09/09/2026
Unfortunately, all good things eventually must come to an end. It looks as though 2027 will be our last year for the ATCA Cooley Memorial Hunt Test. The event will be scheduled for May 14th, 15th, and 16th and will again be held at Rock River Kennels in Beaver Dam, WI. More information will be sent out early next year as plans progress.
The Airedale Terrier Club of America began running the Cooley Memorial Hunt Test in Beaver Dam Wisconsin in 2003. The purpose of the event has been and still is to showcase the versatility of the hunting Airedale Terrier.
"The Cooley", as we have referred to it, ran as a regional ATCA club test offering Fur Tracking and Trailing Tests, Retriever Hunting Tests and Upland Hunting Tests for Airedales, from 2003 through 2009. Soon after Airedales were allowed to participate in AKC Spaniel (upland) Hunting Tests, ATCA decided to obtain a license to run their own such AKC tests. In 2010, and every year since, a licensed AKC Spaniel Hunting Test has been a part of the Cooley, making the event much larger while still showcasing the hunting Airedale Terrier.
Many ribbons and hunt test titles at all levels have been earned by Airedale Terriers at the Cooley. The event has been pivotal in helping Airedales obtain the long desired goal of recognition and respect from both the gun dog community and general public for the breed's hunting ability. Success at the Cooley as well as in many other tests across the country has helped Airedales also get into AKC Retriever Hunting Tests as well as gain AKC title status for the ATCA Fur Tracking and Trailing Tests under their Parent Club Title program.
There are many reasons why this will be our last year. Aging and changing priorities among committee members seem to cover it the best. With no younger, committed people coming up to replace us, it seems it is time to the event to finish its run.
I 'm making this new public now so we can maximize the number of Airedale Terriers participating in 2027. There is a lot of time between now and next May to train dogs to run in the tests, with ATCA Fur Tracking and Trailing Tests and ATCA Retriever Tests (Junior and Senior levels) to be held on Friday the 14th and AKC Spaniel (upland) tests to be held on both Saturday and Sunday.
Please consider this as a call out to all hunting Airedale people to put the 2027 Cooley Hunting Tests on your calendar and consider coming. This will be our 24th year overall (it was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID 19) and our 16th year for holding an AKC Spaniel test.
Message with questions.
Scott Lichty
Chair, ATCA Hunting and Field Committee
