by Stephanie Morton

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – It was a beautiful evening in Shelbyville, Tennessee as the 77th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration got underway. Mr. Bud Seaton and Counterfeit Dollar displayed the nation’s colors proudly as they entered the big oval. Counterfeit Dollar is  owned by OK Walking Horse Farms and prepared by Bobby Hugh. The invocation this evening was given by Rev. Jeff Frasney of the First Baptist Church of Shelbyville. Mark Halsey of Atlanta, Ga.,  gave a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Mr. Larry Bright welcomed the first class of horses into the ring to the all- time favorite tune of “Puttin’ On The Ritz”. The honorable judges Bingham, Bonner, Landrum, Sisk and Sorrell presided over this evening’s performances.  Mr. Mark Farrar, Jr., served as the announcer.

The evening’s performances began with the O/A Gentleman Drivers, Fine Harness. Four spectacular teams entered the ring all vying for the first World championship title of the evening. Judge Bingham served as the call judge. The crowd picked their favorite teams and cheered them on to victory as these fine drivers took to the rail on the reverse. Taking home the first unanimous world championship title of this evening’s performances was the team of Lined Royal Cash and Jack Kwok for CCJK Enterprises of Shelbyville. This world champion team has also taken top honors at such prestigious venues as the Spring Fun Show. Reserve honors went to In Ted’ Image and owner/rider Ron Lawrence of Lenoir City. Earlier this season, this talented pair took top honors at the Red Carpet Show of the South.  Rounding out the top three was Rocky Mountain Sky and Brue MacDonald of Atlanta, Ga.

Seven top entries made the gate call next for the Riders Cup Walking Mares, Five-Years and Over Canter class. Judge Bonner served as the call judge in this very impressive class of aged mares. This class also qualifies these seven entries to show back in the world grand championship class on Saturday evening. Top honors go to the winning team of Wicked Walking Witch and Casey Wright for Diana Cruse of Blue Ridge, Ga. This highly talented team claimed world championship honors at the 2014 TWHNC in the Four-Year-Old Mares or Geldings Canter class.  Reserve honors in this impressive class went to She’s Intimidating and Winky Groover for Jack and Lillian Bolozky of Chesterfield, Mo. Earlier this season, She’s Intimidating took top award at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration. Taking home third award was the talented team of Labeled At Midnight and Philip Trimble for Joe and Betty Alvarez of Olympia, Wash.

Up next were the O/A Riders on Five-Year-Old Walking Stallions. Six top competing teams made the gate call for this highly competitive class. Judge Landrum served as the call judge. Making the blue ribbon ride in this impressive class was the team of I’m Mayhem and Susan Coleman for JoAnn Dowell and Susan Coleman of Powell, OH and Unionville. This impressive duo claimed world grand championship honors in 2014 in the O/A Riders on Four-Year-Olds. They have also enjoyed an undefeated 2015 show season. Reserve honors went to Epic and Meghan Davis for Shamrock Farms and Mike Davis of Cincinnati, OH and Shelbyville. Epic has claimed top honors at the Christmas In July show and the Red Carpet Show of the South earlier this year. Rounding out the top three was The Bourne Legacy and owner/rider Trish Spivey of Morristown.



Seven entries answered the gate call for the Riders Cup Classic Park Pleasure Walking Horses class. Judge Sisk served as the call judge for the class. Claiming unanimous top honors in this class of highly competitive horses and riders was the dynamic duo of Moonshine At Midnight and Patrick Thomas for Sherry Roberts of Van Buren, Mo. Moonshine At Midnight has claimed another world championship title earlier this week in the O/A Classic Park Pleasure class with Kyndra Myers. Reserve honors went to I’m Mr. Blues and Howard Hamilton for Kimberly Coult and Forrest Shadow Walkers of Magnolia, TX and Shelbyville. I’m Mr. Blues has claimed two reserve world championship titles earlier this week in the O/A Classic Park Pleasure class and the Riders Cup Classic Park Pleasure class with trainer Howard Hamilton. Riding to the third award was High Headed Lady and Brandon Urad for Ronnie Blakely of Montgomery, TX.

Entering the ring next was the first of three divisions of the Riders Cup Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions class. Nine talented young stallions entered the ring in hopes of becoming the next world champion. Judge Sorrell served as the call judge for this impressive class of horses. Larry Bright jazzed up the audience as he played, “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” as these talented two-year-old stallions took the rail on the reverse. The Division A Two-Year-Old world championship honors went to A Pink Floyd and Bill Callaway for Steve Zeis of Wartrace. A Pink Floyd claimed top honors earlier this season at the Cornersville Lions Club show. Reserve honors went to Tornado Alley and Tyler Baucom for Kerry Dearmond of Greer, S.C. This talented young stallion has also claimed top honors at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration and the Marshall County Horseman’s Association show earlier this season. Third award went to The Sergeant and Bill Callaway for Cecil Lee of Smyrna.

Answering the gate call next while trainers prepare for the Divisions B and C of the two-year-old stallions classes was the Elite O/A Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses. Ten entries fill the big oval all in hopes of carrying out the world championship title. Judge Bingham served as the call judge. Top unanimous championship honors in this class went to BB King’s Jazz and Libby Stephens for Stephens and Womack of Grayson, Ky.  This talented Park Pleasure horse as claimed another world championship title earlier last week in the O/A Riders 6-17 Park Pleasure Mares or Geldings and a reserve world championship title in the O/A Park Pleasure. Reserve honors went to Hello, I’m Johnny Cash and Sherri Pollack for S&P LLC of Saratoga, Calif. Johnny Cash claimed another reserve world championship earlier last week in the O/A Western Park Pleasure Four and Over class. Taking the third award in this impressive class was Tijuana Tex and Darden Gladney for Gladney Farms of Homer, La.

Up next was the B Division of the Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions. As these young stallions answered the gate call, it was clear the crowd had their favorite teams. Twelve talented teams filled the big oval all striving to gain world championship honors. Judge Bonner served as the call judge. Claiming the title of the World Champion Two-Year-old Walking Stallions Div. B was the powerful team of Gin In Everything and Ryan Blackburn for Mosley and Harr of Lexington, Ky. Gin In Everything has enjoyed an undefeated season in 2015, claiming top honors at such impressive venues as the Columbia Spring Jubilee, Woodbury Lions Club and the Red Carpet Show of the South.  Reserve honors went to Ritz’s Rhythm and Michael Wright for Sammy and Gayle Cagle of Lexington. This talented young stallion has also claimed top honors at the National Trainers show earlier this season.  Rounding out the top three in this impressive class was Forget About It and RM Kellett for Hannah Miller and Sophia Borg Crosby of Quitman, Ga.

Six top competitors answered the gate call for the O/A Gentleman Riders on Show Pleasure Walking Horses. Judge Landrum served as the call judge for this impressive class. It didn’t take long for the crowd to warm up and cheer on their favorite team. Taking home the world championship title is the pair of Hello, Hello and Darden Gladney for Darden Gladney and Deborah Williams of Homer, LA., and Argyle, TX. This talented duo has claimed top honors earlier this season at the Money Tree Classic show. Reserve honors went to Spectacular Dumas and Charlie Craddock for Charlie and Connie Craddock of Joelton. Spectacular Dumas has earned top acclaim at the Red Carpet Show of the South earlier this season.  Rounding out the top three was Bronco Billy and Jay Laughlin for Joe Laughlin of Waynesville, Mo.

Finishing out the third and final division of the Riders Cup Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions, ten talented entries answered the gate call. Judge Sisk served as the call judge for the class. Cheers of approval filled the air as spectators picked out their favorite teams. Claiming world championship status in this impressive class of two-year-old stallions was the team of Jose’s Thunderstruck and Herbert Derickson for Karmen Miller of Knoxville. This talented duo has claimed top honors earlier this season at the Spring Fun Show.  Reserve honors went to Do Right and Patrick Thomas for Steve and Pat Wilson of Stoneville, N.C. Taking the third place award was Memphis Blues and Philip Trimble for Bell, Rowland and Thomas of Winchester.

Up next were the Elite O/A Lady Riders on Walking Stallions. Larry Bright welcomed this prestigious class of Elite ladies to the ring to the tune of “Hot Stuff.” Seven impressive entries answered the gate call for the class. Judge Sorrell served as the call judge. This elegant class of ladies won over the crowd as cheers and whistles filled the air as the class adjourned to the North turn for the line-up. Taking home the world championship title went to Command On Parole and Sheryl Crawford for Crawford Colts of Carrollton, Ga. This talented duo claimed world championship status in 2014 in the O/A Five-Year-Old Stallions. They have also claimed top honors this season at such impressive venues as the Christmas In July show and the Spring Fun Show. Reserve honors went to Knock ‘Em Ted and owner/rider Jannie of Owens Cross Roads, Ala. This talented team claimed world championship and reserve world championship acclaim in 2014 in the O/A Novice Riders on Novice Walking horses. Third award went to He’s Made In The USA and Sheryl Jordan for Roy Wierenga of Murfreesboro.  


 
and Under Riders Cup class. Judge Bingham served as the call judge. Top unanimous honors in this nice class of 15.2 and Under Mares went to A Bit Of Change and Justin Harris for Dee Broom Yoder of Ooltewah. This world champion mare has also claimed top awards at the Cornersville Lions Club show and the Red Carpet Show of the South earlier this season.  Reserve honors went to I’m Spicy Hot and Gary Edwards for Stephanie White of Eatonton, Ga.  Rounding out the top three was Jazz Badazz and Charlie Green for Dr. Linda Garrard of Humboldt.

Taking to the big oval next were eight top entries competing for the world championship title of O/A Riders on Park Performance Walking Stallions. Judge Bonner served as the call judge. The crowd definitely let all in attendance know that this was a very impressive class full of top contenders. Unanimous top honors went to the dynamic duo of Ain’t He Grande and owner/rider Phyllis Heppenstall of Auburn, Wash. Ain’t He Grande won world championship and world grand championship acclaim in 2014 in the Park Performance Four and Under division and the Park Performance World Grand Championship with trainer Clay Sanderson in the irons. Reserve honors went to So Real and owner/rider Jerry Watson of Eldorado, Ill. So Real claimed top honors at the MSHSA Charity show earlier this season. The third place award went to Ted Who and Kenny Compton for Rick and Della Compton of Tazewell, Va.



Up next in the evening’s class lineup was the O/A Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings. Three entries answer the gate call and judge Landrum served as call judge. Claiming the blue ribbon award was the team of Silver Shiraz and Mikayla Dent for Michael Dent and Olivia Watts of Summit, Miss., and South Charleston, W. Va. Silver Shiraz has taken top honors earlier this season at the Union Parish show. Reserve honors went to Magic Lined and owner/rider Summer Brooks of Rogersville. Magic Lined has claimed blue ribbon honors at the Claiborne County Fair and Walking horse show earlier in the season. Taking the third and final award was Masati and Danielle Ricker for Vickie Ricker of Greenville.

Ending this evening’s performance was the Walking Stallions, 15.2 and Under Riders Cup class. Four entries made the gate call for this impressive class. Judge Sisk served as the call judge.  Claiming the unanimous title of World Champion Walking Stallion, 15.2 and Under was the team of Texas Joe Black and John Allan Callaway for Kathy Zeis of Wartrace. Texas Joe Black has claimed top honors at the Liberty Lions Club show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to King’s Kode Blue and Justin Harris for Enfinger and Williamson of Dothan, Ala. King’s Kode Blue has claimed the blues at such prestigious shows as the OK Hege show and the Arab Park and Recreation show earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was My Kinda Luck and Bill Cantrell for Dee Cantrell of Phenix City, Ala.