by Lynn Raciti-Shost SHELBYVILLE, Tenn -- There is no better way to spend a beautiful Friday evening in June in Shelbyville than at a horse show. Friday, June 17, 2005 was no exception, as the Liberty Lions Club held its sixth annual walking Horse show at the Bedford County Agricultural Center.

Show manager Paul Gambill and the rest of the club's members put on another well-organized horse show in a great venue, complete with good food and $7,350 in prize money for the contestants.

The evening's activities got underway promptly at 6:00 p.m. with Paula Gambill presenting the American Flag aboard She's a Cash Collector. Larry Hames gave the invocation and also sang the national anthem.

Charles Bobo of Shelbyville was on hand to judge the 33 classes in both performance and pleasure divisions. There were a total of 244 entries. There was a tie for the title of the trainer that brought the most entries to the show. Allan Callaway Stables and David Landrum Stables each brought 13 horses to the show.

Three entries made the first gate call in the Leadline Ponies for Riders Six and Under class. Taylor LeGate and Misty picked up the blue ribbon, adding to their earlier win at Summertown. Heidi LeGate was the leader and Amy Ann McCormick of Shelbyville owns Misty. Allie Avent and Chocolate Milk with the help of handler Alicia Avent were reserve in the class. Chocolate Milk is owned by Allie and Ashlyn Avent.

The Open Weanling class was won by Master Voltage with Robert Nelms at his head. This was Master Voltage's fifth blue ribbon and he now leads the Walking Weanling high point standings by 21 points. James Benton Pendleton and Ernie Berzette of Lititz, Pa., Hoover, Ala. and Shelbyville own the Celebration-bound youngster.

Next up on the schedule was the Country Pleasure Juvenile for Riders 17 and Under class. Eight competitors took the rail to show their horses' talents to judge Bobo. Ruby Who and Mackayla Mills were the winning team for owner Connie Waldo. Reserve in the class went to Mark's Sunny Dee and Bradley Richards for Stacy Richards.

The Open Park Pleasure class yielded the first of two blues for trainer Doug Barnes of Wartrace. He took the victory pass aboard Forever Spirit owned by Suze Maze. Harvey Rodriguez and Generator's Mr Twister took home the red ribbon to Hansel and Paula Andrews of Millersville, Mo.

Twelve horses took to the rail for another exciting Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. When the judge's call was announced, Calling Code Blue and Robby Black rode to the winner's circle for the Black Gold Farm. Mike Civils and Miss Elegance tied reserve in the class. Alan and Judy Bachert of Kentucky are the owners.

Civils' wife Barbara and her horse Miss Jazzy out- jazzed the competition and earned the victory pass in the Country Pleasure Adult 18 and Over class. Her goal at this show was to get her young horse some experience in the show ring and earning the blue ribbon was just the icing on the cake. Charlie Howard and Regal Rebel claimed the red ribbon for Howard and Jones of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Broken Arrow, Okla.

Yearling Fillies took the center stage in the next class with six youngsters vying for blue ribbon honors. It was the difficult job of the judge to decide which of the qualified entries should wear the blue ribbon. In this case the victory went to Stone's Throw with handler and trainer Brian Wright directing for the George Wright family. Kathy Potter of Shelbyville and Kissin Up, her beautiful filly, were reserve in the class.

The new team of Pusher's Special Design and Rachel Hyneman made their debut appearance in the Juvenile 11 and Under Mares and Geldings competition. Off to a great start, they picked up their first blue ribbon together and carried it home to Memphis. Hailey Puckett and Bold Stroke's Attraction were reserve, representing Puckett Stables.

The following class was the Amateur Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. A Public Affair with Beverly Burgess Woods up earned the victory pass for new owners Jim and Heidi McWilliams. The Ronnie Campbell trained-entry, She's Hoity Toity, and owner/exhibitor Sue Irby took possession of the red ribbon.

The Open Plantation Pleasure Lite Shod Specialty ended with the first of two blues for a Rhonda Martocci-owned and Bobby Richards-trained horse. Drop The Hammer took the victory pass with Kevin Marker, Martocci's nephew, in the irons. Reserve in the class went to the amateur owned and trained team of Tina Singleton and Copperton's Walkie Talkie. Jim and Jackie Singleton of Nolensville, Tenn., are the proud owners.

Trainer Bobby Richards and Broken Affair both walked their way to the victory circle in the Yearling Colts competition. This meant back to back blue ribbons for Owner Rhonda Martocci. Handler Wendy Boyd and Stone Jones tied reserve for Lisa and James Washburn of Fayetteville, Tenn.

Six entries took the gate call for the Park Performance Open Specialty class. Doug Barnes took his second victory pass of the show, this time aboard I've Been Busted for owners John and Jeanette Kuszlyk of Naples, Fla. Reserve went to Robert Nelms, as a rider not a handler for a change, and Jubilee's Jesse James. The Main Man Group of Nashville owns the horse.

Again two-year-old mares and geldings entered the show ring, this time in amateur competition. Just as exciting to watch as the open class, the winning ride was made by Debbie Flack and I'm Miss Honky Tonk for Jim Flack. Miles Irby and She's Charmed claimed the red ribbon for Ty Irby.

The Two and Three-Year-Old Plantation Pleasure Amateur Lite Shod class concluded with yet another blue ribbon going to Barnes Training Stables' credit. This time Miles Irby was aboard The Cash Keeper for owner Candy Pope of Shelbyville. Connie Waldo, also of Shelbyville, and her horse Grandee Ann earned the red ribbon.

A dozen horses took the rail in the Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. Sweep Away and Joe Cotten swept away the competition to claim the victory for Dr. and Mrs. Rafael of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Puerto Rico. Knox Blackburn and Mask Kentucky Girl were reserve in the class. The second place horse is owned by the Gilbert Miller family of Richmond, Ky.

Sharon Higginbotham had more than a good chance in the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty class on her new horse Got A Good Chance. Higginbotham and the Larry Derryberry-trained entry took the victory pass and the blue ribbon home to Lewisburg, Tenn. Reserve went to Tony The Tiger and Stevie Liddell of Wartrace, Tenn.

Nine talented entries took over the show ring for the Two-Year-Old Stallions class. Grand Sweepstakes and Herbert Derickson's grand performance meant another blue ribbon to add to their WHOA Kiwanis victory. Just purchased by Gonzo Poe of Normandy this past March, Grand Sweepstakes is Celebration bound. Chad Way and Repeat After Me took home the red ribbon for owner Gail Justice of New Port Beach, Calif.

Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallions was next with six entries. A very happy Linda Brown and Jose's Flashy Pride captured the victory pass. Brown is the proud owner and Kurt Kovalick is the trainer. Sister Milligan and C Me Push reserved in the class for Tommy and Sister Milligan of Panama City, Fla.

The teenagers who are the future of the walking horse industry claimed the show ring in the Walking Ponies for Riders 17 and Under competition. Show Girl At The Ritz with Katlyn Strickland in the irons showed the rest of the entries what they were capable of and were awarded the blue by judge Bobo. The Dennis Mostiller-trained mare was formerly owned by Dr. George Britt of Birmingham, Ala., and is now owned by Bill Strickland. Maria Holland and Another Smooth Operator were reserve for Stewart's Farm and Nursery of McMinnville, Tenn.

The Three-Year-Old Stallions class was another quality-filled class. The dashing Don Diego and Mike Civils cut a swath through the competition to emerge victorious. Trained by Civils of Petersburg and owned by Keith and Lorraine Rosbury of Prosper, Texas, this duo is also preparing for a run at world championship honors. Joe Cotten aboard another world championship contender, JFK's Bravado, walked their way to a second place finish.

Gen's Night Crawler and Tamara Kasser, walked not crawled, their way to a victory with a very nice ride in the 15.2 and Under Amateur Speciality class. Trained by Chad Williams Stables, Night Crawler is owned by Carol Ann Gavin of Dalton, Ga. and Wartrace, Tenn. Owner and exhibitor Patty Merck and Big Guy Design took home the reserve honors to Wartrace.

There were 15 horses that took the rail in the Ladies Amateur Mares and Geldings class. When the shouting and cheering was over, Miss Shout and Brooke Baker took their place in the winner's circle. Trained by Sammy Day Stables, the lady is owned by the Keith Baker family of Columbia, Tenn. Lucky Collins and Color-N-Book claimed the red ribbon for the Finish Line Farms-trained entry. Color-N-Book is owned by Don and Lucky Collins of Fort Myers, Fla., and Shelbyville.

Eleven entries answered the gate call for the Juvenile Riders 12-17 on Walking Mares and Geldings competition. Delight's Man of Pride can now boast of a blue ribbon earned at the 2005 Liberty Lions Club show. Owner and exhibitor Brittany Wilson was in the irons representing George Stables of Shelbyville. A good performance by Fifth Avenue Pusher and Kayla Berg earned them reserve honors for Dr. David and Amanda Berg of Cedarhill, Mo.

A class added after the class list had been printed, the Four-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings Speciality, was next. Manchester Lions Club Champion and Walking to Make a Difference Champion, High Jacked, and Lisa Baum, walked their way to their third victory in three shows! Baum of Shelbyville is the owner and High Jacked is trained by Finish Lines Farms. Debbie Flack of Tallahassee, Fla., added a reserve to her blue earlier in the evening on Miss Honky Tonk.

In the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallions class, Shane Porterfield and Struttin Dumas did just that all the way to the winner's circle. Trained by Groover Stables and owned by Veronica Porterfield of Murfreesboro, this was the duo's debut in the show ring. What a great way for Porterfield to start his vacation! Santana's Dynamite and Rhea Ellen Webb reserved in the class under the banner of Webb Stables, Lewisburg, Tenn.

As the evening started to wind down the Show Pleasure Walking Horses took center stage. The Secret Spy and Bill Callaway had the competition running for cover as they picked up their second blue ribbon in a row, having just won at Grinders Switch. Charles and Joy Terry of Morristown, Tenn., own Spy and he is trained by Callaway Stables. Hulks Stone Cold with Brett Boyd up claimed the red ribbon for Charles and Florence Gleghorn of Fayetteville, Tenn.

Nine horses entered the ring in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallions Specialty class for judge Bobo's review. Willie Be Strokin and owner Bill Broom of Ringgold, Ga., walked and shook their way to first place honors. Willie is trained by Bobby Hugh. Caresse Mills and Willie Mays (named for the legendary baseball player) were reserve for Hy Steppin Farms of Germantown, Tenn.

Another Finish Line Farms entry, Market Watch, was the horse to watch in the Amateur Mares, Geldings and Stallions Five Years and Older Canter class. Cindy Sullivan and Market Watch cantered to the blue ribbon in preparation for their bid for Celebration honors. He is owned by Sullivan and her husband Rick of Shelbyville. Carol Canerday made the trip from Singer, La., for a chance to show in Liberty. Canerday and Etched at The Ritz earned the red ribbon under the guidance of trainer Jerry Woodlee of Shelbyville.

The Tapes and Technical Solution's sponsored Four-Year-Old Open WHTA Riders' Cup class had four entries ready to flat walk, running walk and canter for judge Bobo. Dick Peebles and Twisted Chief emerged victorious after the competition. The blue ribbon horse is owned by Doyle Wayne and Anita George of Hickman, Ky. Santana's El Nino with Link Webb in control took second place honors for Michael and Ann Jones of Lafayette, Ga.

Despite the late hour, you didn't need to have insomnia to be awake for the Amateur Show Pleasure Walking Horses Specialty class. Keith Johnson and last year's Amateur Show Pleasure High Point Champion, Insomnia, put on a thrilling performance to capture the victory. Trained by Mickey McCormick Stables, Insomnia is owned by Johnson and Cartwright of Shelbyville. Dr. Jim Baum and Pusher's Ultra Secret were reserve representing, Finish Line Farms.

Ten entries took the rail in the Five Years and Over Mares and Geldings Specialty class. Joe Cotten and Oh My Gosh walked their way to earning a victory pass in the competition. Trained by David Landrum Stables, Oh My Gosh is owned by Legacy Walkers, Pat and Sue Harrington of Coto de Caza, Calif. Liz Claiborne with Rodney Dick in the irons claimed second place honors for Don and Lucky Collins.

Amateur Mares, Stallions and Geldings -- Five Years and Over Specialty was won by Push Me Bold and Donald Stephens, owner and exhibitor. Justin Harris trains the horse. Ed Breedlove and Bound and Determined took home the reserve ribbon to owner Melissa Breedlove of Buford, Ga.

There was electricity in the air when the five horses that would vie for the Bumpus Harley Davidson Five Years and Over Riders' Cup Walking Horse Championship victory and riders' cup points. The crowd made sure that judge Bobo was aware of who their favorite teams were by hooting and hollering. After calling for the running walking the second time in the second direction, ringmaster Raymond Pimental called for competitors to lineup. A now tense audience waited for the results as the judge's card was delivered to announcer Chip Walters. The blue ribbon in the class went to Pusher's High Voltage and Mickey McCormick. The Beckie Hicks-owned entry had two reserves to his credit this season, prior to this win. Link Webb and Wired and Walking reserved for the Jeff Bryant family of Henegar, Ala.

This concludes coverage of the Liberty Lions Club Walking Horse Show. Complete results follow and may also be viewed, search, and printed on www.walkinghorsereport.com.