we could handle.

During those years, I shared the use of several Saighton dogs with my good friend, Jim Kimber.  All of Jim’s dogs came from Dr. David McCurdy’s Glenrock Kennel and it was through Jim that I met the legendary “Dr. Dave”.  As I think most people would agree, Dr. Dave has done more for the Springer Spaniel breed and the sport of field trialing than anyone else in Canada.  His love for the dogs and positive attitude are obvious to anyone fortunate enough to make his acquaintance.

It was with Dr. Dave’s encouragement that I got into the field trial game in 1991.  My first dog, Glenrock Rook, was 4 years old by then and had had hundreds of pheasants shot over her, but had never been steadied!!  Doc arranged for his protégé, John Mitchell, to perform that miracle and Rook went on to earn her championship in less than a full season.  I have been hooked ever since.

I have competed in 10 Canadian National Championships, including all but one since 1997.  I also chaired the committee which organized the National when it was hosted by the Scotia Springer Club in 2001.  I know how much time and effort goes into these events by everyone involved – the organizers, handlers and owners.  I am honoured to have been chosen to be one of your judges this year and thank the Central Ontario   Spaniel Club for nominating me.  I wish I could promise you all a ribbon but I can’t.  I do, however, wish every one of you the very best of luck.

Larry Francovich

I’ve been involved with Springers and Springer trials for almost 40 years. I have seen and judged some phenomenal dogs over that period and the highlight was judging the 1980 National Open with Mel Wolfe (who was a superlative trainer, handler, and competitor) which was the year Saighton Scud won all three Nationals.

I started out as a hunter and went to my first field trial in the fall of 1968, saw Saighton Sizzler pass out from heat exhaustion, revived, and came back in the third series to win the trial. He went on to win back-to-back Nationals. I was eternally “hooked”.

I was honoured to be asked to judge the 1979 Canadian National with Jim Abbey and after arriving in Peterborough late the evening before the trial, had to turn around and head back home due to a major family emergency. It is a great pleasure and honour to have this opportunity to come back and judge the 2007 Canadian Nationals. Joan and I have been attending Canadian Trials for quite a few years and have always enjoyed the friendliness, hospitality, and competition. I’m really looking forward to judging with Bruce Outhouse and wish all competitors the best of luck and have a great trial!