English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association
 AKC Parent Club of the Breed

ESSFTA Annual Awards Criteria
Breed Obedience Agility Field Trial Versatile Springer Junior Handler Special Recognition

ESSFTA Special Recognition Awards

The following special recognition awards are presented to dogs owned by ESSFTA members each year. Unless otherwise specified, the titles applicable to each award must be earned while the owner is an ESSFTA member.

Dual Champion
Any dog that earns an AFC or FC and a CH in their lifetime will be recognized. Application form will be printed each year in The Springer Spotlight


Multi-titlist

For Award Year 2008: Any dog that earns two or more qualifying AKC or ESSFTA titles within the award year will be recognized. The qualifying titles are: CH, TD, TDX, VST, CT, CD, CDX, UD, UDX, OTCH, NA, OA, AX, MX, NAJ, OAJ, AXJ, MXJ, MACH, NAP, OAP, AXP, MXP, NJP, OJP, AJP, MJP, JH, SH, MH, WD, WDX, AFC, FC, RN, RA, RE, RAE, PAX, NAFC, NFC, MFP, FTC, FTCP, NF, OF, XF, NFP, OFP, and XFP. Only one agility title at each level may be used at any time toward a multi-titlist award. Only one Rally title may be used if the dog has a CD obedience title or higher. For titles that can be earned multiple number of times, only the first time the title is earned will apply toward a multi-titlest award. For example, UDX, MACH, RAE will count, but UDX2, MACH2, RAE2 etc. will not.

Starting Award Year 2009: Effective with Award Year 2009 for titles earned on January 1, 2009 and later; Dogs will be awarded a recognition certificate for earning two or more AKC or ESSFTA titles within an award year.  Additionally, a dog will also be awarded a metal medallion for earning titles in three or more qualifying event areas.  Only titles earned within an award year will count. The qualifying event areas are: Agility, Breed, Field Trials, Hunt Tests, Obedience, Rally, Tracking, and Working Dog Tests.

No application form is required.

Obedience Trial Champion
Any dog that earns an OTCH within the award year will be recognized. No application form is required.

Champion Tracker
Any dog that earns a CT within the award year will be recognized. No application form is required.

Agility Champion
Any dog that earns a MACH within the award year will be recognized. No application form is required.

Owner/Breeder/Handler Field Champion or Amateur Field Champion
Awarded to the person who is the breeder, owner, and handler of a newly titled FC (Field Champion) or AFC (Amateur Field Champion). Application form will be printed each year in The Springer Spotlight.
The following criteria applies to the above recognitions:
1.   Only titles earned while an ESSFTA member in good standing will be considered. Application for membership does not constitute membership (please note that there may be a waiting period of up to ninety days to complete the application process).
2.   If the dog is owned by more than one individual, only one needs to be a member of the ESSFTA.
4.   The award year is the calendar year, i.e., January 1 through December 31.
5.   Unless specifically noted, the National Awards Committee will verify titles with AKC records and notify winners directly.
6.   Any disputes with respect to interpretation or application of the rules will be referred to the Board of Governors for resolution. The Board’s decision will be final.