2026 Nationals
Prairie Spaniel Club
2026 Canadian National Open Championship
October 6 to October 8, 2026
Vermillion, Alberta
National Committee
Field Trial Chairman:
Field Trial Co-Chairman:
Field Trial Secretary and Treasurer:
Gun Captain:
Co-gun Captain:
Head Marshall:
Game Keeper:
Judges
Jeff Cubitt
I was born and have lived my entire life in Ontario. My parents allowed me to have a dog when I was ten and I have hunted with one since obtaining my hunting license when I turned fifteen.
I purchased my first Springer from Mel Wolfe in 1992. “Bimi-Dan’s Ruff and Ready” (Ruffy) was named for our target species — Ruffed Grouse. Her training was minimal but her ability to find birds was excellent. I will forever remember many fine days afield.
My first trial, Springer was actually a Christmas present for my daughter and the two bonded immediately. Kimberlee did her basic training, and I took her “hunting” training at the invitation of her breeder, Lavern Forwell. Her abilities far exceeded mine and she taught me so much as she became an FTCH and MH.
Five Springers later, four of which still live in the house, the enjoyment from training, trailing and sharing the sport with so many great people I’m proud to call friends, is undiminished.
I have judged trials in every province that has a club hosting trials and many states from Maine to Washington. I have been privileged to have judged with many “senior” judges who are highly regarded in our sport. Their wealth of knowledge has had a profound effect on me.
If selected to judge that which would be my second Canadian National Open it would be my privilege to follow the best dogs and handlers as they perform their magic in the field.
Regards, Jeff
Randy Bartsch
I was fortunate to be born and raised in north central North Dakota, where there is a variety of game and available places to hunt. My first experiences were hunting waterfowl and sharp-tail grouse with my dad as a youngster. These are some of my fondest memories even though we didn’t have a dog of our own to hunt with. Through the years I hunted with friends that had hunting dogs of various breeds, abilities and training. I always enjoyed hunting over the springers the most and decided when I had the space and time I would get a Springer Spaniel.
Travel for work didn’t allow me the opportunity to get my own springer until 1996 when I moved to Bloomington, MN. I started training with a group of field trailers at Bill Boeckmans. You all know the rest of the story, after several years of hunting wild birds, I steadied her and started entering field trials. I loved those training sessions and I have developed several of the closest friendships I will have the rest of my life. We moved back to Minot in 2003 and to this day I get tremendous enjoyment from training my dogs, although it is often by myself.
I have not had a great number of springers but the ones I have been blessed with have been fantastic dogs to hunt and field trial with. I am proud to say I have not had to wash out a dog, they have all acquired at least one championship, including Judy, the 2011 National Open Champion (Paul McGagh ran her in the National for me).
I started judging all age stakes in 2007 and have judged over 100 with several being in Canada, recently the Sudbury and District in 2025 and the Prairie Spaniel Club in 2024. I have also judged 2 National Open Championships in the US.
To me, being selected to judge a national is not only the highest honor, but a tremendous responsibility. I can assure you that I will do my very best to find the team with the best performance throughout the trial and be proud to crown the Canadian National Open Champion.
Randy Bartsch