06/24/2026
A note from the 2026 chairs!
The Western Region is honored to host both the 2026 National Amateur Cocker Championship and the 2026 National Cocker Championship this fall near Roy, Montana.
Our landowners, Robert and Dede Griffin, look forward to welcoming you and your dogs to their ranch for what promises to be an exceptional week of competition, camaraderie, and Montana hospitality.
Festivities begin Sunday, October 25, 2026, with a training day, the annual FTC meeting, and a welcome party. The NCC Starts Monday, October 26, with a handlers’ meeting at 7:30 a.m. and we anticipate concluding on Thursday, October 29.
Friday, October 30, will be an off day from competition, with training available for Amateur handlers. The NACC begins Saturday, October 31, with a 7:30 a.m. handlers’ meeting and concludes Monday, November 2.
Below is some basic information that should help you with planning as well as details on fundraising. Final details will be posted on the 2026 NCC and NACC websites.
We have all the ingredients for two outstanding National Championships, including a first-rate gun team, strong birds, and challenging courses.
Sincerely,
Robert Griffin
Chair, 2026 National Cocker Championship
Olivia Steele-Mortimer
Chair, 2026 National Amateur Cocker Championship
The Grounds and Courses
Eastern Montana lies within a semi-arid shortgrass prairie ecosystem. Options for courses range from pure grass stands to very heavy sagebrush in rolling terrain, i.e. classic Sharp-tailed Grouse and Sage Grouse habitat. The exact courses used will hinge on the amount of rainfall received this summer.
The first four series for both Nationals will be run on chukar. In the NCC, the committee is considering using double plants in one of these series. The fifth series will simulate a traditional eastern Montana pheasant hunt along a dry creek corridor featuring Smooth Bromegrass, sagebrush, Four-winged Saltbush, and snowberry patches.
Food and Functions
All functions – including the Welcome Party, banquets and award presentations – will be held on the grounds.
Coffee, breakfast and lunches will be provided at no charge. Banquets will be $40 per person payable with your entry fees.
Accommodations
The closest hotels are in Lewistown (pop. approx. 6,000) about 45 min from the grounds. Please note that the Nationals coincide with Montana’s peak hunting season and hotels are often fully booked. We strongly encourage making reservations early.
B&B Motel – 406-535-5496
Recently renovated two-story motel. Some pet-friendly rooms available for a fee.
The Calvert Hotel – 406-535-5411
A historic hotel offering a touch of luxury by Montana standards. Two pet-friendly rooms.
Super 8 by Wyndham – 406-708-4541
A standard chain hotel with pet-friendly rooms available for a fee.
Yogo Inn – 406-535-8721
We had planned to use the Yogo Inn as our headquarters hotel because of its meeting rooms, restaurant and bar facilities. Unfortunately, a recent laundry room fire caused smoke damage to pet-friendly rooms, and the hotel cannot guarantee accommodations for our event. It is a viable option for those not needing pet-friendly rooms.
Camping and RV options
Dry camping will be available at the grounds. Please contact Robert Griffin (406-640-0342) to reserve a space. A $20 fee will be charged to cover the cost of a dedicated porta-potty.
Primitive camping is available along the Missouri River approximately 25 miles north of the grounds at the James Kipp Recreation area, which also offers the nearest dump station.
Full-hookup campgrounds in Lewistown include:
Mountain Acres RV Park – 406-538-7591
Reservations required.
Fergus County Fairgrounds – 406-535-8841 Option 1
A great option for those requiring full-hookups. Water will be available in the shower house but, depending on temperature, may not be available to individual sites.
For those interested in renting an RV, contact:
Cruise America – 1-800-327 7799
Option 4, extension 7453 and ask for Christian.
At this time, RV availability is limited in Billings ($89 per night for 25 ft standard) and Bozeman ($75 per night for 25 ft standard). Cruise America is dog friendly. While airport pick-up service is not available, both locations are about 10-15 min in a taxi or Uber from the airport.
Please note, there are very few other options in the area, including Airbnb or VRBO.
Fundraising
This year we are using a new simplified fundraising structure that we hope will be easier for everyone involved. For many years multiple individuals have devoted tremendous time and effort in supporting these Nationals through fundraising. For those who have recently stepped back from these duties, we are deeply grateful to their dedication and service to the cocker field trial community.
As we enter this transition, we see an opportunity to streamline and modernize this process. This year the Nationals are being held at one location, consequently the committees have decided to use one unified fundraising structure. Central to this process is a new website www.cockernationals.com where donations can be made electronically. A pull-down menu will allow you to specify what you want to sponsor. All donations will pass through this website to then be deposited directly into our newly-established ECSCA Cocker Nationals bank account. We would greatly appreciate receiving donations by the end of July as the success of these efforts will directly impact the final calculation of entry fees.
The following will serve as the primary opportunities to support the 2026 Nationals. We do not anticipate additional fundraising activities such as basket auctions, flags sponsorships, or raffles.
Banner Program
Minimum Donation $500
Banners can be customized with your name, kennel name, dog photo, club name, etc. Banners will be displayed randomly about the grounds unless specified otherwise. If you want to sponsor a specific series please let us know on the website.
All donors will be acknowledged in the catalog.
Awards Program
Minimum Donation $250
Donors may contribute towards specific trophies, ribbons or awards. If you wish to sponsor a particular award please indicate your preference on the website, otherwise all contributions will be directed towards the general fund.
All awards sponsors will be acknowledged in the catalog.
Catalog Advertisements
Full page advertisement
Black & white: $100
Color: $250
Half page advertisement
Black & white: $75
Color: $150
Please send your ad copy to Sue Myers at [email protected]
Additional support
Financial contributions are always appreciated. The continued generosity of the cocker field trial community plays a vital role in the success of these events.
If you would rather not do an electronic donation, please send a check made payable to ECSCA NCC or ECSCA NACC and mail to Dede Griffin, PO Box 95, Roy, MT 59471. In the memo line please specify what you are donating towards.
Help make it happen! Become a valued sponsor of the 2026 Cocker Nationals. Donate Now As our events continue to grow, we’re making sponsorship easier than ever! Rather than relying on phone calls and emails, we’ve created an online sponsorship platform where anyone can contribute whenever it is ...
