By Elizabeth Miller

SUMMERTOWN, Tenn.-The 39th Annual Jack Keltner Memorial Tennessee Walking Horse Show was held Saturday, May 19, 2003. Sponsored by the Summertown Saddle and Bridle Club and the Summertown Volunteer Fire Department, the show was held in memory of Jack Keltner, who passed away last year. Keltner was responsible for organizing the Summertown Saddle and Bridle Club in 1964 and served as the show’s chairman for 38 years.

Brock Tillman of Shelbyville, Tenn., and Nathan Clark of Arab, Ala., shared the task of judging the 27 class event. Other show officials included organist Brian Peery and photographer Gary Leverette. Wayne Tharp and Gold Medalist were honored with the job of carrying our nation’s flag for the opening ceremonies.

In spite of rain showers that lasted throughout the evening, the loyal horse show fans in Summertown were rewarded with a high caliber competition in the Walking Horse Open Championship. Seven strong entries vyed for Judge Tillman’s vote of approval. Reigning World Champion Push Me Bold teamed with trainer Joe Fleming to earn the tri-color award. The gray stallion is proudly owned and campaigned by Donald and Gladys Stephens.

Another flashy stallion Kodachrome was named the reserve champion. He is owned by Cathy Baird and directed by trainer Rollie Beard. The yellow award went to the team of Cash’s Stormin’ Norman and Joel Weaver. This veteran competitor is owned by Kevin Parton and is prepared by Rising Star ranch.

Chad Williams celebrated three trips to the winner’s circle in Summertown. His first win was in the Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class with Lt. Commander. This was a blue ribbon debut performance for the Jimmy and Vivian Reddy owned gelding.

Santana’s Sundance carried Williams to his second victory of the night in the Two-Year-Old Stallions class. The Donald Judge family backs the talented young performer. Williams’s third blue was in the Open 15.2 and Under division with Live N Learn. This was the second blue ribbon performance for this duo in 2003. Last month they earned top honors at the Fairview Lions Club Horse Show in Cullman, Ala., for owner Jack Mitchell.

Jamie Bradshaw won two blue ribbons and made a clean sweep of the three-year-old division at Summertown. Current world champion Ritz’s Diamond Joe made an outstanding performance in the largest class of the evening. He topped the 15-entry Three-Year-Old Walking Stallion class in his usual style of excellence.

Miss Santiago and Bradshaw made a winning ride in another large class. They earned top honors in the Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings event. Randall and Martha Ferguson are the delighted owners of both of Bradshaw’s exceptional mounts.

Stanfill Stables also celebrated dual blue ribbons at Summertown. Former World Champion Skywalk was victorious in the 15.2 and Under Amateur division. Ronnie Stanfill was in the irons for owner Billy Stanfill. E Male and Stephanie Cagle were the winners in a large Three-Year-Old Amateur class. They topped the field of ten competitors for owner Vickie Stanfill.

The evening got off to a wonderful start with six adorable entries in the Lead Line class. Ace and Tyler Bailey were a familiar sight in the winner’s circle at the end of the class. Proud mom Kim was at the lead of the Tyler and Kyle Bailey owned pony.

Friday Night Mercedes earned top honors on Saturday night in the Country Pleasure class. Owner Connie Waldo was in the irons for the victory pass ride. This was a repeat of their win last week at the Gallatin Lions Club Horse Show.

Brian Wright and Keeping Promises were the recipients of two blue ribbons in Summertown. They walked away with the approval of the judge in the Open Yearling Filly class as well as the Amateur Walking Yearlings division. The George Wright family is the proud owner of the lovely black filly.

Kaye Beacham was all smiles despite the rain following her debut win aboard The Midnight Jazz in the Two-Year Old Amateur class. This multi-talented filly was reserve in the open division at the Winchester Rotary Club horse show earlier this month under the direction of trainer Buck Williams.

The Open Yearling Colt class was certainly a grand affair. Chris Hazlewood and Yankee Doodle Grandy walked away with the blue ribbon honors. Lindy Holt is the proud owner of the young champion.

Alex Blackburn continued her winning ways with Pride’s Smoking Memory in the 11 and Under class. This adorable pair followed up their win last month at the Purchase Area Horse Show in Martin, Tenn. Blackburn owns the flashy gelding along with her brother, Evan. Her proud father, Knox, handles the training duties.

An evening that started out with a mistake for June Hawkins resulted in a blue ribbon celebration. Hawkins was scheduled to show her show pleasure star Editorial Page. However, after she arrived at the show, she was surprised to learn that she had left her jodhpurs at home.

Without her jods, she elected to pass the reins to trainer Rollie Beard. The result was a blue ribbon victory for the last minute team in the Open Show Pleasure Specialty class. This was Eddie’s second win in two weeks. He and Hawkins were the Amateur Show Pleasure champions at the West Alabama Walking and Racking Horse Show in Tuscaloosa, Ala., last weekend.

Meagan Batey and her bay gelding Redman Uprising made another outstanding show on a muddy track. Last year they earned world championship acclaim in the Novice Youth Riders on Novice Horses division on a rainy night at the Celebration. In Summertown, they rode to the blue in the Juvenile Riders 12-17 class. Batey and Hayes share ownership of the entry, and Knox Blackburn Stables serves as his trainer.

In the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty class, Myst and Samantha Bell collected the blue ribbon honors. Jerry Bell proudly owns the flashy roan talent, and he is under the direction of Wayne Dean.

Current Men’s Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty World Champion Insomnia made another blue ribbon performance at Summertown. This was the first show for rider Keith Johnson following his neck surgery last month. Suzy Johnson is the delighted owner, and Mickey McCormick Stables trains the champion entry.

Good Evening and Justin Harney made their debut in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty division a blue ribbon affair. This former World Champion Amateur Gelding is owned and trained by the John Harney family’s Stonewall Farms.

In the Four-Year-Old Amateur division, Judy Burns and Pusher’s High On Gen took center stage in the winner’s circle. Trained by Knox Blackburn Stables, the flashy roan horse is owned by Dee and Iris Prince.

Twelve top entries answered the gate call for the Open Specialty class. After a tough class featuring highly competitive horses, Jason Day and Extra Jack were crowned the winners. The black stallion is owned by John and Susie Harmon and is trained by C and D Stables.

Gads O Cash and Clay Sanderson followed their recent win at the Fairview Lions Club Horse Show with a Summertown title in the Walking Ponies Riders 17 and Under Specialty division. Jerry and Donna Cash are the delighted owners and Philip Trimble is the expert trainer.

In the Four-Year-Old Open class, Dark Express and Jerry Collier rode away with the top honors. This outstanding competitor is proudly owned by the David Ridgeway family.

Bustin Out and Jim Hartzog made a blue ribbon ride to capture the Open Amateur Specialty title. Hartzog owns the eye-catching stallion, and Black Sims Stables prepares the champion for show ring competition.

After capturing the Maury County Charity Grand Championship honors on Thursday night, Motown Motion returned to action in the Groom’s class on Saturday night. Chico Booker expertly guided the 1994 Two-Year-Old World Grand Champion into victory lane. The Meadowbrook Farms entry is trained by the hard working team at Bud Dunn and Son Stables.

This highlights the 39th annual Jack Keltner Memorial Tennessee Walking Horse Show. Complete results follow and can be seen, searched, and printed from our web site www.walkinghorsereport.com.