by Sara Engel & Stephanie Morton
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - It was a sunny evening at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration grounds as spectators filled the stands and prepared to watch an evening of world class horses. Right at 7PM Bud Seaton and Counterfeit Dollar entered the big oval carrying the national colors. Judges Jennifer Bingham, Derek Bonner, David Landrum, David Sisk and Sam Sorrell once again presided over this evening’s competitions. Larry Bright filled the air with beautiful classic horse show tunes that we all enjoy, while Mark Farrar Jr. served as announcer for this evening. Giving a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem was Mary Williams of Lewisburg, Tenn.
Seeking the first title of the evening was the class of Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings Five-Years-Old and Over Canter. Answering the gate call were nine very impressive entries all striving to gain the first World championship title of the evening. Unanimous blue ribbon honors went to the dynamic pair of Lord Stanley and owner Allison Thorson of Huron, Ohio. This talented pair claimed reserve honors earlier this season at the Spring Fun Show. Reserve honors went to Country And Famous and Miles Irby for Marla Lovett of Mobile, Ala. This impressive horse has claimed top honors at the Walking For Cancer and Christmas In July shows earlier this season. Third place in the tough class went to He’s Wild Eyed And Wicked and Kenny Compton for Rick Compton of Tazewell, Va.
Up next were the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings Division A. Fifteen top young entries answered the gate call for this exciting class. Taking the prestigious, unanimous world championship title in this highly competitive class of two-year-olds was Cottonwood Gin and new owner Patti Pollack for S&P LLC of Saratoga, Calif. This top two-year-old contender adds this title to his previous world champion honor in the Two-Year-Old Gelding class. Reserve honors went to Ms. Johnson and owner Nick Rippy of Shelbyville, Tenn. This talented mare has claimed reserve honors at the Roger Latham Memorial show earlier this season. Taking the third award went to Gin And Salsa and Kyndra Myers for Sherry Roberts of Van Buren, Mo.
Filling the ring for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings Division B were nine top entries. Cheers filled the air as the class went on the reverse. Claiming top honors in this highly competitive class was She’s Salsarita and Courtney Luttrell for Deloris Griffith of Avalon, Ky. This talented mare has claimed another world championship honor adds her win to her previous victory in the Two-Year-Old Mares Div. B class earlier this week. Reserve honors went to Miss Dixie Carter and owner Taylor Walters of Ranch Mirage, Calif. This impressive team has also claimed top honors earlier this season at the Gulf Coast Charity. Rounding out the top three was Anna Steele and owner Courtney Grider.
Answering the gate call next were the Park Performance Walking Horse Five-Years-Old & Over contenders. Eight top entries answered the gate call. Spectators cheered and whistled for their favorite teams. Taking home all the bragging rights and the unanimous world championship title was the team of Ain’t He Grande and Clay Sanderson for Phyllis Heppenstall of Olympia, Wash. This talented stallion claimed world championship honors last night in the Owner-Amateur Park Performance Stallions with Heppenstall. Reserve honors went to Dirty Sexy Money and Jeff Laughlin for Jannie Chapman of Owens Cross Roads, Ala. This beautiful horse also claimed a reserve world championship title last week in the Owner-Amateur Park Performance Mares or Geldings with Chapman. So Real and Patrick Thomas claimed the third place tie for Jerry Watson of Eldorado, Ill.
Answering the gate call next were the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings contenders. Six talented teams filled the big oval all striving for top honors. Taking the top honors in this highly competitive class of was the pair of The Lady’s Man and owner Maisie McSwain of Gainesville, Ga. This dynamic duo has claimed blue ribbon victory passes at the National Trainers’ show and Marshall County Horseman’s Association earlier this season. Reserve honors went to More Horsepower and Jannie Chapman of Owens Cross Roads, Ala. More Horsepower adds this reserve world championship to his two earlier season wins at the Gulf Coast Charity and Wartrace shows. Taking the third award in this impressive class was Bonjour and owner LaRue McWaters.
Making their way into the big oval in hopes to claim the world championship title were six talented teams of Show Pleasure Walking Stallions. Once the teams got in the ring the crowd picked their favorite team and cheered them on in blue ribbon style. Claiming top honor and all the glory was the team of He’s Starbucks and John Allan Callaway for Robert Moore of Franklin, Tenn. This win brings the pair’s 2015 season blue ribbon total to four. Reserve honors went to Entitlement and Clay Sanderson for Jordan Howell of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Entitlement picked up a win at the Liberty Lions Club show earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was Masq Of Jazz and Brock Tillman for Laura Lester.
Up next was the Elite Owner-Amateur Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class. Spectators quickly picked their favorite teams and cheered them on as they competed for top honors. Reclaiming their title from last year and walking away with the blue ribbon and bragging rights was the impressive team of Etta James By TJB and Kathy Zeis for Steve Zeis of Wartrac, Tenn. In the past week, this pair has picked up a TWHBEA National Futurity title, and THREE world championships. Reserve honors went to Bel Air and Kathy Anderson for John and Kathy Anderson of Shelbyville, Tenn. Bel Air has claimed top honors at the National Trainers’ Show, WHOA Pleasure Jamboree, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Pleasure International Grand Championship earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was He’s Puttin’ On Roses and Donna Byard for Kenneth Stirn of Scottsville, Ky.
Five talented team were next to grace the ring in the A division of the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions class. Cheers and whistles filled the air in this outstanding class of stallions. Taking home the world championship honor and title was The Land Shark and Benjamin Bowen for proud grandparents Larry and Pam Russell of Pontotoc, Miss. This dynamic duo claimed the World Champion Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallions Div. B title in 2014. Reserve honors went to Flames Of Cash and Kelly Peeler and Kathy Manis of Laurinburg, N.C. Flames Of Cash has claimed top honors earlier this season at the East Tennessee Classic and Foothills Jubilee shows. Taking home the third place award was Jose’ Cold Chills and owner LaRue McWaters.
Taking the ring next was the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions Div. B. Nine entries answered the gate call for this impressive class. Claiming top honors in this highly competitive class was Seve’s 112 and owner Jerome Cole of Murfreesboro, Tenn. This stallion has enjoyed a very successful show ring career thus far in 2015 with wins at the Walking For Cancer, Putnam County Fair and Belfast-TWHBEA Lions Club shows. Reserve award goes to A King Thing and Lucky Collins for Donald Collins of Bell Buckle, Tenn. Doc’s Two Timer has claimed top honors at the Gulf Coast Charity, Spring Fun Show and Liberty Lions Club shows earlier this season. Third place in the competitive class went to Smokestack Lightning and owner Beth Lawwell.
The Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, 15.2 & Under class to the big oval next. Seven entries made the gate call for the class. Taking home top honors was the team of The Sportster and owner Dee Broom Yoder of Ooltewah, Tenn. This team has claimed previous top honors at the Mississippi Charity and Manchester Lions Club shows earlier this season. Reserve honors went to I’m Stan The Man and Dr. Lynda Brogdon for Ben and Dr. Lynda Brogdon of Tallahassee, Fla. Rounding out the top three was Lindsey Lohan and Kim Butler for Bruce Butler.
Up next was the competitive class of Young Trainers, 35 Years & Under, on Walking Stallions. Only three entries answered the gate call, but they were not lacking in talent. Repeating their win from this same class last year and claiming the Carl & Etta Edwards Memorial Challenge Trophy was the team of Ryan Blackburn and Lester H. Burns for Martin Cox of Corbin, Ky. Reserve honors went to Deal Me Aces JC and Jeff Laughlin for Jannie Chapman and Owens Cross Roads, Ala. Chapman and this talented four-year-old have earlier season wins at the Mississippi Charity and Petersburg Lions Club shows. Rounding out the top three was Oh Too Cool and Josh Watts for the partnership of Carney & Moss.
More excitement finished out the evening as the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings class. Seven entries made the gate call in search of their first blue ribbon victory pass. The winner of this class has previously judged the Celebration, but this year, he gets to add World Champion to his Celebration resume. Owner Paul Robbins and Sophisticated were called from the line up to claim their awards. Reserve honors went to He’s A Superstar General and Kip Looper for Dr. Jim Gore of Easley, S.C. He’s A Superstar General has enjoyed top honors from the SCWHA Ladies Auxiliary, NCWHA Spring and Foothills Jubilee shows earlier in 2015. The third and final tie went to Get Ready and Zack Zeis for Sandy Harris and Steve and Zack Zeis.
With a tip of the hat from Paul Robbins, the Tuesday night edition of Celebration 2015 came to a close. Wednesday evening finishes up the preliminary classes before more world grand championship titles are awarded starting on Thursday night.