By Debbie Graham

GUNTOWN, Miss. - The 41st annual Guntown Walking Horse Show was held June 14, 2003, at City Park in Guntown, Miss. The show has the distinction of being the oldest show in Mississippi and was sponsored by the Guntown Lions Club. Proceeds from the show benefit the club's campaign for sight conservation and other civic projects in the community.

The show featured 34 walking and racking classes and drew 179 entries. Joe Campbell served as judge for the event. Perry Thomas was the announcer and Diane Beaver entertained the crowd with her musical talents on the keyboard. Mike Farley was the ringmaster and Sid Abernathy captured the evening on film as the official show photographer.

The first class of the evening was the Lead Line class. Sara Bailey Jones and Mikey, led by Sara's mother, Jenny Jones, were winners for Frank and Sissy Bailey. Monsieur Ritz and Carlyle Johnson claimed top honors in the Yearling Colt class for James and Peggy Vernon. The Yearling Filly class was led by Twist Absolut Favorite and Steve Incardi for Steve and Charlotte Incardi.

CK's Mystery and Jackie Medlin followed their recent Germantown win with a Guntown title in the Amateur Park Pleasure class. Following a win the previous night in Savannah, Just Chill and Debbie Williams were in the winner’s circle at Guntown in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class. Fame Seeker and Renee Carlton were Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion champions for Keith and Renee Carlton.

Lillian Gaines won dual blues at Guntown. Come To Papa earned blue ribbon recognition in the Ladies Amateur Specialty class. Pride’s Flapjack turned in two flawless performances for the weekend to capture the Amateur Open division at both Savannah and Guntown. Lillian and L.H. Gaines owned the two contenders.

Inside Track and Kristopher Ausburn were winners in the Juvenile 11 and Under class for proud grandparents Red and Dot Strickland.

Armed Soldier and Elizabeth Rester claimed their first blue as a team in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class. Sky Train and James Vernon rode to the blue in the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty class for James and Peggy Vernon.

Peanut Butter and Noel Botsch claimed the victory in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare & Gelding class.

Chris Zahnd topped both the Three-Year-Old Stallion class and the Four-Year-Old Open class. Hard Coladeral was the four-year-old winner for owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry Roy. The Ritz Blitz claimed three-year-old stallion honors for Lanier Sibley and Roger Pierce.

Karla Massey made the victory pass in the in the Country Gaited Saddle Pleasure aboard Eagle’s Legacy and returned to claim the Open Country Pleasure Specialty class with Dazzling Dollar. James Nichols owns the entries.

Beam’s Rapid Coin and Amanda Carver were victorious in the Juvenile 12-17 class for Billy Ray and Linda Phillips.

Red River Falcon and Ray Gilmer were in the spotlight in the Two-Year-Old Stallion class for Dr. Doug and Kathy Phillips.

Rebel’s Black Star and Joel Stewart earned their fourth blue of the season in the Amateur Specialty class for Mississippi Walking Horse Association Members Only. Leading Edge and Robert Stivers were at the top of the judge’s card in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for Jimmy and Sheila Calvary.

Pusher’s Busting Time and Billy Crockett continued a successful season with a blue ribbon performance in the Open Spotted Saddle Horse class for Wayne Crockett. Ebony’s Coin Dream and Marilyn Scott added another victory to their credit in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty class for Bob and Marilyn Scott.

The conclusion of the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class found the blue ribbon in the possession of Major Desire and Steve Dunn for James Sigmon.

Gen’s All Night and Amber Waggoner continued their winning ways in the Amateur Plantation Lite-Shod Specialty class for Bobby Barclay.

Pusher’s Pzazz and Tim Smith were crowned 15.2 and Under Open champions for G. L. and Beverly McNeil. Jamie Cain was thrilled to accept the blue in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty class riding Infrared. Barbie and Jennifer Dunn turned in a winning performance in the Family Trainer Amateur Specialty Class for Donna Burnham.

I’m Hammering Hank and Pam Russell were 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty Champions for new owners Cin-Fe Farms.

In the final class of the evening, Donnie Jones brought Spellbound Generator to the Guntown tricolor riding under the Summer Crest Farms banner.

This concludes the highlights from the Guntown Walking Horse Show. Results follow and may also be found by visiting our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.