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Allen County Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Ave.
Fort Wayne, IN

Judges

Dee Duffy

National Judge

Dee Duffy

National Judge

In 1983, I acquired a purebred Basset Hound, joined The Long Island Basset Hound Club, and developed an interest in learning about breeding and exhibiting dogs. With mentoring from other Club members, I began exhibiting at match shows and then at AKC all-breed shows. Sometime in the mid-1980s, at a show in New England, I saw my first Sussex Spaniel. I was smitten! It was love at first sight. The handler, Cam Lyman, told me I would never be able to get a Sussex Spaniel. They were much too rare! Fast forward to 1990: I had moved to Virginia and was at the New River Valley Kennel Club dog show, where there was an entry in Sussex Spaniels. I met Bobby Lewis, and in late 1991, I got my first Sussex Spaniel, Lexxfield Chulmleigh. She became my foundation bitch. At the first SSCA National Specialty, Chulmleigh was Best of Opposite Sex to her father, Lexxfield Hershey. 1994 Winners Dog and Winners Bitch were from Chulmleigh’s first litter. I have been breeding Sussex Spaniels under my kennel prefix, Three D, since 1994. I have bred/owned 9 SSCA National Specialty winners. I have had both Winners Dog and Winners Bitch 5 times at the Nationals. 1998, Ch. Three D Stonecroft Endeavor (Wendell) placed Group IV at Westminster KC. Wendell was owned and exhibited by Doug Johnson (Clussexx). Wendell was my first all-breed “multi-BIS winning” dog. I am a proud co-breeder of Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee. Stump was Westminster KC Best in Show in 2009. Stump had 50 all-breed BIS wins. There are other all-breed BIS winners under the Three D prefix. I have bred/co-bred around 70 champion Sussex. I have been a long-standing member of the SSCA Judges Education Committee, and have provided co-presentations to judges and the interested public, as well as ringside mentoring. In 2015, I judged Sweepstakes at the Pacific Northwest Sussex Spaniel Club and in 2017 at the SSCA National Specialty in Ft. Worth, Texas. Although I am no longer actively exhibiting or breeding Sussex Spaniels, my love for them has not diminished.

Bryan Martin

National Sweepstakes Judge

Bryan Martin

National Sweepstakes Judge

Bryan Martin Biography My first recollection of a dog show was attending the Fall Fun Match for the Fort Dearborn Basset Hound Club in 1960. A couple of years later we had new dogs and I could start showing in Junior Showmanship. That didn’t last long, as I qualified for Open Class in 5 shows and had to wait until I was old enough then for Open. I qualified 5 consecutive years for the Westminster KC Junior Finals, placing 3rd in 1967. My family continued showing dogs while I was in college. While there I began judging Junior Showmanship in 1974, the first person under the age of 21 so approved. Upon graduating from Iowa State University I began managing horse shows, specifically Hunter/Jumper and Arabian “A” rated horse shows for the American Horse Shows Association. While doing that I became an “R” Steward, equivalent to an Executive Field Representative at dog shows. In 1983 I married Nancy Sheehan and began handling dogs professionally under the SHOWS, etc. banner. We were quite the duo, setting many breed records for several breeds. In 2013 we hung up our leads and I began a new career with the American Kennel Club as an Executive Field Representative. I served in the position until COVID-19 struck. With all this behind me I have come to my latest adventure, Judging! I am approved to judge all Hound breeds, the Hound Group, Best in Show and all Miscellaneous breeds, plus Permit status for Bracco Italiani, Golden Retrievers, Clumber Spaniels, Spinoni Italiano, Alaskan Malamutes, Bernese Mt Dogs, Black Russian Terriers, Bullmastiffs, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Leonbergers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Samoyeds, Japanese Chin, Tibetan Terriers, Australian Shepherds and Polish Lowland Sheepdogs. I am looking forward to being a part of your National Specialty this year. Thank you!

Clyde hails from Denison, Texas. He and his wife of 50 years, Barbara, began showing dogs in 1980 and it changed the very trajectory of their lives. They began their journey showing cocker spaniels under the Our Gang kennel name, bred and finished champions in all three varieties with a special interest in blacks. We also have had Dobermans and have finished two of them along the way. Clyde had not thought much about Sussex Spaniels until he started judging them in 1997. But as soon as he was around them, he couldn't understand why everyone didn't want one. Clyde confessed his desire for a Sussex to Barbara, and the hunt was on. It took two years of waiting, but they finally found their Sussex CH Hiland's Black Watch at Our Gang, call name “Jack” from the Hiland kennel of Sam and Brenda Folsom. Clyde groomed and showed Jack all the way to his championship starting with a Best of Breed win over specials for a 4-point major the very first time in the ring at 10-months of age. Jack was finished with another 4-point major at one of the American Spaniel Club's flushing spaniel shows. Jack is now a happy and healthy 15-year-old retiree, and Clyde followed him into retirement in 2017, after 40-years of private practice as a board-certified pediatrician. Clyde's involvement in the world of dog shows includes more than a decade as president of their all-breed club, as well as 3 years as show chairman. He also served on the board of the American Spaniel Club (ASC) as first vice president and 2 years as president, as well as 20 years on the standard committee for cocker spaniels. While all this is going on, Clyde also managed to become a judge of the Sporting Group and the Toy Groups. He has judged Dobermans, Juniors, as well as Best in Show. Clyde has judged the Cocker Spaniel National Specialty twice and has judged Best in Show for the American Spaniel Club's flushing spaniel show. Clyde's life as a judge has not only included domestic assignment, but also includes global assignments in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Russia, China, Thailand, Japan and Australia. He has combined his love of dogs with his other hobby of building-stained glass windows. Some of his cocker windows have been auctioned at Spaniel Club events for as much as $3,750 donated to the ASC Foundation. Additionally, Clyde has built 34 windows of cockers for trophies at the Cocker Spaniel National. The Heart of Ohio Sussex Spaniel Club is grateful for the opportunity to have Clyde judge their regional specialty. In his own words, "I would never pass up the chance to play with more LBDs."

Alda Morris resides in North Royalton, Ohio. She began her AKC journey with her first of many Irish Setters in 1973, initially as a pet owner. In the late 80s, she made the transition into conformation, and eventually expanded into obedience and agility competitions. Alda’s path took a new direction when she met Debbie Miller at a training club meeting, where Debbie spoke about the importance of health in both dogs and people. Shortly after, Alda visited Debbie’s home and met her first Sussex Spaniel, Jasper. That visit sparked Alda’s love for the breed and became a defining moment. From Debbie Miller's litter came CH Remedi's Amethyst OA OAJ, "Tootsie", the first Sussex Spaniel in breed history to earn an agility title. Over the years, Debbie became Alda’s mentor, helping her develop a thoughtful and intentional breeding program. Alda has bred nine litters, always with a focus on improving the breed’s health, structure, and temperament—what she considers the hallmarks of a truly good Sussex. Her dedication has brought notable success. Two of her girls have earned top honors at Westminster: Storm won Best of Opposite Sex in 2005, and Belle won Best of Breed in 2015, along with Best in Specialty Show (BISS) at the first Heart of Sussex Spaniel Club (HOSSC) specialty.

2026 SSCA National patriciashawsss.com

Allen County Memorial Coliseum4000 Parnell Ave.Fort Wayne, IN

Judges

Dee Duffy

Bryan Martin

Allen County Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Ave.
Fort Wayne, IN