By Mark McGee

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – It was Thursday, a night filled with spotlight rides and floral horseshoes on the first of three nights of world grand championship classes in “The Big Oval” at the 84th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. With 15 classes on the schedule, Ronnie Spears and flag horse White Diamond Dollar made their entry into the ring at 6 p.m. instead of the traditional 7 p.m. start. Bobby McGee from Grace Baptist Church gave the invocation with his sons Jason and Jeffrey McGee from Shelbyville, Tennessee, presenting a duet performance of the National Anthem.

Several members of the Tennessee General Assembly, who assisted the Celebration in obtaining a $150,00 grant for improvements on Calsonic Arena, were special guests in the center ring.

Custom Chrome JB was the first world grand champion of the evening with owner Savannah Upchurch in the saddle in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack, class. Custom Chrome JB is sired by Kodachrome and out of Icy’s Master Miss. It was the second top finish in The Celebration for Custom Chrome JB. He won the Owner-Amateur Elite Park Pleasure class the first Wednesday morning with Jill Upchurch. Custom Chrome JB has three blues in six classes in 2022. I Walk The Walk walked to reserve with co-owner Carol Missildine aboard for co-owner Denny Russell. Title Line and owner-rider Abby Farmer tied third. Eight of 10 entries answered the gate call from Celebration announcer Mark Farrar. Jamie Bradshaw called the class.

Shameless SF and co-owner Emily Cortner won their first ever world grand championship in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack, class. Shameless SF, co-owned by Jordan Howell of Murfreesboro was sired by Jose’ Jose’ and out of Gin’s Cash Coin. This was the second Celebration win this year for Cortner and Shameless SF. They also were first in the Owner-Amateur Novice Trail Pleasure class Sunday night. Shameless SF has six blues in 12 classes this year. Second place was Betrayal with co-owner Margo Urad on board for co-owner Gassaway. Into The Badlands placed third with owner-rider Chad Spencer. The class had perfect attendance with all 10 programmed entries showing. The call judge was Jamie Bradshaw for the second class in row.

Diamond At The Ritz sparkled the brightest on the way to the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Country Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings, Optional Tack, World Grand Championship. Lexi Smith was in the saddle for co-owners Abi Smith and Kimberly Walden from Shelbyville, Tennessee. It was the first world grand championship for Lexi. In 2019 and 2020 Abi won the world grand championship in the class with Diamond At The Ritz. It was the fifth blue in 11 classes for Diamond At The Ritz this year including a win Friday morning in the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Western Country Pleasure class. First Knight Out and Riley Gregory were the second-place tie for co-owners Brad Gregory and Ally Jo Jacobs. Scarlett O’Hara TS and co-owner Harper Grider were third for co-owner Terri Smith. All 18 listed entries competed with Sam Sorrell calling the gaits for the largest class of the night.

Fly Dragonfly and owner-rider Dr. Shannon Harr from Olive Hill, Kentucky, were presented their first ever world grand championship in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Walking Horses class. It was the fourth blue in 11 shows for Fly Dragonfly including top honors in the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Walking Stallions class Saturday night. The Jackalope, with Tyra Brown aboard for Tim Brown, was reserve world grand champion, while Doral and Samantha Green tied third for owner Evergreen Walking Horse Farm, LLC.

Seventeen of 24 expected entries were in the ring. The wheel fell on Jamie Bradshaw again to be the call judge. 
IB Smokin’ Joe, the first ever world grand champion in the Owner-Amateur Riders on All-Day Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack, class repeated his 2021 performance with Joel Johnson in the irons for Tanner and Tucker Johnson from Shelbyville, Tennessee. IB Smokin’ Joe was a unanimous pick of the five-judge panel, the first of the night. Sired by Indigo Blue and out of Slew’s Blue Angel it was the fifth blue in five classes for IB Smokin’ Joe this year. He won the Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 All Day Pleasure class Friday morning with Tanner riding and the Owner-Amateur All-Day Pleasure class with Joel the first Wednesday morning. IB Smokin’ Joe has 15 consecutive blue-ribbon wins dating back to 2021. Petal Pushin’ Jazz and owner-rider Lauren Hamilton placed reserve, while Fuego and owner-rider Allison Thorson Newman carried away the third award. Eighteen of 20 listed entries answered the gate call tying for the largest class of the night. Paul Robbins called the class.

All About Jose’ with owner-rider Jackie Whatley from Ocala, Florida, in the saddle walked to the world grand championship in the Elite Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses class. Last year Whatley won the Owner-Amateur Novice World Grand Championship. Sired by Jose’ Jose’ and out of Crystal Lite’s Sunshine MM, it was the second top finish in The Celebration with Whatley and All About Jose’ earning a first-place nod Monday night in the Elite Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Stallions class. It was the fourth blue for All About Jose’ in six classes this show season and his third in a row. Reserve was Mr. Heisman with co-owner Bruce MacDonald riding for co-owner Robin MacDonald. A King Thing and owner-rider Bob Adcock carried away a yellow ribbon. Ten of 12 expected entries competed. Sam Sorrell was the call judge.

Skywalk’s Threat and owner-rider Alex Luttrell from Alvaton, Kentucky, won the world grand championship in the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Walking Ponies class for the second year in a row. Sired by Sky Walk and out of Threatfull Push, Skywalk’s Threat and Luttrell won the Owner-Amateur Walking Ponies Youth Riders 15-17 class Sunday night. Skywalk’s Threat is undefeated in six classes in 2022 and has 15 consecutive blues dating back to 2020. Time To Tease and co-owner Jessica Lawwell were reserve for co-owner Debby Myers. Versace’s Dollar placed third with K.J. Compton in the saddle for owner Rick Compton from Tazewell, Virginia. Eight of nine programmed entries were in the ring for call judge Paul Robbins.

Dixie Dare Devil and Claudia Gribble received the world grand championship for owner Ella Abernathy from Olive Branch, Mississippi, in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Horses class. Sired by The Dixie Lineman and out of Magic’s Jazzy Lady, it was the second blue in five classes this year for Dixie Dare Devil. Gribble and Dixie Dare Devil also won the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallions, Section B class the first Thursday night of The Celebration. Peace In The Valley CTF earned reserve honors with co-owner Gabriel Humiston in the saddle for co-owners Mark and Sharon Thomas. Gunsmith and David Sisk tied third for owners Dr. Andrew and Linda Sisk. Paul Robbins was the call judge with 11 of 16 programmed entries competing. 

King Mojo and owner-rider Kathy Anderson from College Grove, Tennessee, made the world grand championship spotlight ride in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four & Five-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack, class. Both the horse and rider have won world grand championships individually, but it was their first as a team. It was the third Celebration win this year for King Mojo. Anderson and King Mojo tied first in the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class the first Wednesday morning. Hannah Myatt and King Mojo were first in the Trail Pleasure Four & Five-Year-Old class the first Thursday morning. He has 11 blues in 13 classes in 2022. Jose’ Twist Of Gin and owner-rider Patti Pollack were reserve, while Lady James and owner-rider Darren Gray tied third. All six programmed entries showed. 

Dr. Jim Baum was in the saddle for owner Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tennessee, as Do Right did just that to win the world grand championship in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Performance Walking Horses class. The pair also won the world grand championship in 2020. Do Right, sired by Lined With Cash and out of My Michelle, has three blues in four classes in 2022 including the Owner-Amateur Park Performance Mares & Geldings class Friday night. A Touche’ and owner-rider Jannie Chapman were reserve champions. Jake Jacobs rode I Am Uno to third place honors for The Jacobs Family. John Puckett called with class with 10 of 12 expected entries entering the ring. 

Owner-rider Khloe Aymett McSwain from Alpharetta, Georgia, and Annie’s Lined With Cash unanimously won their first ever world grand championship in the Owner-Amateur Riders 6-17 Years on Show Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings class. It was the fourth blue in as many classes for Annie’s Lined With Cash including the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Show Pleasure Mares or Geldings class Saturday night. I’m Coach Cal was ridden to reserve by owner-rider Ally Jo Jacobs. Wired And Lined and owner-rider Kelsey Wright walked out with a yellow ribbon. John Puckett was the call judge with eight of 12 scheduled entries participating in the class.

Smoky Mountain Strong rode to his fourth consecutive world grand championship, this time in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Five-Year-Old Walking Horses class unanimously. Co-owner Lexie Stinnett was in the saddle for co-owner Jimbo Conner from Sevierville, Tennessee. Smoky Mountain Strong has previously won the Two-Year-Old, Three-Year-Old  and Four-Year-Old Owner-Amateur World Grand Championships. Stinnett and Smoky Mountain Strong are six-for-six this year including the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Stallions class Monday night.. I’m Fearless and owner-rider Janice Fostek were the reserve world grand champions, while Kong was ridden to third by Lorie Riddley for owner Alan Riddley. All eight programmed entries made the gate call. Paul Robbins called the class. 

Machete and owner-rider Susan Coleman from Unionville, Tennessee, repeated their world grand championship performance from 2021 in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class. They also won the world grand championship in 2019. Machete and Coleman have five blues in six classes in 2022. The popular team also won the Owner-Amateur Western Trail Pleasure class Monday morning. Mr. Bentley and owner-rider Ashley Wadsworth tied reserve. Blacklist and owner-rider Sherry Kessler received a yellow ribbon. All 10 scheduled entries were in the ring. Paul Robbins was the call judge.

It was a repeat ride for Big Time Bandit and Patrick Thomas as winners of the Lite-Shod Walking Horses World Grand Championship for owner Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tennessee. This was the third blue in The Celebration this year for Big Time Bandit. Thomas rode to a blue in the Lite-Shod Western class Friday night, while Baum won first on Monday morning in the Owner-Amateur Western Lite-Shod class. Big Time Bandit has seven blues in eight classes in 2022. Banks was reserve with Amber Zahnd riding for co-owners Shannon Rennie and Emily Cortner. She’s Charlie’s Girl walked out with a yellow ribbon with Chris Zahnd aboard for Anne Evans. All seven programmed entries made the gate call. John Puckett called the gaits.

Cavender and Knox Blackburn rode to a unanimous win in the Three-Year-Old Walking Horses World Grand Championship for owners Bruce and Robin MacDonald of Shelbyville, Tennessee. It was the first world grand championship for Cavender who is sired by Honors and out of Jose’s Café Au Lait. Cavender and Blackburn won Section C of the Three-Year-Old Stallions class Friday night. They have five blues in a row and have shown six times in 2022. McIlroy MCF won the reserve world grand championship honors with Tyler Baucom aboard for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury. Finally I Am was ridden to third by Sam Martin for co-owners Thomas and Grant. Eight of 11 scheduled entries were in the ring for call judge Paul Robbins to close out the night.