Region 13

                   Lee Ann Heldt

              HRCH UH Heldt's Mr Strike 3 Your Out

               'Striker'

               Our journey with Striker began September 19, 2002 with the day he was born.   Striker is from one of our breedings of two of our golden retrievers, Hunter and Gabby.  He was hand-picked by me to go to my nephew in Indiana.  After spending time with  house breaking, we found out that my nephew couldn’t take him for whatever reason.  Well by this time, I was in love with this dog and decided to keep him.  So this all worked out rather well for me!  We started training him and that next season in 2003, we ran him in started tests.  For such a young dog he did remarkable well getting his SHR title in August at less than a year of age! 

        In the meantime, we had met Chris Jobman of Flatlander Kennels in Nebraska.  He was running his mother’s dog, Bridgett in Seasoned at the same time that David was running Hunter in Seasoned at a test in North Platte. Bridgett is also a golden retriever so that got our attention.  While we were running Striker in Started and training him toward the seasoned level, we had sent another one of our golden retrievers, Starr up to Chris for some training.  One weekend, Chris said to come up and train with him and bring Hunter and Striker along.  This way we could see how Starr’s training was coming along too. Well when Chris saw Striker that day working and his enthusiasm and speed, he said that was the dog we should have in training.  So we switched dogs that very day.  I cried all the way home!  I couldn’t believe that I left him up there!

        Thus began his journey with Chris.  By August of 2004, Striker received his HR Title; in March 2005 he received his UH title (happens to be the same day that Hunter, his sire received his UH title); and his HRCH championship in June of 2005 at the Panhandle test.  Chris put three titles on him in less than a year!  He accomplished this before Striker reached the age of three. 

        At the beginning of this year (2006), Chris and I talked about Striker’s goals.  We figured it out that if he ran almost all of the HRC tests in our Region, he could possibly receive his 500 points.  We felt that was a very big goal to reach as we all know how things can go wrong.  Yet we were both hopeful.

        At Platte Valley’s 20^th “Anniversary test in August 2006, Striker did receive his 500 points.  He never failed an HRC test the whole season and in my opinion there were some pretty hard tests out there!  This was accomplished right before turning four years of age! 

On May 16, 2009 Striker received his 1000 points handled by Jared Shepard one of Chris' employees. Chris has done a remarkable job with him!  Although it was always hard each spring to send Striker back to Chris after having him home for the winter, I know that Striker loves Chris!  He has been fortunate to have two good homes!  Striker is always happy to see Chris as well as he is to see us!  I know we made the right decision in leaving him that day!

        Striker has had the opportunity to run in several Grand tests.  Although he has not accomplished a Grand Pass he did pretty well!  I am proud of him!  

        I want to say a big, huge thank you to Flatlander Kennels especially Chris for all his time and effort in training and running Striker.  We would not have made it without you.  Again Thanks Chris!