Winning Ways

Surprise Finishes His Championship
May 24, 2025 / Scott & Tina Borden
At the Sporting Dog Club of Virginia shows, in Doswell, VA, Surprise to Best of Winners, on Saturday, to finish his AKC Championship. On to Field and Agility!
Scott & Tina Borden
Weekend wins!
May 16, 2025 / Ruth Marsh
At the Marietta Oho shows this past weekend the Athercroft youngsters showed so well!

Athercroft Vinders Keepers, Tebo was WD all three shows with a BOS on Friday.

Athercroft Viner Things in Life, Peggy was WB on Saturday

Athercroft Bat’n the Saddle Again Tons was WB two times and took the Breed on Friday. So proud of these young dogs! All are owned and bred by Ruth Marsh and Dee Turkelson
Emma Becomes First Retriever to Earn AKC Master Hunter Lifetime Title in Spaniel Hunt Tests
May 12, 2025 / Steve and Betsy Surprenant
We’re proud to share that Victory’s M — better known as Emma — has earned the AKC Master Hunter Lifetime Achievement title in spaniel hunt tests. This distinction is awarded to dogs who achieve 12 or more qualifying passes at the Master level, and Emma has far surpassed that mark with 26 Master-level passes — more than any retriever of any breed in the history of AKC spaniel hunting tests.

Although spaniel hunt tests are officially named for spaniels, retrievers who participate earn Upland titles through these same tests:

JHU – Junior Hunter Upland
SHU – Senior Hunter Upland
MHU – Master Hunter Upland
MHUA – Master Hunter Upland Advanced

Despite this naming convention, the Master Hunter Lifetime Achievement title for spaniel hunting tests is designated simply as MH#, not MHU#, for retrievers. Emma is now MH26.

Emma is not only the first Flat-Coated Retriever to earn this lifetime MH title in AKC spaniel hunt tests, but she remains the only retriever of any breed to do so. Now 10 years old, she continues to compete for the love of the field, representing the determination, versatility, and joy that Flat-Coats bring to upland work.
Super Sniffer
May 12, 2025 / Amy Bergstrom
Archie (Bramcote’s Pierce Pond Maine Man CGC TKA RI SWE) recently completed his Excellent Scent Work elements of Exterior, Container, and Buried to add to his previous Interior giving him his Scent Work Excellent title.
Getting closer to her Championship!
May 4, 2025 / Patty & Joe Johnstone
On April 24th and 25th, at the Wilmington KC shows, Betsy was Winners Bitch both days for 3 points!
Then at the Mid-Atlantic Flatcoat Retriever Club Supported entry on May 2nd, she won the Bred By Exhibitor class with her breeder, Patty McClain handling her and they went on to Reserve Winners. They again won the Bred By class on Sunday at the Trenton KC and went on to Winners Bitch and Best of Winners!
A New Companion Dog
May 3, 2025 / Dawn Buttion & Marty Archambeault & Colin & Bryce
On May 3, 2025, Cabbie, Ch MACH Blazin’s Questionable Drive’R CD BN RA MXS MJG MXF T2B4 FCAT ACT2 ACT2J DSA TKN CGC, finished her Novice B Companion Dog title! Cabbie is loved and owned by Marty, Colin, Bryce & Dawn.
NACSW L2V
April 27, 2025 / Helena Dahlen
NACSW L2 Veichle
Kevin Earns his SH title
April 26, 2025 / Liz Neubaum
Duck Puddle Jokin’ Around, aka Kevin, earned his Senior Hunt tile at the Back Bay Knotts Island Spring Hunt Test at Shady Grove Kennels in Remington on April 26th. He did a great job and we are very proud of our goofy, exhuberant boy!

Owned and loved by Liz and Gary Neubaum
Scentwork Legs
April 18, 2025 / Penny Woodward
It was a mighty fine day at the CAKC Scentwork trial in Troy, VA. Crimson, CH Flatgold’s Storming Heart JH DCAT WC DJ CGC TKN, went 6 for 8 in novice for 1 pass in interior, 2 in containers, 2 in exteriors and 1 in buried. After a real slow start last year, she has really improved, and we are working together now as a team and I am able to read her signals much better.
Sarge earns Master Advanced
April 12, 2025 / Steve and Betsy Surprenant
Victory’s Staff Sergeant CDX JH MHU MHUA BCAT WCX (“Sarge”) has just earned her Master Hunter Upland Advanced (MHUA) title, making her one of a very small number of retrievers in the country to achieve this distinction in AKC spaniel hunting tests. The MHUA title—awarded to dogs who earn five additional qualifying scores after receiving their Master Hunter Upland (MHU) title, with an average score of 8.0 or higher—recognizes consistent excellence at the highest level of flushing dog work. Sarge is a determined, stylish worker who lives up to her name in the field, combining high drive and obedience with natural gamefinding ability. Her accomplishment is a testament not only to her skill and heart, but also to the versatility of the Flat-Coated Retriever in upland hunting. Yea, Sarge!