by: Debbie Graham

HERNANDO, Miss. - The Hernando Lions Charity Classic was held on September 19, 2003, at the Bramlett Arena. The show was originally scheduled for September 13 at he Hernando Civic Center, but was cancelled due to rain. Show officials rescheduled the show and made the decision to move the location to an indoor facility.

The event was sponsored by the Hernando Lions Club. Proceeds benefited the Mid-South Lions Sight Services and DeSoto Sunrise Homes. Burl Kail judged the 27 walking and racking classes.

In the first class of the evening, the Halter class, Santara claimed blue ribbon honors with David Smith at the lead for Jimmy Graham. Cash To The Bone and Phillip Carter were in the winner’s circle in the Youth 11 and Under class for the Barry Carter family. Stephanie Carter topped the Youth 12 - 17 class riding I’m A Ritz. The Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare & Gelding title was awarded to The Machine Man and Joyce Brady for Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brady.

Oh By The Way and Shea Woods made the victory pass in the Three-Year-Old Open Stallion class for Great Oaks Farms. Silver’s Spinal Tap and Joseph Abernathy claimed the victory in the Plantation Lite-Shod Specialty class for Chip Carrier.

That’s The Way and Edgar Abernathy were winners in the Two-Year-Old Stallion class for Mark Phillips. Bionic’s Crimson Tide and Mary Ivy were Amateur Owned and Trained champions for Dwight Ivy. Showboat’s Strike Force and Jim Sullivan were victorious in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class for the James Sills family.

Hallelujah I’m A Strokin’ and Mickey Sandridge were in the winner’s circle on two occasions at Hernando. The first award came in the Western Plantation Specialty class followed by a Heavy Shod Plantation Pleasure Specialty title.

Clocked In and Mary Ruth Wright earned blue ribbon recognition in the Three-Year-Old Amateur class for Jo Ann Dempsey. Beam’s Clowning Around and Dusty Carpenter were in top form in the highly competitive Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty to claim the blue for Robert and Lisa Marbry. Santana’s April and Shane Vaughn captured the Three-Year-Old Open Mare and Gelding title for Cindy Stewart.

Black Sails and Kitty Herndon turned in a winning performance in the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty class for Tim Herndon. Jail Break and Ron Nichols earned the title of Four-Year-Old Amateur champions.

The Country Pleasure Lite-Shod Amateur class was led by Eagle’s Legacy and Karla Massey for James Nichols. Touchtone and Meg Faulkner DuChaine were in the spotlight in the Amateur Specialty class as they claimed the blue for Wayne Rea. Black Danger was the winning entry in the Four-Year-Old Open class with Dan Waddell in the irons for Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Tanner.

Meg Faulkner DuChaine was happy to accept a second title at Hernando in the Ladies Amateur Specialty class riding I’m A Pushover’s Threat for Christie Miller. Black Danger was the winning entry in the Four-Year-Old Open class with Dan Waddell riding for Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Tanner. Skyball’s Paint and Kasey Rayes were the recipients of the Spotted Saddle Horse title for Jerry Payne.

In the final class of the evening, Stormy’s Black Rain and Jim Sullivan claimed the Hernando tricolor for the Jim Sullivan family bringing another Hernando Lions Charity Classic to a close.

Complete results from the show follow and may also be found by visiting our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.