By Melissa R. Stevens
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - The second full day of the 65th Tennessee National Walking Horse Celebration got underway August 21 at Calsonic Arena. After yesterday's tough day of competition the audience was ready for something exciting.
The day started off with 15 out of the 17 entries entered in in the program making their way through the gate for competition in the Model Pleasure Walking Stallions and Geldings class. Jamie Hankins was the call judge for the class. AK47 and handler Jeff Givens had a fan club at this event. They cheered loudly as AK47 was called for the blue for Guylene Ozlanski of Woodbury, Tenn. The Gangster and Chris Richards for Jim and Bonnie Moon of Lewisburg, Tenn., were reserve followed by Ironman's Mr. Mack and Bobby Richards for Dana Douglas and Geri Stewart of Omaha, Neb.
Twenty-nine flashy entries answered the gate call for Section A of the Amateur Western Trail Pleasure class for riders 18 and over. Paul Watlington was the call judge. A time out was called for two riders to have shoes repaired while the remaining entries were called to the line up. A workout was called for 16 of the entries. He's A Wrangler and Maggie Moore roped in the victory in this class. This talented entry also took the blue in Section B of yesterday's Amateur English Trail Pleasure class for riders 18 and over. Hit & Run and Donna Rodriguez were reserve following their win in yesterday's Amateur English Trail Pleasure Canter class for riders 18 and over. Hit & Run is owned by the Tony Rodriguez family of La Canada, Calif. A Drop Of Gold gave a sparkling performance with owner/exhibitor Loretta North of Shingle Springs, Calif., for the third place tie.
Section B of the Amateur Western Trail Pleasure class for riders 18 and over also featured 29 entries. Laura Brandon was the call judge for this class. Again a workout was called sending 13 of the best entries in the class to the rail for another go at the blue. At the end of the workout, Pearl Jam and Cindy Womack were called to make the victory pass for Womack Stables of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Doc's Taking Charge and Bob Bilbo were reserve followed by Mr. Pacesetter and owner/exhibitor Tina Singleton of Nolensville, Tenn.
Nine of the 14 registered entries piled through the gate for the Four-Year-Old Park Pleasure Walking Horses Canter class. Mike Carpenter accepted the responsibility of calling the class. Elegance Of Design and Craig Swaggerty gave a stunning performance to win the blue for Nancy Lovato of West Jordan, Utah. Joltin' Joe Dimaggio ridden by Trish Wooten for owners Gary and Carleen Redman of Fontana, Calif., was reserve. Freedom Of Arms and Jeff Byrom rounded out the top three positions for Bert, Cheryl and Landon Head of Jigger, La.
Twenty-four of the 36 teams entered in the program for the Amateur Western Trail Pleasure Canter class for riders 18 and over made the gate call. Gene Carswell was the call judge. A time out was called so that three entries could get their shoes repaired. One of those three, To Die For! was unable to continue and asked to be excused. When the class was finally able to continue, the result was worth waiting for. In the first unanimous tie of the day, Pride's Smart Alex and Rhonda Martocci, in their second win of the week, were called to make the victory pass. Solitude's Sugar Babe was reserve with Kathy Potter up for Daniel Potter of Shelbyville, Tenn., followed by Royal Sparkling Gen with Michelle Hodne up for Doug Toone of Spangle, Wash., in third.
The Amateur Owned and Trained Walking Horses class for entries with no professional training during the last 90 days was split into two sections. Jamie Hankins called Section A, which featured 15 talented entries. Cobra Commander and Debbie Wells had complete control of Section A to take the blue for Heiden and Wells of Florence, S.C. Stormy's Black Rain and Judy Keene thundered around the ring to win the reserve tie for the Jim Sullivan family of Olive Branch, Miss. That's The Bottom Line and Dalia Smith for Clea Smith of Manchester, Ky., finished with the third place tie.
Section B of the Amateur Owned and Trained Walking Horse class for entries with no professional training during the past 90 days also featured 15 entries. Paul Watlington called this large class. Good Evening and Jaclyn Harney had a good day winning the blue for the John Harney family of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Gen's Triple Pride and owner/rider Kenny Compton had nothing to be ashamed of; they finished in the reserve spot. Spirit's Black Coin with Nathan Clark up for Clark Farms of Arab, Ala., cashed in on a third place finish.
All six of entries registered for the Park Pleasure Driving class for four wheeled vehicles made the gate call. Laura Brandon called this class. Undercover Pusher was excused at the beginning of the class for unruly behavior. The five remaining entries took to the ring to compete for the first place tie. The blue went to the only female in the class, Kathy Owen driving She's A Double Major for Double Springs Farm in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Mr. Mission Impossible and Larry Derryberry were reserve for Gayle Smith of Houston, Texas. Gen's Sundancer driven by Jeff Givens for Shane and Sarah Hastings of Murfreesboro, Tenn., finished out the top three.
Mike Carpenter called a class of 25 lite-shod plantation pleasure walking horses with amateur riders. Thirty-eight teams had originally registered for this class. Pusher's Beaming Pride and Jim Nichols rode hard for the first place tie for owners Jim and Debbie Nichols of New Market, Tenn. All Night with Nathan Clark in the irons took the reserve spot for Clark Farms of Arab, Ala., followed by Starstruck By JFK and Clint Dixon for Randall and Gloria Dixon of Red Eagle Farms in third.
Twenty entries made the gate call for the Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure Walking Horses class. Gene Carswell was the call judge. Mr. Rody and Larry Derryberry rode out with the blue for Paul Bryan of Thomasville, Ga. Pusher's Curtain Call ridden by Jamey Thompson for DuBose and Birmingham of Vernon, Ala., and South Lake, Texas, respectively rode out with the reserve tie followed by A Night Mare and Craig Swaggerty for Kristin Petty of West Jordan, Utah in third.
Jamie Hankins called the 10-entry Western Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Walking Horses Canter class for amateur riders. Genius's Dixie Chick and Susan Gordan for Stonegait Farms of Orange, Calif., rode out with the first place tie. A Common Denominator and owner/exhibitor Doug Toone of Spangle, Wash., were a close reserve. Heat From The Sun and Judy Moore of Moore & Foust Farm rounded out the top three.
The Amateur Western Trail Pleasure class for novice riders on novice walking horses was split into two sections. Paul Watlington called Section A, which featured 29 entries. Twelve entries were called to the rail for an additional workout with all others being excused. In the end, Pearl Jam with Sara Womack up for Womack Stables of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was called to the winner's circle for the blue. Gem Sweep and owner/exhibitor Pamela Schoenster of Oakland, Calif., finished with reserve followed by Mr. Reach and Darren Gray for third.
Section B of the Amateur Western Trail Pleasure class for novice riders on novice horses also featured 29 entries. Laura Brandon called this section of the class. An additional work out was called for 13 of the best entries in the class. Royal's Sparkling Gen ridden by Joseph Abernathy for Doug Toone of Spangle, Wash., was called to the winner's circle to the sound of a jubilant crowd. Kiss And Told with Keri Johnson up for owner Betty Chalfant of Enumclaw, Wash., took reserve. Rounding out the top three was Major Alibi and Fred Gibbany for Deloris Gibbany of Harrison, Ala.
Twenty-seven fine Novice Park Pleasure Walking Stallions and Geldings with amateur novice riders entered the ring to vie for the blue. Mike Carpenter was the call judge for the class. The crowd had their favorites before the class even got started and they wasted no time in letting the judges know who they thought should win. The judges' choice was The Silver Bandit ridden by Kim Leonard for Kim and Scott Leonard of Greendale, Wisc. The Rising Sun and owner/exhibitor Ray Solley rose to the occasion for the reserve ribbon. The Lone Gunman ridden by Lauren Williams for Pam Williams of Farmington, Mo., finished in third.
Gene Carswell was the call judge for the Lite-Shod Plantation Pleasure Walking Horses age four years and under with amateur riders class, which featured 25 entries. Double Java ridden by Mac Benham for owners Mark and Marcy Drummond of Norco, Calif., was called for the blue with an unanimous decision. Rainsong with Mike Ericson up was a good reserve for Mike and Pam Ericson of Modjeska Canyon, Calif. In The Heat Of The Night and owner/exhibitor Burl Dale of Boynton Beach, Fla., took the third place tie.
In the final class of the day, 11 entries took to the ring for the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Walking Horse Canter class for riders 18 years and older. With a unanimous decision, Pusher's Beaming Pride was called to the winner's circle with Howard Hamilton up for owners Debbie and Jim Nichols. This was Pusher's Beaming Pride's second win today. Miss Magic Money and Diane Gueck finished in the reserve spot followed by Trashadeous ridden by Mike Civils for Jimmy Civils of Frisco, Texas.
The second day of competition at the 65th Celebration was nothing short of spectacular. With the start of the evening classes only hours away, the crowd was left with great expectations of what was to come.