SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The final morning performance of the 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration got underway right at the 9 a.m. mark. The judging panel is comprised of Rollie Beard, Jennifer Bingham, David Landrum, Paul Robbins and David Sisk.
The first World Championship awarded for the day went to Jose’s Baby Doll and Jeff Laughlin for Doris Pennick in the Flat-Shod Pleasure Driving, 2 or 4 Wheel Vehicle. Jose’s Baby Doll was the reserve champion in the class in 2012 and 2013 and claimed two World Championships and a World Grand Championship in 2011. Reserve in the class went to Score’s Heartbreaker and Kathy Owen. Score’s Heartbreaker had two previous wins in 2014. Overpass and Patti Pollack rounded out the top three.
Next up was the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Years on Show Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings. Topping the field in unanimous fashion was Bronco Billy and Jesse Laughlin for Joe Laughlin. Bronco Billy had two wins leading up to the Celebration and was the reserve champion in the same class in 2012 and 2013. Second went to Bum In The Storm and WhitLei Green. Bum in the Storm had three wins prior to the Celebration. Third in the class went to A Show Of Jazz and Robert Cortner. This duo had two wins leading up to their Celebration performance.
The Professionals took a turn in the ring in the Western Lite-Shod Walking Horses, Riders’ Cup class. Defending their title, now seven-time World Champion Lucky Daze and Patrick Thomas returned to the Celebration winner’s circle for Lisa Shockey-Kessel. Rev’s Flashback and Jeff Laughlin picked up the reserve title for Joe Laughlin. This was the second reserve world title for Rev’s Flashback at the Celebration marking his eighteenth trip to the show ring this season. MP-1 and Chris Helton carried out the yellow ribbon for Forrest Jones. MP-1 carried Katie West to a reserve World Championship earlier in the week.
Three beautiful mares and their foals hit the track next. Making their way to the winner’s circle with a unanimous choice from the judges was Pusher’s Jr. Miss and Double Martini with Karen McGee and Beverly Lamp at the leads for Howard and Beth Henderson. Pusher’s Jr. Miss won the same title in 2012 with Miss Martini. Reserve went to Main Majorette and I’ve Got This with Alice Klein and Carla Hurley leading for the Salt Lick Farms. Main Majorette is a former performance World Champion with Caleb Kilburn. Claiming the third award was Miss Willie Surprise and Hello Sorpresa with Jesse Dotson III and Jaron Dotson leading.
Unanimous across the board was the word from the judging panel in the Equitation, Riders 18 Years and Over, Canter class. Riding to the winner’s circle was Allison Thorson. Thorson is the reigning Youth Equitation World Grand Champion. Second went to Carmen Vaughn and third was Leslie Collins.
The Four-Year-Old Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Riders’ Cup came next. Calipari’s Cousins and Brock Tillman made their way to the top honor for Betty Denton. This marked the tenth show ring appearance for the World Champion this season. Reserve went to Ritz’s Red Solo Cup and Patrick Thomas for Herald Roberts. The reserve champion carried Kyndra Myers out of the novice division earlier in the show.
Harold Roberts and Just Borrowed Cash earned their second World Championship of the show with the approval of the entire panel of judges in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Lite-Shod Walking Horses. The team won the Amateur 50 and Over Lite-Shod title on Friday morning. Second went to High Tread and Don Parmer for Deborah Parmer. Sired by Jazz King, High Tread has made thirteen show ring appearances in 2014. Rounding out the top three was Petal Pushin’ Jazz and Jesse O’Dell.
The babies of the industry took the track next to vie for the top honors of Weanling Colts World Championship. Topping the field of eight competitors was Emmitt Smith 22 and Lynn Womack for Roger Richards. This team remains undefeated with three wins at the International Colt and Pleasure show and a win at the TWHBEA National Futurity last week. Returning to the ring after his win alongside his mom in the Mare and Foal class, Double Martini and Karen McGee earned the reserve title. Third went to A Jazz Master and Beverly Lamp. A Jazz Master won the Amateur Weanling Colts class with Amanda Wright on Friday morning.
Next to work for the panel of judges was the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice English Trail Pleasure Walking Horses. Emerging from a field of thirteen was Tonic and Karen Bean. This win was a unanimous choice by the judges. This was the sixth win for Tonic in 2014. Tonic earned previous wins at WHOA Pleasure Academy show, WHAA Summer Classic and Cumberland Classic. Reserve went to Wicked Endeavor and LaMar DePoyster. Wicked Endeavor has ten wins to his credit this season including four at the International Colt and Pleasure Show. Picking up the yellow ribbon was two-time 2014 Reserve World Champion Kool Fortune and Shawntae Burton.
The Western Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Riders’ Cup brought five entries to the show ring. Being named World Champion in the class was Rise To Fame with Patrick Thomas riding to the unanimous victory for Steve and Pat Wilson. The team was the Western Park Pleasure Four and Under World Champions in 2013 and have made four previous victory passes in 2014. Plea Bargain picked up his second reserve title of the week, this time with Jeff Laughlin aboard. Plea Bargain is owned by Joanne Morgan. Closing out the top three was Extra Motion and Brandon Urad for Margo Urad.
Four riders presented themselves and their mounts to the judging panel in hopes of being named the 2014 Auxiliary Equitation Youth Medal World Grand Champion. After claiming her preliminary on Saturday morning, Kaitlyn Rippy rode to the winner’s circle with a unanimous vote of the judges. Reserve in the class went to Morgan Murphy who had a previous win at the Money Tree Classic and a reserve world title on Saturday morning. Third went to Alexis Simmons.
Boston Bay and Jeff Laughlin topped the Riders’ Cup Lite-Shod Walking Horses, Two Years Old class. Boston Bay is owned by Raymond and Diana Popp and Jesse O’Dell and had already earned a reserve title on Wednesday night at the TWHBEA National Futurity. Second in the class went to Jose’s Cash Doctor and B.J. Richards for Martocci and Gladney. Jose’s Cash Doctor had six wins prior to the Celebration including being named the Open English Lite-Shod Grand Champion at the International Colt and Pleasure Show in early August. Taking home the yellow streamer was He’s A King Cobra and Debbie Wells.
The final class of the morning brought eight Weanling Fillies to the track. The unanimous win went to GiGi’s Ember and Jennifer Hankins Bruce and Linda Vaughn. GiGi’s Ember earned her first World Championship earlier in the show with Claire Hankins at the lead. Hunter Fikes and I’m Dream Walkin’ earned the reserve world title for John Fikes. I’m Dream Walkin’ is sired by Walkin’ All Over. Third went to National Futurity champion Silk Lines and Karen McGee for Charles Gleghorn.
Although the day sessions are now complete, there is still plenty of action scheduled in the big oval starting at 6:30 p.m. each night thru Saturday. Tonight’s schedule will highlight two divisions of Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions and the 15.2 and Under Stallions World Championship. There will also be an exhibition of the newly crowned Auxiliary Equitation, Youth Medal World Grand Champion, Kaitlyn Rippy during the evening performance.