by Stephanie Morton
Shelbyville, TENN.- The crowds filtered into the Calsonic Arena on Friday morning to support their favorite pair of both world class horses and riders. Cheers and whistles were filling the air in anticipation of the first team to come through the gates. Honorable Judges Jennifer Bingham, Derek Bonner, David Landrum, David Sisk and Sam Sorrell presided over the morning session.
To start off the morning festivities was the O/A Weanlings. Eight entries answered the gate call for this prestigious class. Judge Sorrell served as the call judge. Taking home the first world championship title of the morning was the dynamic pair of A Jazzy Master and Amanda Wright for The Dr. George Wright Family of Mt. Juliet. This jazzy weanling earned reserve honors at the National Futurity earlier this week. Reserve honors went to It’s All About Jose and Amanda Nelms for Nelms and Rushing of College Grove and Dickson. Rounding out the top three was Gigi’s Legend and owner/handler David Bullock of Mt. Vernon, Ky.
Five talented teams made the gate call for the O/A Novice Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Novice Trail Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings. Judge Bingham served as the call judge. Taking home the honor and championship title was Dark Picture Show and Alexas Compton for Rick Compton of Tazewell, Va. This makes the first blue ribbon Alexas has claimed at the Celebration. This newly crowned world champion team claimed top honors at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration earlier this season. Reserve honors went to JJ’S Red Bull and Brady Bachart for The Bachart Family of Wildwood, Mo. JJ’s Red Bull claimed top honors earlier this season at the International Pleasure and Colt Grand Championship. Finishing out the top three was Nite’s Destiny and owner/rider Alex Sinden of Valdese, N.C.
A highly impressive class of nine TWHBEA Youth Weanlings, Handlers 6-17 Years answered the gate call for the next class. Judge Bonner served as the call judge for this class. Top honors went to Yeti and Jordan Dempsey for Charles Gleghorn of Fayetteville. Yeti took home top honors at the Fayetteville Blue Ribbon show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to the spectacular team of Picante’ Jazz and Kaitlyn Rippy for The Rippy Family of Shelbyville. This wonderful team made their debut performance in a top class of weanlings to take home the impressive reserve world championship title. Rounding out the top three was Gigi’s Legend and Claire Hankins for David Bullock of Mr. Vernon, Ky.
Up next was a highly competitive class of O/A Riders on Western Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Four Years and Over. Judge Landrum served as the call judge for this class. Taking home unanimous top honors in this highly impressive class was The Red Falcon and Joyce Hofstee for Joyce Hofstee of Tipton, Calif. Reserve honors went to Hello, I’m Johnny Cash and Sherri Pollack for S&P LLC of Saratoga, Calif. This impressive team has taken top honors at the Manchester Lion’s Club show, Spring Fun Show and the Woodbury Lions Club show earlier this season. Third award went to Dark Spirit’s Mack Daddy and owner/rider Lisa Baum of Shelbyville.
The crowd graciously cheered on the next class as they entered the ring. Six top competitors answered the gate call for the O/A Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Show Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings. Judge Sisk served as the call judge. There wasn’t a spectator in attendance not cheering for their favorite young rider and horse team. Taking home top honors in this impressive class of horses was the dynamic duo of Blues For Santana and a very proud Colton Trimble for Dan and Jae Crunk and Colton Trimble of Walnut Hill, Ill. and Pulaski. Blues For Santana has taken home top honors at the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival show earlier this season. Reserve Honors went to Pearl Gunn and Counti Green for Elizabeth Pendleton and Diane Green of Port Orange, Fla. and Shelbyville. Pearl Gunn is the reigning 2014 O/A Youth 6-11 Show Pleasure Mares or Geldings World Champion. Rounding out the top three was Coin’s Black Stroke and London Williams for Debbie Harney of Murfreesboro.
Gracing the ring with their presence next was the TWHBEA Youth Yearling Fillies or Geldings, Handlers 6-17 Years. Judge Sorrell served as call judge in this class. Three gorgeous young horses answered the gate call. Gigi’s Ember and Claire Hankins took home the unanimous world champion title for Bruce and Linda Vaughn of Valley City, OH. Gigi’s Ember has enjoyed an undefeated season this year. They have claimed top honors at KWHA Juvenile Auxiliary show and Owingsville Lions Club horse show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to Charlie’s A Walkin’ Angel and Jordan Dempsey for Charles Gleghorn of Fayetteville. This impressive filly has claimed top honors at the Fayetteville Blue Ribbon show earlier this year. Taking home the third award was I’m Dangerous Donna and Rachel Dorris for Mary Beals of Viola, Ill.
Up next were the Amateur Owned and Trained Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, No Professional Training within 90 days. Judge Bingham served as the call judge for this competitive class of amateurs. Seven top entries answered the gate call for this class. Taking home the unanimous world championship honors was the team of Suiza and owner/rider Allison Thorson of Huron, OH. Suiza is the reigning 2014 World Champion and Reserve World Grand Champion Western Trail Pleasure horse. Reserve honors went to Juan Carlos and Lisa Weaver for Fred and Lisa Weaver of Doyline, La. Juan Carlos has enjoyed top honors at the Texas Spring Classic earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was Jose’s Firecracker and owner/rider Wayne Westbrook of Shelbyville.
Answering the gate call for the O/A Riders on Western Lite Shod Walking Horses were 8 top contenders. Judge Bonner served as the call judge for the class. The crowd quickly picked their favorites and cheered them on in blue ribbon style. Taking home the top award in this impressive class was Double Shot of Cash and owner/rider Tamara Hader of Bainbridge, Ga. This world champion pair took home a reserve world champion title in the O/A Lite Shod division earlier this week. Reserve honors went to Lucky Daze and owner/rider Lisa Shockey Kessel of Moorefield, W. Va. Lucky Daze has enjoyed top honors from such prestigious venues as the National Trainers show and the Savannah Lions Club show earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was MP-1 and Katie West for Forest Jones and Katie West of Niota and Pigeon Forge.
The crowd welcomed the O/A Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Two and Three-Year-Olds into the ring. Nine impressive young horses made the gate call. Judge Landrum was the call judge for this class. Everyone picked a favorite and cheered them on toward top honors. Grassy Creek Gin and Angela Tuck walked away with the top honors and world championship title in this highly impressive class for Burl Dale and Angela Tuck of Reidsville, N.C. Grassy Creek claimed top honors at the North Carolina Ladies Auxiliary show and East Tennessee Classic earlier this season. Reserve honors went to I’m Dixie Blue and owner/rider Kara Graham of Niota. I’m Dixie Blue has won top honors at such impressive shows as the Fayetteville Blue Ribbon show and Wartrace earlier this season. Finishing out the top three in this highly impressive class was Dixie’s Pistol Annie and owner/rider Jannie Chapman of Owens Cross Roads, Ala.
Making the gate call were seven impressive entries in the O/A Riders on Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack. Judge Sisk served as call judge for this class. Taking the unanimous tie and World championship title was The Black Mamba and LaMar Depoyster for Gordon and LaMar Depoyster of Greenville, Ky. This world champion team has enjoyed an undefeated season in 2015 claiming top honors at the National Trainers Show, the Derby Classic and Woodbury Lions Club show. Reserve honors went to My Black Cadillac and owner/rider Allison Thorson of Huron, OH. My Black Cadillac has enjoyed top honors at such impressive shows as the Mississippi Charity and the National Trainers show earlier this year. Rounding out the top three was Magellan and owner/rider Alex Johnson of Limestone.
Six impressive teams answered the gate call in the Elite Owner-Amateur Riders on Lite Shod Walking Horses. Judge Sorrell served as the call judge for this competitive class. Taking home top honors was the world champion team of Flash Of Fortune and owner/rider Jeff Duke of Bon Aqua. This dynamic duo has claimed top honors at the Spring Fun Show and Parker’s Crossroads earlier this season. Reserve honors went to I’m Majestic and Karen Baum for Karen and Jean Baum of Huddleston, Va. This makes the third reserve world championship title this exciting team has earned this week. Rounding out the top three was Just Borrowed Cash and Jim Roberts for Jim and Jeannie Roberts of Wildersville.
Vying for the world championship title in the O/A Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Two and Three-Year-Olds, Optional Tack were seven highly competitive horse and rider teams. Judge Bingham served as the call judge in this nice class. Taking home top honors was the team of Rockin’ At The Ritz and Kaitlyn Rippy for Byard and Rippy of Alvaton, Ky. and Shelbyville. This top team has claimed championship honors at the WHOA Versatility show earlier this year. Reserve honors went to Rhinestone Ritz and Buie Williams for Theresa Williams of Wartrace. Rounding out the top three was Mighty Jazzy and Claire Hankins for Davany Bullock and Claire Hankins of Mt. Vernon and Paris, Ky.
Closing out this morning’s exciting classes was the highly competitive O/A Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Park Performance Walking Horses. Taking top honors in this class was Paroled In Tennessee and Lake Weaver for Belvie Jordan and Lake Weaver of Murfreesboro and Shelbyville. Paroled In Tennessee has taken top honors at the WHAA Summer Classic and Arab Park and Recreation show earlier this year. Reserve honors went to Time For Cash and Tyra Brown for Brown and Brown of Science Hill, Ky. This team claimed reserve honors at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration earlier this year. Rounding out the top three was Kinky Boots and Bailey McCormick for Dru McCormick of Shelbyville.
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