By Melissa R. Stevens

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - Sunday night at the 65th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration brought more of the best to the ring for competition. The evening began with a chilling rendition of our nation's national anthem by Memarie of Nashville, Tenn. Attendance was good for a Sunday night. Paid attendance was 22,782, while actual attendance was 10,816.

The first class of the evening, the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders on Walking Mares and Geldings for riders 12-14, was split into two sections so that the young riders could have plenty of room to ride. In the first section of the class 15 of the 23 entries on the program chose to compete for the blue. Jamie Hankins was selected as the call judge. Beaming Around and Zackery Bunch were called to receive the first blue ribbon of the evening for proud owners Dennis and Sonny Bunch of Tazewell, Tenn. In Command Again was reserve with rider Ashlea Harris for Crawford Colts of Carrollton, Ga., followed by Redman Uprising and Meagan Batey for Batey & Hayes of Lascassas, Tenn., and Woodbury, Tenn.

Section B of the class featured 13 of the 22 entries listed in the program. Paul Watlington was the call judge. Pushin The Limits and owner/exhibitor Madison Holloway of Davidson, N.C., were called to make the victory pass. Pushin The Limits has been called to the winner's circle at the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary show, White Pine, Tenn., and Asheville, N.C. Reserve in the class went to Silver's Boogie Woman and Daniel Warner for Kenneth and David Warner of Prentiss, Miss. This talented entry has taken the blue home from Jackson, Miss., the Fun Show and Wartrace. Dr. Dangerous and owner/exhibitor Jacob Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn., rode back to the barn with the third place tie.

Nineteen entries chose to show in the Lite-Shod Three-Year-Old Plantation Pleasure Walking Horse class. Laura Brandon was the call judge. When the winner was announced, Ultra Edge and Becky Barnes accepted the blue for Lawrence & Barnes of Thomasville, Ga., and Shelbyville, Tenn. This team has won blues at Liberty Lions Club, Bethesda and Great Strides this year. The reserve tie went to J. Stanley Star and Don Crum for the W.L. Palmer family of Maybank, Texas. Wishing For Cash and Sherrie Szucs rode to the third place tie for Double Springs Farm of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Twenty entries made the gate call for the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders on Walking Ponies, 60" and Under class for riders 15-17. Mike Carpenter was the call judge. Silver Design and Thad Way won the blue in this class for the J R Partnership of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Franklin, Mich. Silver Design has won blues this year at Jackson, Miss., the Fun Show and McMinnville, Tenn. Skywalk and Seth Stanfill were reserve for Billy Stanfill of Lexington, Tenn., followed by Gen's Master Pusher and Mac Benham for the Joe Christmas family of Mason, Tenn.

The Park Pleasure Walking Mares and Geldings class for riders 12-17 was next on the agenda. Sixteen entries made the gate call ready to compete for the blue. Gene Carswell was selected as the call judge. Brooke Way had a bit of a fright in this class when she fell from her horse, Another Skywatch. She wasn't injured, but did decide to be excused from competition. Not long after that, Avenger's Moonlight gave Jennifer Brinkley a little trouble. She also asked for permission to be excused. When the action resumed, Push My Score and Kaitlyn Byrom were called to the winner's circle for owner Jeanette Kuszlyk of Naples, Fla. Elegance Of Design was reserve in the class with Meredith Lovato up for owner Nancy Lovato of West Jordan, Utah. Generator's Evil Lady and Jenna Hamilton received the third place honors for Randall and Gloria Dixon and Red Eagle Farms of Dacula, Ga.

The Show Pleasure Walking Horse class was divided into two sections. Nineteen of the 35 entries on the program chose to show in the first section. A time out was called so that Beam's High Tide could have a stirrup repaired. When the line up was called, the first unanimous tie of the evening was announced. For the second year, Coin Maker and Knox Blackburn was the unanimous choice of the judges for the first place tie for owner Moore & Littell of Catherine, Ala. This talented horse and rider won a blue at the Moore County show this year and the Amateur Show Pleasure class for lady riders with Suzanne Littell earlier in the week. Andrew Johnson and David Landrum were reserve for Virginia Stewart and Gene Shaffer of Amite, La. Andrew Johnson won the blue in Section B of this class last year with John Allan Callaway. Generator's Pegasus and Rollie Beard took the third place award for the Paul Bryan family of Gaffney, S.C.

Section B of the Show Pleasure Walking Horse class brought 19 entries to the ring. Paul Watlington was the call judge. Storm Threat Too and Kurt Kovalick were called to the winner's circle for Dr. and Mrs. R. Rigual of Oklahoma City, Okla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Editorial Page took the reserve spot with Rollie Beard in the irons for owner June Hawkins of Lewisburg, Tenn., followed by Favorite's Outlaw and Jimmy McConnell for Diane Donner of Dyersburg, Tenn.

Twenty-four entries answered the gate call for the Park Pleasure Walking Horse class for amateur riders ages 50 and over. A time out was called after Heavenly Secret threw a shoe. Unfortunately the entry had to be excused when the shoe could not be repaired. She's Breathtaking and Bob Lawrence took the blue in this class for the second year for Lawrence & Hutto of Thomasville, Ga. Metro Grand was reserve with owner/exhibitor Wayne Hall of Fairview, Tenn., in the irons followed by Generator's "C" Note and H.L. Rogers of Griffin, Ga.

Ten Walking Mares, 15.2 and Under entered the ring for competition. This class was a canter class. Pusher's Delightful Star was the winner was Joe Martin up for the Mike Chiappari family of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Bell Buckle, Tenn. Jazz In Dixie and Russ Thompson were reserve for Legacy Walkers of Coto De Caza, Calif. Lady's Ebony Ace was third with Jimmy McConnell riding for Ronald and Donna Beltz of Energy, Ill. McConnell and Lady's Ebony Ace were first in this class in 2002.

The Elite Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Walking Mares and Geldings class brought 17 entries to the ring. Gene Carswell was selected as the call judge for this class. Walking On Thin Ice and Pat Harrington took the first place tie for Legacy Walkers of Coto De Caza, Calif. Flush With Spirit and Iris Schumann were reserve for Wayne and Iris Schumann of Shelbyville, Tenn., followed by Generator's Cashin' In and Karen Inman for Mike and Karen Inman of Hoover, Ala., in third.

In the first section of the Four-Year-Old Walking Stallion Canter class, 16 entries came to compete for the blue. Jamie Hankins was the call judge. Joe Cotten and 2002 Three-Year-Old World Grand Champion Main Power came back from a nasty fall during the canter to win the blue! Dr. and Mrs. Jim Green of Meridian, Miss., are the proud owners of this talented entry. Main Power has won blues this year at Jackson Miss., Gallatin, Spring Fun Show and Woodbury. Gold Picture and Bill Bobo rode to reserve for Dr. Cliff and Linda Garrard of Humboldt, Tenn., and Shelbyville, Tenn. The crowd was definitely excited for this team. The Golden Sovereign and Larry Edwards took the third place ribbon for the Dan McSwain family of Atlanta, Ga.

The second section of the Four-Year-Old Walking Stallions Canter class brought 19 entries to the ring. Paul Watlington was the call judge for this section. The Outlaw Josey Wales and Billy Gray made the trip to the winner's circle for Larry and Carol McLaughlin of Florence, S.C. The reserve honors went to Sharp Cutlery and Buddy Dick for Moore Brothers and the B.W. McDonald Estate of Paintsville, Ky. Millenium Masquerade and Knox Blackburn rounded out the top three spots for the Gilbert Miller family of Richmond, Ky.

Twenty-seven entries made the gate call for the first section of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. Laura Brandon was the call judge for this section of the class. Thirteen entries were asked to remain for an additional workout. When the line up was called, An American Outlaw and Maria Derickson were sent to the winner's circle to collect their blue for Maxwell & Derickson of Longview, Texas, and Wartrace, Tenn. Sundust Generator and Julie Grider took the reserve honors for Coomer, Grider & Tooley of Columbia, Ky. Third in the class went to Sanman and Pam Russell for Larry Russell of Pontotoc, Miss.

Twenty-eight entries packed the ring for Section B of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. Mike Carpenter was the call judge for this section. A short time out was called for a groom to assist Julie Grider and Bella Rose. An additional workout was called for 14 entries. Driving Miss Dumas and Caresse Mills were called to make the victory pass for Rusty Hyneman and Caresse Mills and Hy Steppin' Farms of Germantown, Tenn. Cameo Cash and owner/exhibitor Rhonda Warren of Kernersville, N.C., took the reserve honors. Santana's Renaissance Man and Tricia Timmons were third for Amy Mahoney of Charleston, S.C.

The final class of the evening was the Walking Mares, Five Years and Over, Over 15.2 Canter class. Eighteen entries were welcomed to the ring. Gene Carswell was the call judge for the class. Shout and Rodney Dick were called to the winner's circle to roaring applause from the crowd. Shout was the winner of this class last year as well, and was named the 2002 Reserve World Grand Champion with Rodney Dick in the irons. The Keith Baker family of Columbia, Tenn., proudly owns tonight's winner. Lock & Load and Jimmy McConnell took the reserve honors in the Walking Mares, Five Years and Over, Over 15.2 Canter class this year for Longview Farms of Union City, Tenn. Third in the class was Gen's Spider Woman ridden by Brandon Stout for Dorothy Davenport of Clarksville, Tenn.

Sunday night's competition ended on a high note with the crowd cheering for the top ten finishers in the last class. The last session of morning classes will begin tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and the competitions for the two-year-olds starts Monday night. Stay tuned, more exciting competition is on its way!