2025 National Conclave Recap: Honoring the Bird Dog Tradition
- clubebus
- Apr 21
- 8 min read
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Northwest Iowa for the 2025 CEB-US National Conclave. We recognize the time, travel, and financial commitment it takes to be part of this event, and we’re deeply grateful to every member who showed up — to connect with one another, to evaluate our dogs, and to help carry the Epagneul Breton forward as a premier, purposeful bird dog.
This year’s conclave was full of the moments we cherish: Bretons on wild birds, passionate conversations around the breed, and the camaraderie that makes our community special. But it also came with its share of hard truths. Whether in the show ring, the field, or during a seminar, we were reminded that the path to growth is rarely easy — but always worth it. We leave Iowa not only inspired, but sharper, more focused, and united in our purpose: preserving and progressing the Epagneul Breton.
Day 1: Judge Development & Training Seminars
We began the week with a field-based Judges Seminar — an opportunity for both apprentice and seasoned judges to evaluate dogs in live hunting situations, engage in discussion, and refine interpretation of the standards. While the commitment to consistency is clear, the ongoing challenge remains: how do we deliver uniformity in judgment across all UKC trials? This seminar, building on our March online series, is part of our answer. It’s one more step toward ensuring that the dogs advancing the breed are doing so under thoughtful, knowledgeable evaluation.
While judges were afield, the rest of the attendees took in two excellent seminars:
Building a Better Connection in the Field with your Breton, by Terry Jacobson
Developing Wild Bird Dogs, by Colin Johnston
Both speakers reminded us that developing a great bird dog takes more than luck or talent—it takes time, repetition, and a willingness to make tough choices. The hard truth? Convenience has no place in real training nor in developing a bird dog. But when we commit to the process, the reward is a deeper bond and a more capable, natural Breton.
Day 2: National Specialty Conformation Show
Day two brought us to the Buena Vista County Fairgrounds for our National Specialty Conformation Show. Despite the rain pouring down for much of the day, our dedicated handlers showed resilience, finding ways to present their dogs at their best.
We were honored to have the esteemed José Luis Recondo of Spain as our judge. As president of the AICEB, Sr. Recondo is considered the leader of the international Epagneul Breton community. His evaluation, rooted in the traditional French standard, provided each participant with an official conformation rating — an important component in the assessment of breeding stock and available only at this annual event. José Luis Recondo was very critical of each dog in the ring. He emphasized the breed's hallmark cobbiness (equal height and length), measuring each dog’s chest circumference at the elbow and looking for at least 10 cm greater than the height at the withers. He was also critical of long tails, which he noted can make a dog appear even longer and stray from the desired silhouette.
The Best of Breed competition closed the day, with three exceptional dogs in the ring:
Pike du Bois Courcol (Terry Jacobson) - Best of Winners
Smith's Legend de Pondside (Ed Smith) - Champions Class
Newton de la Source d'Hannahatchee (Jackie Hutwagner) - Grand Champions Class
Legend earned the title of 2025 National Best of Breed — congratulations to Ed Smith and team. In the Elevage (breeder’s class), Ten Bar Ranch took top honors, demonstrating excellence in consistency and generational quality. We’ll be highlighting current and past winners of the NBOB and Elevage in an upcoming post. Stay tuned for a more in-depth celebration.
A heartfelt thank you to Patty Lucasey and Kim Olson for their masterful management of show signups, logistics, and paperwork.
Day 3: Field Trials – Open & Gun Braces
Friday brought us into the heart of the bird dog experience: field trials run on expansive ground teeming with wild pheasants. The rains from the previous day cleared out to present a cold, overcast day made for bird dogs. The fields remained saturated but the terrain and ample bird numbers presented a great test for our Bretons. Over 90% of braces reported bird contact — a testament to the quality of both the grounds and the dogs in competition.
But the day also delivered a reminder many of us know well: wild bird trials are tough. These aren’t controlled environments with predictable outcomes — they’re dynamic, challenging, and at times humbling. And that’s exactly the point.
The hard truth is that field trials exist to set tangible benchmarks for comparing dogs’ performance over time — so that when breeders make pairing decisions, they have a clear, performance-based foundation. It’s not about ribbons for participation; it’s about recognizing dogs that represent the best of the breed in both form and function.
Hon. José Luis Recondo made this crystal clear in his judging. He was deliberate and decisive — quick to pick up dogs when performance criteria weren’t met, and intentional in his callbacks. In one notable moment, he called back two dogs with equal bird work to evaluate their gait side by side, ultimately awarding the dog that best displayed the gait of the complete Breton package — not just the flashiest field moment.
Open Class Braces (14 entries) Judges: Hon. José Luis Recondo & Hon. Butch Nelson
CAC (1st): Tuf du Copper Spur (Glen Gunderson)
RCAC (2nd): Lost Highway Mud (John Griffin)
Gun Class Braces (32 entries, 2 batteries)
Battery 1 – Judges: Hon. Randy Meester & Hon. Peter Wax
CAG: Vinnie on the Marengo (Joel McVinnie)
RCAG: Unity Grace de la Source d'Hannahatchee (Mandy Murtha)
Battery 2 – Judges: Hon. José Luis Recondo & Hon. Shooter Smith | Apprentice Keith Murtha
No placements awarded, only Passes
After a fantastic day in the field, the evening culiminating with announcing the recipient of the 2025 Peter Ward Service Award: Randy Meester. [Click to read the full announcement.] In partnership with the Epagneul Breton Foundation and courtesy of Ed Smith, we also announced the recipients of the 2025 Joyce Smith Scholarship — awarded to five very deserving young ladies. [Click to read the full announcement.]
Day 4: Seminars, Testing & Community
Thursday brought a packed schedule of learning, evaluation, and shared experiences:
Shotgun fitting with professional wing shooting instructor Pat LaBoone
E-collar use & introduction by trainer Peter Wax
TAN (Natural Ability Test) judged by Hon. José Luis Recondo
Conformation evaluations for over two dozen EBs, led by the Expert Confirmateur
Both seminars came with important reminders that underscored the theme of the week: growth comes from facing the hard truths.
Pat LaBoone didn’t just help attendees fine-tune their shotgun fit — he also spoke candidly about gun safety, sharing real-life examples of how small lapses in attention or careless behavior can lead to terrifying, even tragic, outcomes. His stories were a sobering but essential reminder that safe handling is the bedrock of responsible wing shooting and a non-negotiable when hunting with others or training dogs.
Peter Wax delivered a clear message about e-collar use — one that challenged assumptions for many. “The e-collar isn’t the answer to your problems,” he emphasized. “It’s just a tool — and one that only works when timing is perfect and the dog already understands the command.” His talk reminded us that shortcuts don’t build bird dogs — foundation and consistency do.
The day ended on a lighter note with our annual auction fundraiser, which brought energy, laughs, and generous bids from members eager to support the club’s mission. Thank you to the auction committee and to all who donated, bid, and helped make it a success.
Day 5: Open Solo & Gun Solo
The final day brought our last runs in the field with Open Solo and Gun Solo classes. The day dawned partly cloudy with temps feeling like single digits due to sustained 20-30mph winds, making for difficult scenting conditions and weary birds ready to run — adding pressure to the bird work.
Open Class Solo (9 entries) Judge: Hon. José Luis Recondo
No placements awarded
Gun Class Solo (32 entries, 3 batteries)
Battery 1 – Judge: Hon. Randy Meester
CAG: Siri du Ten Bar Ranch (Terry Jacobson)
RCAG: Sage du Ten Bar Ranch (Mark Taylor)
Battery 2 – Judge: Hon. Ken Teppel
CAG: Osage de Staunch Point (Jay Hudrlik)
RCAG: Rizzo Hites Mississippi (Thomas Stumb)
Battery 3 – Judge: Hon. Peter Wax
CAG: Val Hites Mississippi (Angie Hites)
RCAG: Theodor de Stonehill as Drake (Todd Hawkinson)
Day 5 culminated with a barrage runoff between the three winners of the Gun class.
CAGT: Osage de Staunch Point
RCAGT: Siri du Ten Bar Ranch
Even on the final day, our community was energized and focused — reinforcing the strength of the breed and the people who champion it.
Looking Back — and Ahead
We’re grateful for everyone who helped make this conclave possible. Hosting our 2025 event just four months after the 2024 edition was a challenge, and many asked about the reasoning behind the quick turnaround.
We appreciate the question — and welcome it. Here’s why:
Access to wild birds without interrupting nesting or hunting seasons
Respect for landowners’ schedules and operations
Cooler weather that ensures dogs can perform at their best
Another variable is our desire to move the Conclave around the country to make it more accessible to members nationwide. This effort means we must consider regional weather, local crop rotations, and other area-specific factors — all of which make it difficult to pinpoint a consistent, repeatable time on the calendar.
We remain committed to transparency and to learning from each experience. The quick turnaround revealed new logistical challenges, but also pushed us to grow, adapt, and prioritize what matters most.
A Judge’s Perspective
It was a true honor to host José Luis Recondo, one of the most respected voices in the international EB community. His feedback was overwhelmingly positive — he commended the consistency and overall quality of our dogs — but he also offered this crucial reminder: overtraining and repetition can hide flaws, but they cannot replace instinct.
He urged us to protect the essence of the EB as a natural, instinctive, pointing bird dog. A more detailed summary of his reflections will be shared soon. Be on the lookout for a more detailed recap of Jose’s outlook and influence on the breed.
Final Thoughts
Despite the accelerated timeline, the 2025 National Conclave marked another step forward for our club and our breed. We welcomed longtime stalwarts and first-time attendees alike — including many who experienced their first show or field trial this week.
We were honored by everyone who entered a dog, regardless of experience level. Whether it was your first time in a trial or one of many over the years, your willingness to evaluate your Breton is what ensures this breed has a future grounded in proven ability. Whether you have one dog or a dozen, your participation matters. It adds to the legacy we are all building together.
This event reaffirmed our mission: to evaluate, test, and preserve the Epagneul Breton in the field and in the standard. We are proud of how far we’ve come, but even more excited about where we’re headed.
To everyone who showed up, spoke up, volunteered, judged, ran a dog, or simply asked a hard question — thank you. Your energy, your honesty, and your belief in this breed fuel our future.
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