SAVANNAH, Tenn. - The thirty-ninth annual Savannah Lions Club Horse Royal was held on June 14, 2002 at the Hardin County Fairgrounds in Savannah, Tenn. The event was sponsored by the Savannah Lions Club. Proceeds from the show help to support the many endeavors of the club. Primarily this club purchases eye glasses and supports the Mid-South Sight Clinic for the needy. Without these funds many Hardin County residents would not be able to receive their much needed sight service. Proceeds from the Savannah Lions Club Walking Horse Royal have helped better the lives of the people in Hardin County.

Judging the 23 class event was Dude Crowder, Shelbyville, Tennessee. Thurman Walden was master of ceremonies and Diane Beaver provided musical entertainment. Savannah farrier, Keith Rich handled the duties of farrier.

Walking horse trainers, exhibitors, and a large crowd of fans packed the show grounds with anticipation of one of the show’s most successful events in the history of the Savannah Royal. However, news spread quickly among the crowd that five USDA officials had arrived to perform inspections along with the two NHSC’s DQPs assigned to the show. The majority of horses were never entered and some entries already registered were scratched from competition resulting in low entry tally for the night and some classes had to be canceled.

While entry numbers were low, entries answering the gate call were high in quality. In the first class of the evening, the Yearling class, A Touch Of Jazz claimed her fourth blue of the season with owner Fred Benjamin at the lead for the win. Donald Shubert rode The Lady Of The Tramp to a blue ribbon debut in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for Dr. John Lay.

Royal’s China Doll and Jim Nichols were crowned Park Pleasure Specialty champions for Jim and Debbie Nichols. Two-Year-Old Stallions champions were Push’s Watch Me Go and Brian Kiddy for Kenneth and Caryleen Whitley.

Pride’s Robbie Delight and Chantel Brummel made the victory pass in the Amateur Plantation Pleasure Lite Shod Specialty class for Mike and Kathy Harrington. You’re In Command and Steve Dunn were victorious in the Three-Year-Old Open class for Mike Young. Heart Failure and Harris Lake Smith were in top form form in the Youth 11 and Under class for the Verner Smith family.

Olympic Angel and Jenna Hamilton continued their winning ways in the Country Pleasure ranks for Marilyn Staley Friedman. The Four-Year-Old Amateur title went to Superman Saves The World and Debbie Eichler. Eichler returned to claim another Savannah blue in the Two-Year-Old Amateur class aboard High Walker. Joel Weaver prepares these contenders for competition.

Skywatch’s Summer Squall and Jackie Stotts turned in a winning performance in the Ladies Amateur Specialty class for Doyle and Stotts. Mary Jane Dickey received two blues at the Savannah show for the Jay Dickey family. She won the first blue of these two awards aboard Touchy in the Youth 12-17 class. Southern Governor earned her a second title in the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty class.

The conclusion of the Three-Year-Old Stallion class found the blue ribbon in the possession of Dr. John Lay and With All Du Respect. Pearl Harbor and Debbie Williams are having a successful season in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding ranks with another winning performance in Savannah. Ebony’s Bragging Rights and Eddie Harville claimed top honors in the Amateur Specialty class for Leon Kilburn. Amateur Spotted Saddle Horse champions were Moonrider and Bill Hamilton.

The final class of the evening was the Walking Horse Stake class. Link Webb rode Gen’s Super Stroke to the Savannah Royal tricolor for James and Peggy Vernon.