SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration continued competition on Sunday night. The flag horse, Counterfeit Dollar and rider Bud Seaton got the festivities started right on time at 6:30p.m. Rollie Beard, Jennifer Bingham, David Landrum, Paul Robbins and David Sick make up the judging panel for the event. Beginning on Wednesday morning, the Celebration has hosted 82 classes, several split classes and the TWHBEA National Futurity thus far.
The first class to hit the track was the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-14 Years on Walking Mares or Geldings. Riding to the winner’s circle and retiring the Dandy Don Challenge Trophy was the team of Zeta and Lily Catherine Holland. Holland topped this same class in 2013 with A High Dollar Charge. Zeta also took home a World Championship title in 2013, the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mares. The team has dominated a total of five classes prior to this unanimous victory. Reserve in the class went to Jose’s Delightful Pusher and Lilly Riddley. Together this duo captured the 6-11 World Championship in 2013 and has won four times this season. Third in the class went to Hot Texas Salsa and Thomas Derickson in their third outing of the year.
A Black Mamba carried LaMar DePoyster out of the Novice division and into the Celebration winner’s circle in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses. While never being shown prior to the Celebration, A Black Mamba has made a name for herself with wins on Wednesday morning, at the TWHBEA National Futurity on Wednesday night and now has claimed another blue. Kool Fortune earned her second reserve world title of the week; this time with Shawntae Burton riding. Etta James By TJB and Julie Carlson was third. Etta James won at the National Futurity and has also picked up a reserve World Championship during the show.
The Elite Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings took the track next. After battling colic earlier in the year, the 2013 World and World Grand Champion Gin Toddy carried Sue Irby to the winner’s circle. This team had prior wins at the National Trainers’ Show, Kick Off Classic, Spring Fun Show and Red Carpet Show of the South. World Grand Champions Escape From Alcatraz and Pam Russell took the reserve honor. Their earlier season win was earned at the Christmas In July show over the 4th of July weekend. Hot Dollar and Sheri Dietz Ward earned the yellow streamer. They had an earlier win at the Smith County show.
Carrying on the family tradition was the name of the game in the next class. The Owner-Amateur Novice Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings champion was Cohen Abernathy and Gangster’s Hit Man. Gangster’s Hit Man is owned by the Abernathy family and has been shared by cousins, Claudia Gribble and Cohen Abernathy for most of the season. Daughter of Chad and Jaclyn Williams, both World and World Grand Championship riders, London Williams directed The Family Jewels to the reserve honor. In their short time as a team, this duo has become well known in the 11 & Under division. Versace’s Dollar and Alexa Compton took the third award back to Virginia.
Capturing her third World Championship of the show was Jannie Chapman aboard I Am The Rock Jr. Her first two wins came earlier in the week with Dirty Sexy Money and Dollar’s Bright Star. This win with I Am The Rock Jr. was earned in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Show Pleasure Horses. Chapman has ridden out of the Novice division in a big way! Second in the large class went too Lauren Tillman and Masq Of Jazz. Rounding out the top three was Jubilee’s Awesome Dream and Shannon Cotter.
Next to enter the Celebration oval were the Owner-Amateur Youth 15-17 Pony contenders. The audience didn’t waste any time getting into a cheering mode and letting the judging panel know who their favorites were. Making the trip from the line up to the winner’s circle was He’s Primetime and Robert Cortner for Cortner & Smith. Cortner is the reigning World Grand Champion Juvenile 12-17 rider. In their first season together, this team has won a total of three times. Second went to The Coal Miner and Buie Williams for Alvis Porter and Theresa Williams. This pair won at the Cornersville Lions Club in July. The Jazz Player and Alex Blackburn earned the third tie for Dilday & Blackburn. Earlier in the season, The Jazz Player has picked up three blue ribbon victory passes.
Making his first show ring appearance since he was crowned with the ultimate title of World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse in 2012, Walk Time Charlie took on the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions and surprised and thrilled the fans! Claiming the win in unanimous fashion, John Callicutt rode Walk Time Charlie for the John Callicutt family. Sky Miles and Beth Sims took home the reserve honors. Sky Miles carried out top honors earlier in the year at the Woodbury Lions Club and Red Carpet Show of the South. Third went to DiMaggio and Alexandria Holland in their second outing of the season.
Three entries answered the gate call for the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Years on Park Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings. Making the unanimous victory pass was Famous At The Ritz and Lesley Tillett for Jimmy Tillett. Famous At The Ritz came to the big oval with eight blues under his belt and had already claimed a reserve world title earlier in the show with Jimmy Tillett riding. Reserve went to I Can’t Image and Jesse O’Dell. I Can’t Imagine has won three times in 2014. Taking home the yellow streamer was Colors Of Jubilee and Tess Boring.
Sired by A Strong Dollar and coming to the Celebration with four season wins, Greenspan carried Mary Morrison to the World Championship in the A Division of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings. I’m Steely Dan and Jennifer Lee won the reserve honor and also has four previous wins in 2014. Rounding out the top three was I’m A Title One and Jason Myatt.
The World Championship in the B Division of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings went to Unwavering and Charles Stivers; earning Stivers’ his first trip to the Celebration winner’s circle. Unwavering is sired by Gen’s Black Gin and is out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare. Reserve went to the 2012 Two-Year-Old Amateur Mares World Champion, Conga Line and Courtney Luttrell. This talented mare is sired by Lined With Cash and is out of a Pusher C.G. mare. The third tie went to All American Candidate and Laura Beth Comley. Together they had a win earlier in the year at the Taylor County Fair.
Four–time World Champions Line Item Veto and Rachel Teague added their fifth World Championship to their trophy case in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses by a unanimous decision of the judging panel. This team has been to the winner’s circle three other times this season and remain undefeated. Kailin Kesselring and Confederate Jazz carried out the red award. Confederate Jazz topped the competition in the Western Trail Pleasure Grand Championship at the International Colt and Pleasure show. Two-time World Champion Juan Carlos and Lisa Weaver closed out the top three.
She did it again! Jannie Chapman rode Knock ‘Em Ted to the win in the Owner-Amateur Novice Lady Riders on Novice Walking Stallions class. This was the second win for Chapman on Sunday night and her fourth for the show. In their four previous outings this season, Knock ‘Em Ted had made it to victory lane. Reserve went to Puttin’ It On The Line and Sherry Bonner. Puttin’ It On The Line had three wins before hitting the oval. Third went to the new team of Master’s Razzel & Jazz and Shannon Snodgrass.
The final class of the evening brought four top entries to the ring. Talent was abundant in this class, which included Dale Watts, and all three Callaways: Allan, John Allan and Bill. The title of Four-Year-Old Stallions World Champion went to last year’s Three-Year-Old World Grand Champions, The Bourne Legacy and Bill Callaway for Trish Harrison Spivey. The duo won the honor with all five first place votes. Jimmer Fredette and Dale Watts claimed the second award for Lee and Carol Baxter. Third went to Border Run and John Allan Callaway for Robert Moore.
Classes will resume in Calsonic Arena at 9 a.m. on Monday morning to finish out the 2014 edition of morning sessions. Another set of roses will be handed out in the Youth Equitation World Grand Championship. The Monday night performance will highlight the Two-Year-Old Stallions World Championships.