by Stephanie Rose

CLEMSON, S.C.—The South Carolina Championship Walking Horse Show was held once again at the T. Ed Garrison Arena at Clemson University. It was September 18 and 19, 2009 and started at 5 p.m. each night with 58 classes in total. Allan Callaway of Shelbyville, Tenn., Larry Edwards of Dawson, Ga., and Mike McCormick of Shelbyville, Tenn., marked the cards. This show benefits the Ronald McDonald House.

The show took a tragic turn on Saturday evening as Robert Kellett collapsed during the Amateur Four-Year-Old class and later passed away during the show. Kellett was a long-time trainer from South Carolina and the SCWHA Trainer of the Year most recently in 2008 and 2007. The Walking Horse Report is saddened by this loss to the walking horse community and is keeping the Kellett family in their thoughts and prayers.

There were trainers and exhibitors from Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina participating in the show. There were two exhibitions by South Carolina World Champions. The first on Friday night was by Sam Martin and José Dolly. They were the Two-Year-Old Mare Division B World Champions. The next was Call Me Ted and Emma Lee Cannon. They won the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare & Gelding Division A World Championship. Both entries are trained by Martin Training Center.

The Stake class paid $1,500 for the winner. It turned out to be a competitive division. World Grand Champion NYPD and Kenny Compton came out on top and received the title and money to take back to Virginia. The Games We Play and Chad Baucom were reserve and Ritz On The Corner and Sam Martin took home the yellow streamer.

Complete results can be viewed by clicking here.