Posted November 30, 2000

by Mark Davis

PERRY, Ga. - For the second consecutive year, the Southern Championship Charity Horse Show brought the show season to an exciting conclusion. More than 600 entries worked for championship honors and more than $30,000 in money and awards before judges Jamie Hankins of Paris, Ky., Wayne Dean of Lewisburg, Tenn., and Rodney Dick of Columbia, Tenn.

The spacious confines of the main coliseum of the Georgia National Fairgrounds played host for the three-day, 75-class event. As in 1999, the quality of the horses presented was outstanding, making it one of the premier events on the fall schedule.

Norma Bledsoe, 2000 president of the Georgia Walking Horse Exhibitors Association commented, “On behalf of the Georgia Walking Horse Exhibitors’ Association, I would like to offer a sincere appreciation to all the many trainers, owners and exhibitors who continue to provide us with an excellent show. Additionally, our deepest gratitude is directed to our wonderful corporate sponsors who place their trust in us to achieve the type of showcase the Southern Championship Charity Horse Show enjoys. Without their financial support, this horse show would not be possible.”

For the eighth year, the Southern Championship show was dedicated to The Good Shepherd Riding Academy, Inc. of Warm Springs, Ga. The academy provides emergency shelter for adolescent boys and therapeutic horseback riding for the disabled. This program is in its 16th year of helping those who are mentally and physically challenged.

Throughout the show, spectators were entertained by special exhibitions of world champions including 2000 Junior World Grand Champion Electrifying, and Chad Baucom; 1999-2000 Show Pleasure Amateur World Grand Champion, Coin Maker, and Laney Walthall; 2000 Junior Amateur World Grand Champion, Olympic’s Energizer, and Becky May; 2000 Three-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champion, Capone, and Mike Hooper; and 2000 Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion World Champion, He’s Etched In Stone, and Carolyn Miller. All of these teams left the crowd with high expectations for the 2001 show season.

The Southern Championship came to a close with the Walking Horse Grand Championship. Seven of the top contenders from the southern United States made the gate call for the final performance. On this cold, rainy night in Georgia, it was the outstanding team of Pride’s Jubilee Encore and Allan Callaway who made the championship ride bringing the 2000 season to a close. Reserve honors went to Push To Start and Larry Edwards.

The Dacula, Georgia-based crew from Red Eagle Farms made the trip down to Perry a successful one, taking home five Southern Championship wins for their efforts. Fully Armed captured three of the blues, including the Plantation Grand Championship with Willie Cook Jr. He was shown to the winner’s circle earlier in the week by Cook in the Plantation Specialty preliminary and by Clint Dixon in the Plantation Amateur Specialty. Clint Dixon also rode Starstruck By JFK to the Lite Shod winner’s circle and Joe Dixon took Strike It Rich to the Western Specialty win.

Five barns, Allan Callaway Stables, Benny Johnson Stables, Mickey McCormick Stables, Blackhawk Farm and Webb Stables, tied for the second spot with four blues each.

The team from Shelbyville’s Allan Callaway Stables had a great weekend in Perry with four wins including the Walking Horse Championship. John Allan Callaway captured two of the remaining wins with Cesar Ritz in the Two-Year-Old Futurity Performance division and with Generator’s Raindancer in the Two-Year-Old Plantation Futurity. The final blue was captured by the team of Magic By Motown and LaRue McWaters in the Amateur Specialty Gelding division.

Benny Johnson Stables made the long trip down from Bluemont, Va., to take home four blues as well. Regal’s Lady Of Royalty picked up three of the blues with Benny Johnson and Penny Matthews finished up with the Lite Shod Championship with owner Bob Medina. Medina picked up his second set of roses of the night in the Plantation Pleasure Amateur Specialty Championship with Iron Eyes Cody.

Mickey McCormick Stables of Wartrace, Tenn., captured four blues with two horses, Mozambique and Pride’s Sharp Dressed Man. Mozambique made two outstanding shows to capture the Three-Year-Old Mare division on Thursday evening with Mickey McCormick and the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding division on Saturday evening with Jeanine Gullett with unanimous decisions on both occasions. Pride’s Sharp Dressed Man and Gavin Kasser were extra sharp as they captured the Youth 12-17 preliminary and championship.

Blackhawk Farm of Shelbyville, Tenn., had a big time in Perry with two dual blue ribbon winners as well. Pusher’s Black Hawk and Jaclyn Smith were in top form once again in Perry, capturing the Amateur Specialty Stallion preliminary and the Amateur Specialty Championship. The Key To My Heart had the winning key as well, taking home the Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding division with trainer Brock Tillman and the Four-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding event with Jaclyn Smith.

Webb Stables continued on their winning roll at Perry. Link Webb rode to the winner’s circle on two occasions, once with World Champion Sweetie Sky in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding division and once with Pusher’s Special Design in the Aged Mare and Gelding division. Robby Biggs also rode away with dual Perry wins with Watchtower, Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion champion and I’m A Major Ordeal, Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion champion.

Baucom Stables, Scott Beaty Stables and C.L. Kline Farms each returned home with two Perry blues each.

Tyler Baucom did most of the winning for the Baucom Stables crew, taking home the Trail Pleasure win with Mr. Rolex and the Youth 11 and Under Championship with Doc’s Fine Fashion. Not to be outdone, dad Chad Baucom made a great performance with Riverdance to capture the Four-Year-Old Stallion title.

Ella Kline had a great weekend with her yearlings and weanlings owned by C.L. Kline Farms of Robbins, Tenn. The Pretender and Ella Kline captured the Southeastern Regional Futurity Yearling Colt title and the Open Yearling title. Kline also took home the Futurity Weanling filly title with Doc Ruth.

Rhea Ellen Webb picked up two of the three wins for Scott Beaty Stables with Papa Joe Dimaggio, taking home the 15.2 and Under Amateur Stallions and the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty Championship. Irrational and Heidi McWilliams got the show started off right with a great show in the Amateur Specialty 50 and Over division.

Seven barns--Carl Edwards & Sons Stables, Jerome Cole, Hollin Stables, Bill Cantrell Stables, Herbert Derickson Training Facility, Blake Sims Stables and Steve Hankins Stables--each returned home with dual Southern Championship wins.

Carl Edwards and Sons Stables wins both came in the Professional division with Larry Edwards doing the honors. Edwards made an outstanding performance with Final’s Eb Tide to top the Open 15.2 and Under division and returned to bring the crowd to their feet with a stellar show in the Three-Year-Old Futurity division with Private Charter.

Jerome Cole made the trip from Murfreesboro, Tenn., worthwhile by topping the Amateur Mare and Gelding division and returning to top the Open Amateur Championship with Jubilee’s Tramp.

Hollin Stables of Athens, Ga., had two winners in the Amateur division. Larry Walker and A Touch Of Generator made a great performance to top the Novice Amateur division and just a few classes later, Megan Mullis and Cash To A T carried home the Futurity Two-Year-Old Lite Shod blue.

Bill Cantrell Stables, Inc. of Phenix City, Ala., made Perry a show to remember after Bill made a spectacular performance on I’m Twice The Delight to top an extra tough Three-Year-Old Stallion division. Lone Star Judge and Sandra Austin topped the GWHEA Ladies Auxiliary class with another great show.

Frivilous Choice did the winning for the Herbert Derickson team with Erica and Maria Derickson taking home the Walking Pony preliminary and Championship honors.

Steve Hankins Stables made the trip from Tazewell, Va., worthwhile picking up the blue in the Amateur Show Pleasure with Guaranteed Delight and Bob Adcock and the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding with Tarheel’s Miss Dumas and Kenny Compton.

Blake Sims Stables had a good weekend in Perry, with dad, Mike, topping the Gentlemen’s Fine Harness with Merging Into One and wife, Beth, topping the Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallions with Gen’s Major Motion.

Single blue ribbon winners included A Touch Of Sunrise and Candy Whitehead-Green; Coinmaker and Knox Blackburn; Pusher’s Clementine and Debbie Flack; Armed Son Of A Gun and Jeff Givens; Olympic Gold Medal and Chase Mullinax; 5 Star Rating and Bill Broom; I’m Busted and Ronnie Spears; Good Evening and Jaclyn Harney; She’s Legal Tender and Dr. Charlene Cook; Please Look At Me and Katie Baker; Pride Of Vengeance and Ronald Morton; Ultimate Warrior and Millie Player; Skyline and Sister Blackmon Milligan; Serious Threat and Darden Gladney; A Major Masterpiece and Robbie Warley; Ebony’s Ice Angel and Suzanne Howell; Star Commander and Allen Forman; Beam’s Star Of Midnite and Drew Graves.