by K.C. Hensley

ATHENS, Tenn. - On October 11, 2003, Athens, Tenn., held their 27th annual Lions Club Walking and Racking horse show. The judge for the evening was Charlie Green, a well-known walking horse trainer and judge from Shelbyville, Tenn. With a 29-class show, there were 210 entries! Ten of the 29 classes were racking classes. With the diversity of the breeds and an outstanding amount of entries there was something for everybody!

The first class of the show, the Two-Year-Old Walking class, was one of the largest classes of the night with 11 entries. Watt's Up and Travis Adams walked away with a well-deserved blue. The entry is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gavin of Wartrace, Tenn. Reserve in the class was One Of Those Things with Wendell Kirkpatrick in the irons for Black Feather Farm of Ashfield, Mass., and Shelbyville, Tenn.

In the Weanling and Yearling class Darn Near Dangerous and Russ Keyser made their way to the winner’s circle. The entry is owned by TLC Tack of Olympia, Wash. Reserve in the class was the team of Encore’s Midnight Lady and Nolan LaRue. Nolan LaRue of Jamestown, Tenn., is also the owner

The next walking class was the Novice Walking Amateur Specialty. Capturing the blue in this class were Walkman and Charles Gavin. Reserve in the class went to Generator’s Crown King and Curtis Allison for Curtis and Virginia Allison of Lenoir City, Tenn.

Another large class was the Three-Year-Old Amateur Walking class with 10 entries. Size Me Up and Tex Dillingham were awarded the blue for Dillingham and Floyd of McMinnville, Tenn. Reserve in the class was Commands Dream with Angela House up for Larry Landreth of Powell, Tenn.

In the Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty class A Golden Merger and Randy Dean walked away with blue ribbon honors. The entry is owned by Janice King and Beulah Essary of Morristown and Tazewell, Tenn. Reserve in the class was awarded to Couldn’t Ya Tell It and Landon Reeves for Mae Flanagan of Philadelphia, Tenn.

The Country Pleasure division is always popular. In the Youth Country Pleasure class Olympic Gold Performance and Denise Badder made their way to the winner’s circle. The entry is owned by Maggie Moore of Orange, Calif. Reserve in the class was the well-known Sparkling Generator with borrowed rider Brandon Derrick for K.C. Hensley and Sherry Givens of Westel, Tenn., and Shelbyville, Tenn.

In the Walking Ladies Amateur Specialty class General Stock and Joyce Frank made their presence known for the blue ribbon ride. The entry is owned by Charles Garner of Lunerville, Ga. Coming in as a strong second was Exclusive Gold with Sharon Lessard aboard for Christian Lessard of Great Falls, Va.

In the Two-Year-Old Amateur class Major’s Pass Time and owner/exhibitor Brian Reese of Pikeville, Tenn., captured the blue. Reserve in the class was given to Cash’s Black Pearl and Kathy Duncan for the Chip Duncan family of Nolensville, Tenn.

In the Lite-Shod Specialty class Dawn’s Midnight Sun and Randy Young made their way to the winner’s circle for JoAnne and Gina Brooks of Shelbyville Tenn. Gen’s Rich And Famous and Virginia Allison were reserve for Curtis and Virginia Allison of Lenoir City, Tenn.

The Men’s Amateur Specialty class was a highly competitive class. Emerging from the line up as champion was the well-known Choice Of Silver with Jimmy Williams in the irons. The entry is owned by Partners By Choice of Etowah, Tenn., and Manchester Tenn. Reserve in the class went to Rebel Red and Ted Melhorn for Bill and Sharon Wilkinson of Ten Mile, Tenn.

There was a second country pleasure class listed in the program for all who wanted to enter. This class was the largest class of the evening with 17 entries making the gait call. Coming to take blue ribbon honors was Olympic Gold Performance with rider Kristi Kirkpatrick in the irons this time. Reserve in the class was Evil Allen’s Stunt with David Dupes up for Larry and Katie Sparks of Loudon, Tenn.

The Youth 11 & Under Walking class is always a crowd pleaser. It featured six tiny riders. Silver’s Scamper and Hunter Hensley captured the blue for grandparents Hal and Mary Ann Hensley of Sweetwater, Tenn. Reserve in the class was the team of Pusher’s Risky Business and Hayse Harrison for Gale Griffin of Maryville, Tenn.

In the Four-Year-Old Open class Strickley A Mystery and Travis Adams captured their third blue of the night for owners Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gavin of Wartrace, Tenn. Coming in as a strong second was the team of The Mask and Chris Pickle for Fred Randolph of Niota, Tenn.

After coming out of the Four-Year-Old Open class as a significant second, Chris Pickle went on to win the next walking class of the night, the Walking Three-Year-Old Open class, with Texas Cash Exchange for Judy Allison of Loudon, Tenn. Reserve in the class was awarded to Sky Trek and Tommy Howell for Mr. and Mrs. Brown of Knoxville, Tenn.

With only one entry in the Walking 17 & Under class, Diana Shestel and Dangerous Backdraft still put on a good show for the spectators at the Athens Lions Club Horse Show.

In the ETWHA Members Only class Push Don’t Pull and Sterling Phillips pushed their way to the winner’s circle to end a busy show season. The entry is owned by Linda Ball of Franklinton, N.C. Reserve in the class was Spirit’s Macho Man and Randy Dean for Jimmy Hardell of Stanley, N.C.

In the Four-Year-Old Amateur class Second Copy and owner/exhibitor Bronwyn Jullian of Decatur, Tenn., captured the blue ribbon honors. Reserve in the class was Pusher’s Loose Cash with Sandra Ashley aboard for Bobby Silver of Spruce Pine, N.C.

Finally it was time for the class that everyone was waiting for, the Walking Horse Stake! Eight entries took to the ring to battle it out. One entry asked to be excused during the class. With seven entries in the final line up, we all awaited the judge's decision. The tricolor ribbon and trophy were ready for presentation, and Gen’s Drop Of Sun and Chris Pickle emerged from line up to accept the honors. The entry is owned by Fred Randolph of Niota, Tenn. Reserve in the the class went to the well-known legend Bill Bilbrey on his mount Pride’s Man In Black. The entry is owned by B & S Farm of Livingston, Tenn.

This concludes the coverage of the 27th annual Athens Lions Club Horse Show. Complete results follow and may be viewed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.