My First Field Trial
by Bob Beachamp
Living in Phoenix Arizona has its disadvantages. Oh sure, we have great winter weather, a
wonderful variety of landscapes and golf courses. If you have seen “Arizona Highways”, you get the
picture, literally. What is missing? Pheasants, grassy cover and field bred English Springer Spaniels.
By 1987 I had been a pediatrician for about 10 years, preceded by medical school, an internship
and residency. I had not spent much time for anything but medicine. I was itching to go back to
hunting the local dove and quail of my youth, but this time with a dog. I had never seen a field bred
Springer or a field trial, and it was clear that I was going to have to do some traveling to do so. Our
family pet and first dog was a black and white Springer we bought for our daughters. I had discovered
Spaniels in the Field and called the editor, Art Roger. What a great guy. He told me about an upcoming
field trial in California. It was about an 8 hour drive, but the closest I could find and I made plans to go.
I had to call Art back a few weeks later to say that I had a work assignment and wouldn’t be able
to make the trip to California as I had to attend a meeting in Cincinnati. There was a pause in the
conversation and then he said, “Where did you say and what was that date?” I answered and again said
I was sorry. “Well, wait a minute,” he responded, “the Cincinnati field trial is that weekend. Stay over
the weekend and I will see you there.” I said I would and thought to myself, “Wow, now I even have a
guide.”
When it came time to pack for my trip I was focused on my work. I had not yet caught the
Springer field trial bug. In went the dress shoes, shirts, coat and ties, and no field clothes. As my work
assignment came to a close, I realized I had a problem. On my way to Jeffersonville Ohio I pulled in to a
large truck stop that had everything, including clothes. I am not a big guy and size options were pretty
limited. The only Levis that fit were big, very dark blue and stiff as a cardboard box.
As I arrived at the field trial, it was cloudy and cool. I got out of my rental car and strolled
toward a group of people. A gentleman walked up and said, “Bob, welcome and good to meet you.” He
smiled and then added, “You were easy to spot.”
I enjoyed watching and learning, with Art Rodger as my guide. That evening there was plenty of
food and drink and a birthday cake with candles to celebrate Roy French’s 91st birthday. Dean Brunn
won the Open with Roy’s dog Bandita. What blew me away was that Roy won the Amateur with Wags!
It was then that I decided this was the hobby I was looking for, and that I could enjoy it to 91, if I were
that lucky.