WINCHESTER, Tenn. - The Southern Middle Tennessee Agriculture Pavilion once again provided the perfect setting for the Fifth Annual Oak Grove Community Center Horse Show, which turned out to be the largest one night show of the year, for the second consecutive year! Show management reported approximately 350 entries for the 2000 event, a slight increase over 1999’s 344 total.
Show manager Joe Partin was extremely pleased with the overwhelming turnout for the event and certainly appreciated everyone who helped to make the show a success.
Leigh Bennett of Alvaton, Ky. made the trip down to mark the cards for the 28 classes of competition, many of which had well over 20 entries, making the task that much more difficult. Show announcer Thurman Walden of Manchester, Tenn., kept the show moving smoothly, while Brian Peery of Hohenwald, Tenn. kept the audience entertained with his keyboard talents. Jim Dixon of Shelbyville, Tenn. captured the action of film.
The crowd that stayed on hand until after the midnight hour for the end of the show was certainly was glad that they did because 9 outstanding entries made the gate call for the final class of the evening, the Walking Horse Grand Championship.
When all the work was done and the dust had settled, Judge Bennett determined the championship honors would belong to the team of Mister Pushbutton and Jerry Reid. Reserve honors in the exciting class went to the recent Alabama Jubilee Championship team of Stride’s Touch Of Pride and Dick Peebles. Last year’s champions, Genius Gold Spirit and Ramsey Bullington claimed a popular third.
Chad Way Stables and Herbert Derickson Training Facility tied for the top spot in the blue ribbon count with four blues each.
Trainer Chad Way did the winning on two of the four occasions for the team from Chad Way Stables. Way rode to the winner’s circle in the 15.2 and Under division with Retouch and returned later to capture the Four-Year-Old Open title with Inside Edition. Ed Breedlove was determined to capture the blue, as usual, making a stellar performance with Bound & Determined and Erica Hartlein once again had the winning touch, taking home the Youth 12-17 title with The Finishing Touch.
The Amateur’s and Juvenile’s did the winning for the Herbert Derickson team. Miss Jordan Kidd had a great performance with Total Control to take home the Youth 11 and Under win. Jill Derickson put a little heat into a cold, cold night taking the blue with Miami Heat in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion division. Lynn Hickok and Pushover’s Homegrown topped a tough Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding division and finally, Toby Scarbrough and Look Of Generator had the winning look to take home the Open Amateur win.