by Linda Scrivner

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The North Carolina Championship Walking Horse Show was held Oct. 8-10, 2009, in the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher, N.C. Larry Edwards, Bill Bobo and Billy Young marked the cards for the 69-class event. There were almost 600 horses that showed even though the USDA was present Friday and Saturday night to inspect horses alongside the KY-HIO DQPs. This is compared to 614 horses that participated in 2008, over 700 horses in 2007 and close to 800 in 2006. The quality and talent of the horses was outstanding.

Each night the stands were filled with cheering spectators, and by Saturday, anticipation was high with the final stake class and other championships on the line. Out of five competitive entries, current World Grand Champion NYPD and Kenny Compton topped the Walking Horse Championship unanimously for Jack Compton. This team also won the North Carolina Championship Stake in 2006 and is undefeated this season with wins at the Wise County Classic and the South Carolina Championship. David Landrum and two-time World Grand Champion The Golden Sovereign received the second place tie for Evergreen Walking Horse Farm. Current World Champion and Reserve World Grand Champion Busting Specialty and Jimmy McConnell received third for the Molly Walters family.

The crowd was also treated to exhibitions by 2009 World Grand Champion Watch It Now and Jimmy McConnell and Weanling World Grand Champion Miss Cheyenne and Kayleigh Mesimer.

Complete results for the North Carolina Championship may be viewed by clicking here.