by Stephanie Morton
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn.- With the spirit of the evening filling the air, spectators show up to show off their prized derby style hats. There were several different divisions that hat wearers could enter in hopes to win a prize, such as amateur owned and designed, biggest hat, prettiest hat, craziest kid’s hat and men’s hats as well. Tonight also serves as the beginning of World Grand Championship classes, as the Walking Yearlings go head to head in competition to win this prestigious title. In tradition of the Celebration evening sessions, Counterfeit Dollar and Hall of Fame Member Bud Seaton carried the nation’s colors in the big oval. Counterfeit Dollar is owned by OK Walking Horse Farm and prepared by Bobby Hugh. Mr. Seaton parked in in front of the West grandstands as the invocation and national anthem were given. The National Anthem was presented by Ashely Francis of Cookeville.
Honorable judges Jennifer Bingham, Sam Sorrell, David Sisk, David Landrum and Derek Bonner were dressed to impress in their favorite derby style hats and presided over this evening’s premier class line up. Mr. Larry Bright filled the air with traditional show tunes throughout the evening and Mr. Mark Farrar Jr., served as the master of ceremonies.
Starting off the evening’s performances under a double rainbow over the big oval was the O/A Lady Riders on Walking Geldings. Serving as call judge for this impressive class was judge Sorrell. Thirteen top entries answered the gate call for this impressive class of top horses and lady riders. Taking unanimous top honors and the first championship title of the evening in this class of fine competitors is the pair of Gin Toddy and owner/rider Sue Irby of Shelbyville. Gin Toddy has enjoyed top awards at such prestigious venues as the National Trainers Show, Gulf Coast Charity Celebration and the Money Tree Classic. Reserve honors went to Memphis Mafia and Gail Walling for Gail Walling of Wartrace. This dynamic duo claimed top award at the 2014 claiming the title of O/A Five Year Old Mares or Geldings World Champion and O/A Five-Year-Old World Grand Champion. Rounding out the top three was The Sportster and owner/rider Dee Broom Yoder of Ooltewah.
Up next is the impressive class of Three-Year-Old Walking Mares Riders Cup Div. A. Seven entries answered the gate call all striving for world championship acclaim. Judge Bingham served as the call judge. Taking the unanimous title, honor and bragging rights in this highly competitive class of young mares was the team of Be My Baby and Tyler Baucom for Robert Deutsch of Greensboro, N.C. This world champion mare has claimed top honors at Christmas In July and Marshall County Horseman’s Association show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to Steele Grey and Michael Wright for Tina Wright of Reagan. This talented young mare has claimed top award at such prestigious venues as the Columbia Spring Jubilee and the Red Carpet Show of the South earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was O’Lainey and Bill Callaway for Trish Harrison Spivey of Morristown.
Following Division A of the Three-Year-Old Walking Mares was Div. B Six top entries competed for top honors in this impressive class of young mares. Judge Bonner served as call judge. It didn’t take the spectators long to choose their favorite team. Whistles and cheers filled the air as this top notch class went on the reverse. World championship honors went to the talented pair of Godiva and John Allan Calloway for George Ann Pratt of Shawnee Mission, Kan. This talented duo has claimed top honors earlier in the season at the Columbia Spring Jubilee. Reserve honors went to Color Coded and Casey Wright for Eric and Diane Lackey of Thomasville, N.C. earlier this season this talented young mare claimed top honors at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration and the Spring Fun Show. Rounding out the top three was Jose’s Live Action and Eddie Barclay for Noel Botsch of Oak Ridge, Mo.
Answering the gate call next was the Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Four Years and Under Riders Cup class. Nine talented teams filled the big oval all striving for top honors. Judge Landrum served as call judge. Taking the top honors in this highly competitive class of young horses went to the pair of Habanero and Hannah Pulvers for Lily Catherine Holland of Decatur, Ala. This dynamic duo has claimed reserve honors at the National Trainers Show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to My Black Cadillac and Laurie Toone for Allison Thorson of Huron, OH. My Black Cadillac claimed another reserve world championship title earlier this week in the O/A English or Western Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure. Taking the third award in this impressive class was American Hustle and Candy Kluth for Kathy and John Anderson of Shelbyville.
Making their way into the big oval in hopes to claim their first world championship title is the O/A Novice Youth Riders 12-17 Years on Novice Walking Mares of Geldings. Eight talented novice teams answered the gate call to vie for top honors. Judge Sisk served as call judge in this class. The crowd picked their favorite team and cheered them on in blue ribbon style. Claiming their very first world championship title is the newly crowned team of Versace’s Dollar and Alexas Compton for Rick Compton of Tazewell, Va. Reserve honors went to The Polar Bear and owner/rider Tyra Brown of Science Hill, Ky. The Polar Bear captured reserve honors at the Belfast show earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was Sweep’s Super Star and Emily Kiser Jackson for Ingram and Adams of Jonesborough.
Up next was the Two-Year-Old Walking Mares Riders Cup class Div. A. As the horses answered the gate call, Larry Bright played, “I Love the Night Life.” Thirteen entries filled the big oval and Judge Sorrell served as the call judge in this impressive class. Spectators quickly picked their favorite teams and cheered them on as they competed for top honors. Taking home the title, honor and bragging rights was the impressive team of Dallas In Dixie and John Allan Callaway for Merv Whittenburg or Ripley. Dallas In Dixie has claimed top honors earlier this season at the Cornersville Lions Club show. Reserve honors went to She’s A Nine and Charlie Green for Lloyd Cassidy of Mt. Sterling, Ky. She’s A Nine has claimed top honors at the OK Hege show earlier this season and has also claimed a reserve title at the Cornersville Lions Club show. Rounding out the top three was Jose’s Whole Enchilada and Herbert Derickson for Nales and Zamora of SW Ranchos, Fla. and Shelbyville.
O/A Riders on Walking Ponies, Stallions class graced the big oval with their presence next. Six entries answered the gate call for this prestigious class. Judge Bonner served as the call judge. Cheers and whistles filled the air in this outstanding class of ponies. Taking home the world championship honor and title is Dixie Lineman and owner/rider Gail Walling of Wartrace. This dynamic duo claimed the Reserve World champion O/A Pony Stallions title in 2014. Reserve honors went to Samsung and owner/rider George Ann Pratt of Shawnee Mission, KS. Samsung has claimed top honors earlier this season at the Spring Fun show. Taking home the third place award was Lined Walkin’ and Lilly Waites for the Andrew Waites Family of Hattiesburg, Miss.
Taking the ring next was the Two-Year-Old Walking Mares Riders Cup Div. B. Thirteen entries answered the gate call for this impressive division of the Two-Year-Old Mares. Judge Bonner served as call judge. Claiming top honors in this highly competitive class of Two-Year-Old mares is She’s Salsarita and John Allan Callaway for Delores Griffith of Alvaton, Ky. This talented young mare has enjoyed a very successful show ring career thus far in 2015. She has claimed top awards at impressive venues as the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration, the Money Tree Classic and the Red Carpet Show of the South. Reserve award went to Doc’s Two Timer and Herbert Derickson for the Alan Riddley Family of Kings Mountain, N.C. Two Timer has claimed top honors at the Spring Fun Show earlier this season. Third award went to Lined In Diamonds and Tyler Baucom for Connie Hess of Harrisonburg, Va.
The beginning of the world grand championship classes begin next. The Walking Yearling World Grand Championship made their way into the big oval. Eight young entries answered the gate call for their chance to win a World Grand championship title. Judge Landrum served as the call judge. The yearlings made their way around the big oval to the tune of, “Oh, What a Beautiful Baby” played by Mr. Larry Bright. Making the first world grand championship stroll to the victory circle under the spotlight is Hey Good Looking and Kelly Richards for the Richards and Jones of Shelbyville and Hendersonville. Hey Good Looking looked great with the floral horseshoe around her neck making her victory lap. This talented pair also won the World Championship Yearling Fillies or Geldings, of 2014 foal division and the O/A Yearlings, of 2014 foal World Championship earlier today. Reserve world grand championship honors went to Carolina Chrome and Marty Warren for John Callicutt and Steve Smith of Sea Grove, N.C. and Brentwood. Carolina Chrome won the World Champion Yearling Stallion class earlier today. Rounding out the top three was Antonio Antonio and Beverly Lamp for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury of Shelbyville.
The young trainers took to the big oval next in the Young Trainers, 35 Years and Under, on Walking Horses, 15.2 and Under Riders Cup class. Four entries made the gate call for the class. Judge Sisk is the call judge for this impressive class of young trainers. The young trainers directed their horses to the South turn for the lineup with the approval of the crowd. Taking home unanimous top honors is the World class team of He’s Made In The USA and Bill Callaway for Roy Wierenga of Murfreesboro. This impressive team has also claimed top honors in the Young Trainers class at the Spring Fun Show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to Prime Country and Tyler Baucom for Jerry Hewitt of Timmonsville, S.C. Prime Country claimed reserve honors earlier this season at the Columbia Spring Jubilee. Rounding out the top three was King’s Kode Blue and Justin Harris for Enfinger and Williamson of Dothan, Ala.
O/A Youth Riders 6-14 Years on Walking Ponies graced the big oval with their presence. Seven entries showed for a Saturday night blue ribbon at the 77th Annual National Celebration. Three of these entries are classic horses fifteen years of age or older. Judge Sorrell served as call judge in this impressive class of youth riders on walking ponies. The crowd picked their favorite horse and rider pairs and cheered them on in blue ribbon fashion. The young riders directed their ponies to the South turn for the lineup. Taking home top honors in this highly impressive class is the winning team of Rammer Jammer and owner/rider Lily Catherine Holland of Decatur, Ala. This talented young team has enjoyed an undefeated season in 2015. They have claimed top honors at the Petersburg Lions Club show and the Columbia Spring Jubilee. Reserve honors went to Prime Poison and owner/rider Addie Harris of Shelbyville. Harris has directed Prime Poison to the winners circle at the Spring Fun Show and the Cornersville Lions Club show earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was General Willie and owner/rider Jayden Jackson of Wartrace.
The O/A Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Walking Stallions enter the ring next. Eight entries answered the gate call for the class. Judge Bingham served as the call judge for this impressive class of stallions. Gentlemen directed their stallions to the South turn to park in for the lineup. The crowd graciously applauded them to the South turn. Taking top honors in this impressive class and becoming a novice no more is the team of He’s Shady In Black and Richard Donner for Richard Donner of Dyersburg. This newly crowned world champion team has claimed top honors at the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and Parker’s Crossroads show earlier this year. Reserve honors went to Reservation On Line and John Odom for Amanda Odom of Rincon, Ga. This talented team has claimed top honors at such impressive venues as the Woodbury Lions Club show and the Red Carpet Show of the South. Rounding out the top three was All About That Jose and Harold Roberts for Sherry Roberts of Van Buren, Mo.
Up next is the highly competitive class of O/A Riders on Five-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings. Larry Bright welcomed the competition into the big oval to the tune of, “Bad Bad Leroy Brown.” Nine entries answered the gate call and Judge Bonner served as the call judge. Taking top honors in this highly competitive class was Conga Line and Courtney Luttrell for Delores Griffith of Alvaton, Ky. Conga Line is the 2014 O/A Riders on Four-Year-Old Mares or Geldings reserve champion. Reserve honors went to Greenspan and Mary Morrison for Andrew Morrison of Hattisburg, Miss. Greenspan has staked claim to top honors at such impressive shows as the Columbia Spring Jubilee, Money Tree Classic and Wartrace shows earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was Rose Command and owner/rider Linda Scrivner of Bell Buckle.
Bringing excitement to the big oval is the Walking Stallions, Five-Years and Over Canter Riders Cup class Div. A. Larry Bright tuned the organ and welcomed the aged stallions to the ring in championship style to the tune of the “Flat Walk Boogie.” Five world class entries answered the gate call for the A division. The crowed quickly picked their favorite teams and cheered them on to the victory circle. Claiming top honors in the division A Walking Stallions, Five Years and Over Canter class was Gen’s Black Maverick and Bill Callaway for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury of Bell Buckle. Gen’s Black Maverick retired all three challenge trophies of the evening. Gen’s Black Maverick also won the Walking Stallions, Five-Years and Over Canter class in 2014. Reserve honors went to He’s Vida Blue and Chad Williams for Gayle Holcomb of Marina Del Rey, Calif. and Shelbyville. He’s Vida Blue has claimed top honors at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Christmas In July shows earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was Mr. Heisman and Brandye Mills for Randall and Sadie Baskin of Franklin.
BaucoMore excitement finished out the evening as the Walking Stallions, Five-Years and Over Canter class Div. B took to the big oval. Three entries made the gate call. Judge Sisk was the call judge for the class. Taking home the honor, title and bragging rights of being the Walking Stallions, Five Years and Over Div. B champion went to Border Run and John Allan Callaway for Robert Moore of Franklin. Border Run has claimed top honors at such impress shows as the Mississippi Charity show, Gulf Coast Charity Celebration and Marshall County Horseman’s Association show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to He’s Unleashed and Chad Williams for Evergreen Walking Horse Farm of Bell Buckle. He’s Unleashed has enjoyed top honors from the National Trainers Show, Money Tree Classic and Wartrace shows earlier in 2015. Third and final tie went to Putting It On The Line and Scotty Brooks for Barry Bonner of Glasgow, Ky.