Seventeen entries got the night off and going in the Four-Year-Old Walking Mares. Judge Beard had the duty of calling the class. After each entry had performed each of the three gaits of the Tennessee Walking Horse they were called in to the lineup. It didn’t take long for the judges’ to decide that Mistress and Tim Gray were the deserving recipients of first place honors. The gifted mare is owned by William B. and Sandra Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia and Shelbyville, Tennessee. Reserve went to Main Majorette and Joe Cotten for Carolyn Thomas. The yellow ribbon in the class was presented to Lock And Load and Jimmy McConnell for Mr. and Mrs. Odell McConnell.
One of the most exciting classes of the night was the Owner-Amateur Riders on Stallions 15.2 & Under. The responsibility of calling the class went to the honorable Ray Gilmer. The 2001 15.2 & Under World Grand Champion Cash In My Stock made the familiar trip to the winners’ circle, this time with owner Charles Gleghorn in the amateur ranks. The red ribbon was then awarded to Olympic’s Energizer and Jennifer May for Allen May. All American Cash and Kelly Garrett were selected for third place for Franky Raby.
The amount of entries in the first division of Owner Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings required a workout. Judge Irby was the call judge. Following the intense workout, fourteen entries were asked to complete the class. After on of the final few was excused the announcement of the winners came. With successful performances at Jackson, Columbia, Bethesda, Belfast, and a world championship ride on Saturday with Joe Cotten, Texas Salsa was awarded the top honors in the class. Owner and rider Nancy Groover not only exhibited the winning entry in the class, she owns and promotes her sire, Hard Texas Cash. Second place was awarded to Spring Loaded Santana and Julie Clayton. Watch My Legs and Lynn Barham took third in the tough class.
Division B of the Owner Amateur Two-Year-Old Mare and Geldings sported twenty-six entries. The honorable Don Milligan was the call judge for the class. The team of Dumas Little Darlin and Sheila Groover received not only a first place award in the class but a unanimous decision as well. Groover is the owner of the talented horse and her sire, Dumas Walker. Reserve honors were then awarded to Tinsley’s Command and Bess Harmon. San Juan and Eric Lackey received third.
The first ever English Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship was next on the schedule. Calling the class was the honorable Whitey Whitehead. With two blues and a tricolor so far the amazing team of Olympic Angel and Marilynn Staley Friedman. The two had just won the Western World Grand Championship the night before. Friedman is the owner of the World Grand Champion and is from Hidden Hills, California. Tying second in the championship class was Blond Ambition and Lisa Weaver. To Die For and Shayna Shaw placed third.
A great class of Owner Amateur Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Mares or Geldings entered the show ring next. This class was a preliminary to three championship classes and was called by Judge Beard. Generator’s Cashin In and Mike Inman are novices no more. A first place tie was awarded to the team after they made an excellent show. Gen’s Secret Warrior placed second with Ray Caughman. President Push and Bill Russell obtained third.
A fine group of Four-Year-Old Lite Shod Plantation Pleasure Walking Horses entertained the audience as the night moved on. Ray Gilmer was the call judge in the class. John Feltner Jr. was a happy man after he and Gen’s Gold Investment took the top award in the class. Jim and Mary Fuller are the owners from Victoria, Texas. Reserve in the class was awarded to Magic Illusionist and Trish Wooten for Mike and Cheryl Reidy. The Man Of Fashion and Sherri Szucs took a third place tie for Jim Todd.
Judge Irby called the class of Owner Amateur Riders on Walking Mares 15.2 and Under. A picture perfect performance earned Carolyn Miller a first place ribbon with Cash’s Luck Be A Lady. The fine mare is owned by C and E Farms of Elberton, Georgia. Reserve honors in the good class wen to Pusher’s Diamond Dust and Becky Coleman for Dr. Mike and Becky Coleman. Pusher’s Clementine and Debbie Flack received third for Jim Flack.
With eighteen entries promptly responding to the gate call the Owner Amateur Riders on Walking Geldings 15.2 and Under was off to a good start. Judge Milligan called the class. Always a powerful team, The Onion and Brenda Bramlett gave an outstanding show for first in the class. Bramlett is the owner from Shelbyville, Tennessee. Red ribbon honors went to Swoosh and Steve Mozeley. Hot Jazz and Kelly Garrett received third.
Fourteen outstanding entries put on quite a show in the Park Pleasure Riders 18 and Over competition. Judge Whitehead called the class. The top three in the class were some of the best in the industry. Armed Red Baron and Howard Hamilton took the blue ribbon in the class. Lauren Hamilton is the owner. Taking a strong reserve award was the team of Lit Up’s Double Time and Lorenzo Smith for Randall and Gloria Dixon. International Park Pleasure Grand Champion Gen’s Sundancer and Jeff Givens placed third for Ralph and Elaine Pinner.
The first of the two final classes of the evening was Division A of the Owner Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions. A whopping thirty-six entries participated in the class. It was Judge Beard’s turn to call the class. There was a workout in the class. Eight entries were selected to park in first and six more followed for a total of fourteen to finish the class. The 2001 Two-Year-Old Owner Amateur World Grand Champion Im Willie Wonka and Janice Fostek kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as they gave a first place performance. Joe and Janice Fostek are the owners. Special Ultra Copy took home reserve with Bobby Mixon. Rounding out the top three was A Big Time Pusher and Sandra Johnson with third.
Division B of the Owner Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions finished the night off with a bang. Twenty-nine competed in the class and Judge Gilmer was the call judge. The 2002 Three-Year-Old World Champion Main Power gave his second outstanding performance at the 2002 Celebration to capture the Amateur Three-Year-Old World Championship with Kay Green. Dr. and Mrs. Jim Green are the owners from Meridian, Mississippi. The Golden Sovereign and Jeanine Gullett captured reserve. Finishing out the top three places was the team of He’s WIld Eyed And Wicked and Beverly Burgess.