A NEW FIELD CHAMPION

[LBH]

FC Von Zeppelin's Distant Star!

Congratulations Ted, we all knew this day would come sooner than later.

[Highland Gundogs]

Congrat Ted!! We need details!!

[ultracarry]

Congrats!

LBH good job with the spoiler alert!

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

Details huh??

Well I could write a book but I'll try to be modest & keep it simple.
Alot of you know that Star injured her shoulder in the kennel last summer while home between spring trial & summer training camp.We tried running her in a few trials last fall but it was obvious she wasn't up to it.
I brought her home & other than going hunting with me for a couple short periods last fall she has pretty much laid around taking it easy.The weather has been nice for the last month here so if it wasn't raining we went for a run ( when I say we I mean Star,I can't even run across the Rd.) Star looked fine no sign of a limp or pain but running with me on foot & in front of a horse isn't even close to the same thing plus were on flat level even ground.I had my trainer enter her in his first spring trial of the season.The OGD was already full with 36 dogs but she made OLGD of 23 entries.

The grounds at tri valley are hilly & rolling & the breakaway is down hill for several hundred yrds,since it won't quit raining here it was wet,muddy,& rutted up from horses.
Star ran the fifth brace she face planted 4 or 5 times going down hill at the break away which put her behind.She has no quit in her & got it together going across the bottom & up the other side.
She quicklly caught the E Setter & passed her ( Star has never liked getting behind )!! She dissapeared over the rise into the cover & in a few minutes I heard a shot so I knew one of the dogs had a find.
Another few minutes passed & here come the Setter on rope for failing to back,so I know Star had a find & handled it correctly.I can hear Chris singing in the distance but never see anything again untill they make the final turn coming back to the finish.You can see for close to a mile to that turn & I was using binos.I could see Star long before I saw any horses she was 1/4 to 3/8 a mile to the front & going away,every one was watching & a man I had never seen before says that's the kind of bird dog I would like to own.She finished & kept going straight up the hill,Chris had to ride hard to turn her back & show her to the judges.When he showed her the judge says I don't think anything will beat that today & that was with 7 braces & a bye dog still to go.

Chris brought her in a said she tried & gave it all she had,she had 3 finds (1 more then any other in the stake)but her strong finish sealed the deal.
Star showed me & others alot of heart,desire,& the athlete she is to do this with a bad shoulder.The talk going round was Star had won it but I have heard that before so was skeptical.
They finished running dogs about 6:30 & we ate dinner at the club house,then they announced the placements.
Star won the OLGD 4 point non retrieving major to finish her FC.I think every one was excited about it as I was.Congrats & hand shakes from every one.
The judge who I have never seen before congratulated me with a hand shake & the words she is one fine dog,it was fun to watch her.I'm glad I met him!!

All Star's placements were in 4 & 5 point major Stakes,she won 2-4 point majors & went 2nd in 2-5 point majors,8 of her 12 points were retrieving.
Her first placement was a walking stake the rest HB.

I can't tell you how proud of this little dog I am & she has earned the right to live the easy life & we are going to enjoy it together.
She is now RETIRED from trialing for GOOD!!
Thank you to every one who helped her get there.
To the judges that appreciated her performances.
Special thanks to Chris Goegan,her trainer/handler
To Jimmy Wallace her scout most of the time though he was busy on the other coarse & had to be substituted for this last time.He has always been a fan of hers & gave words of encouragement to me all along!!
I appreciate all of you!

Ted

[BigShooter]

It's nice to see any athlete come back from injury & finish with a championship. Congrats to you, Chris & Star!

[jcbuttry8]

Congrats, That is a huge accomplishment. Glad to see Star back at and in fine condition. So, now what are you two going to do?????

Joe

[raven34]

Ted
Huge Congrats!!!!
Jen

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

Jen thank you very much I'd love to see your little Black dog some day!!

Joe I have another dog that will be running OGD today at the same trial Star finished at to get his feet wet in a trial situation.
He is a half bro to Star both out of Wendy but different sires.So I have plenty to do I own 9 dogs & planning on breeding Star when she comes is so I have plenty on the menu.

[snips]

Congrats! I know you are elated!!!

[brad27]

Ted, congratulations. I'm glad to hear that the injury wasn't permanent and star was able to come back and finish that FC.

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

Pic of the Crew.

[raven34]

Nice Lookin Girl for sure!!!
Jen

[rkappes]

Good stuff, congrats!

[Dirtysteve]

Ted
A big congrats !
I always thought she would get it done.

[AHGSP]

AWESOME Ted! As someone else said, that is a great feat for any athlete to come back from an injury and finish in such style and fashion! Good on ya for not giving up and giving the girl a chance at the glory she so deserves. Scratches for Star from WV

[ezzy333]

Congrats Ted, proud of both you and Star. Wins are nice but even better when they come after an injury.

Ezzy

[birddogger]

Huge congrats Ted!!!

Charlie

[Fieldmaster]

Huge Congrats Ted,
I am glad she was able to recover from the injury and beable to finish. Very nice bitch and very deserving of a Field Championship.

Robert

[Adam]

Congrats!!!

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

Thanks everyone,your kind words are appeciated more then you know.
I know I can be an Azz sometimes but as we get older we don't like change & this is a whole different world then I grew up in.

[1doogie]

Way to go! Congrats!

[doco]

Congrat's Lance!

[bhulisa]

Congrats! Hope you both enjoy her well-earned retirement

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

Several have asked who I might be breeding Star to,as of right now unless something changes it will be Outbak's No Reins.
Reins is an AA dog anywhere he runs with plenty of power to do the HR,Star is a tweener that could do the HR with ease before her injury.
Here is what the ped would look like.It will be a tight linebreeding on the bitch side,a very strong producing bitch line.Reins needs his retrieving points to finish.
I will resize the pic later.

[lvrgsp]

Congrats Ted,

It was just a matter of time, she is a nice dog for sure......
Should make a nice breeding for you..

Chip

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

It's now official AKC FC Certificate now in HAND!!

[ACooper]

I got mine framed and a picture of Dez on point framed to hang next to it, looks pretty cool.

[tripleshotsgsp]

Congrat's Ted!! I have always like Star a lot!! She has that "Sonny Style" and his run.....

Kevin

[azquailhntr]

Late to the party Ted...congrats!

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

Thanks again everyone. As to who Star will be bred to arrangements have been made for a date with No Reins next wk.