2025 National Specialty Hunt Tests, Caldwell, Texas.  Where Legends are made…!

Every year at the National Specialty, SCOA sponsors all levels of AKC and NAVHDA hunt tests, including the AKC water test, a requirement for Spinone to achieve either a Senior or Master hunt title.  This year’s tests were held Wednesday, March 19th in Caldwell, Texas, following the show events.  Due to the early timing of Nationals, there were no NAVHDA entries (last year our test was filled!), and in fact, the Lone Star Chapter of NAVHDA, who had offered to host the test, cancelled a day of testing for their own chapter, as test entries are down overall.

 

The hunt tests for SCOA are always interesting.  While some breeds hold tests annually on the same weekend and at the same place, SCOA’s are held in different places, in different regions, and anytime between March and June.  Our tests have been held in hot, dry, and dusty conditions, or in cold, damp, and muddy, at high altitudes and low.  2025’s tests were of the hot, dry, and WINDY variety!  Also special about the SCOA tests, is that ours is the only AKC breed club to require an annual NAVHDA test.  We recognize the importance of our dogs being able to work both land and water, and SCOA’s association with NAVHDA has always been close.

 

At the conclusion of the SCOA testing, the “Legends of the Field” trophy is awarded.  This annual SCOA club award is presented to a Spinone with outstanding performance in the annual tests.  The winner is determined by the level of testing achieved, passes, and scores.

 

And as always, SCOA test secretary Alyssa Pease had everything in order.  There are many moving parts to a hunt test.  Grounds must be found, judges secured, live birds ordered and transported.  Then there is the whole team of volunteers to be coordinated:  bird planters, HQ set-up/tear down, qualified gunners, and all the many hands that are needed to make for a successful test day.  An extra thank you needs to go to Alyssa Pease – who after being the brains and organization behind SCOA’s hunt tests since the AKC recognized Spinoni, she’s finally passing the torch.  Thank you, Alyssa!

 

This test was a “Double Test”, meaning that each dog had the opportunity to enter and run twice.  The test was open to all recognized AKC pointing breeds, so our dogs were braced with a Weimaraner, Brittany, German Wirehair, and several German Shorthairs.  The scenting conditions were difficult: hot and dry, under a full sun, with a gusting Texas wind. 

 

Six Spinone took to the field that day, five Juniors and one Master.  It was a busy time at the Junior level.  Chuck Forry from Colorado had his hands full, handling 3 young dogs.  Although Ivy and Violet didn’t fare as well (tough conditions, especially for youngsters), his Geuse pulled off his first two JH passes.  Meanwhile, John Kavalier from Iowa , ran his Gigi for her last two passes, thus earning her a new JH title.   Sharon Fix came from Minnesota for the event.  Not only was this Sharon’s first National Specialty, it was also Trudi’s (and Sharon’s) first ever runs at any hunt test.  Being unsure of the task at hand, Trudi’s first run in the morning was hard, but then the lightbulbs came on.  Trudi tore up the field on her second run to earn her first Junior Hunt ribbon, and a start on her journey to a JH title.  Ted Wentink’s Jack ran the Master level tests.  Following a first run “DQ” where Jack’s steadiness broke down, Ted and Jack had a tailgate conversation about it.  Jack subsequently went out and nailed a beautiful second run for a Master Hunter pass, and capturing the 2025 “Legends of the Field” Award.

Morning test -

JH:

Tama Giovanna Della Riserva (Kavalier)
Dry Grass Goes Super Nova ((Forry)

Afternoon Test - 

MH:

GCHB CH Kalas John Jameson Cowboy RA SH CGCA TKN (Dunn/Wentink)

JH:

Tama Giovanna Della Riserva (Kavalier) NEW TITLE

Dry Grass Goes Super Nova (Forry)

Camkota True Colors (Fix)

 

With the 2026 National Specialty being in Colorado next May, the hunt tests will present whole new challenges.  We’ll gain a few thousand feet in altitude, and the weather could be anything.  If you’ve never done it, consider trying your hand at a Junior Hunt test, and watch your dog’s excitement and God-given instincts kick in – trust me, it’s pure magic.  You have almost a year now to prepare – which Spinone will be the next “Legend of the Field?”

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Parent Club Winners from our 2025 National.

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Notes from the Field: HerUpland Bird Dog Camp