A Report by Shula Shipton...
The European Spaniel Congress took place in Malvern during the last weekend in April. This event, which is celebrated by the European Spaniel Association (ESA), every 2 or 3 years was this year hosted by The United Spaniel Association.
The weekend started with guests arriving on Thursday 22nd April at the Abbey Hotel, which formed the base of the congress. Whilst the ESA Council met to discuss relevant items the delegates from nine countries settled in with a meet and greet in the Hotel bar. I met up with Bruno Janek and family from Slovakia, whom I had met in Milan at the World show in July 2000. It was nice to meet up again.
I also met Ingrid Roslund (Fieldstar) from Sweden. She had come over at Crufts and had been told that this was an event she should attend. The evening was pleasantly spent dining in the restaurant and talking over Field Spaniels. The next day was WELKS and Committee members shuttled delegates to the show to watch their breeds and the Gundog Group. Some went back for BIS after the Test on Sunday. Have to say that the weather was wonderfully hot for April and this set the precedence for the whole weekend.
Returning to the hotel to attend the informal Spaniel evening where breed stands and the KC were able to set out their stalls and display memorabilia for their breed. This was extremely popular, with people mixing and discussing issues for their breed. Whenever you get people who are passionate about their breed together it can't fail to go well. There was also the first chance to see the items for the auction, which was to be held on Saturday night after the dinner. There were some wonderful old prints and some modern limited editions in this auction. There was a congress key ring raffle that had a 1.5 litre of whiskey for its prize. Have to say that came home with me and as neither Michael nor I drink it, it will end up at the Silent Auction at the Field Spaniel Club Show. Food was laid on for this by the kind sponsorship of Our Dogs. It was good to have the KC stand there with Ann Greeves and Mark Clifford to answer any questions (and there were a quite a few of them) on the working and Field Trial rules, as well as information on competing in the UK.
SOME OF THE STANDS
THE CLUMBER SPANIEL CLUB
THE ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL CLUB
THE FIELD SPANIEL SOCIETY
THE COCKER SPANIEL STAND
THE SUSSEX SPANIEL CLUB
THE WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL STAND
AMERICAN COCKER AND IRISH WATER SPANIEL STAND
THE KENNEL CLUB STAND
ITEMS FOR AUCTION
CHRIS BEXON AND BRIAN SHEARS MAKE THE DRAW FOR THE WHISKY
THE UNITED SPANIEL CLUB INFORMATION BOARD
DELEGATES GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER
This informal evening was attended by over 50 people who thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet each other before the start of the Congress the following day.
 
The European Spaniel Congress was kindly sponsored by:

Purina Fosse Data Systems Our Dogs The English Springer Spaniel Club

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