O'Brien wins Amateur Show Pleasure title

Jean O'Brien and Coin's Black Stroke were named the Owner Amateur Show Pleasure World Grand Champions on Thursday night as the TWHNC heads into the final days of the 69th annual event. Reggie Pimentel of Bell Buckle is the owner. (T-G Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

Over 18,000 Tennessee Walking Horse fans were in attendance for the first night of all championship competitions on Thursday as the 69th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration prepares to crown the 2007 World Grand Champion on Saturday night as a grand finalé of the 11-day, 10-night event.

Throughout the weekend, classes will see the "best of the best" coming together for competitions in all divisions. Young riders, senior riders, lite shod, Plantation, Park, Show and professionals in all equine age categories will be competing for the individual class titles of World Grand Champion that culminates into the grand finale of it all: the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship.

Local real estate agent Jean O'Brien got a taste of the excitement on Thursday night when her black contender, Coin's Black Stroke, provided her a ride to the roses of the Show Pleasure Amateur World Grand Championship.

Owned by O'Brien's husband Reggie Pimentel, Black Stroke was reserve with her in the preliminary division and tied in the top three with trainer Johnny Puckett in the Show Pleasure Stallion class.

With the win, O'Brien brings her family's interest in the industry full circle. Her father, the late Ed Turrentine, was the breeder of foundation legends and also saw his stallion, Delight's Big Bad John, claim top honors on numerous occasions.

Reserve in the class of 19 entries was Generated By José and Trey Blackburn for Dr. H.E. Barker of Arab, Ala.

Hitting it out of the park to earn the 3-Year-Old World Grand Championship was DiMaggio and Billy Young with a unanimous nod of the judges. Kilgore and Holland of Tuscaloosa and Decatur, Ala., are the owners of the gray youngster that claimed the preliminary win in the 3-Year-Old Stallion 'B' class as well with a unanimous vote of the judges.

The reserve world title went to Victoria's Secret and Gary Edwards for Chester and Lynda Stokes of Ponte Verde Beach, Fla. The team was definitely a crowd pleaser in the preliminary 3-Year-Old Mare 'A' class where they earned the blue with a unanimous decision.

Kicking off the night's action were the young riders. Aged 6-11 years old, these contenders on Walking Ponies didn't meekly enter the but boldly rode with the polish of future professionals.

Putting a damper on the other contenders was the World Grand Championship team of London Rain and Megan Mozeley for Phyllis Mozeley of Charlotte, N.C.

Taking home the reserve title was Rudy Rudiger and Alexandria Holland for the Neal Holland family of Decatur, Ala.

In the 15.2 and Under World Grand Championship competition, Dragon Fly and Jimmy McConnell wore the roses down victory lane for Skillman, N.J.-based, Mary Medina. Jose's Emblem and Herbert Derickson were reserve in the class for Pleasant Hill Farm of Columbia.

John F.K's and Robin McDonald of Atlanta, Ga., and Shelbyville, were the victors of the Elite World Grand Champion. High-headed and free-stepping, the team was a favorite of the crowd.

Kid Callahan and Ed Breedlove were the reserve selection for Keith Breedlove of Buford, Ga.

The young riders returned to entertain the crowd in the competition for Mare and Gelding Youth Rider 6-11 World Grand Championship. JFK Again and Jordon Dean enjoyed the trip down the rose strewn victory lane for Mona Dean of Wendell, N.C. Second in the class was Jose's Vengeance and Rae Shumate-Tysor of Cummings, Ga., and Shelbyville.

Riding under the spotlight for the second time and smiling as big as the first time, The Phantom Menace and Thom Meek claimed the 15.2 and Under Amateur World Grand Championship for Deerwood Manor of Brentwood in unanimous style.

Rocky Mountain Sky and Lucky Collins secured the title of reserve. The team is based in Shelbyville and Ft. Myers, Fla.

Twenty-three contenders vied for the title in the Amateur English Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship that found Patti Pollack making the tri-color victory pass aboard Push N For Pleasure. The Pollack's Silver Spur Ranch is the owner.

Playin' Hooky and Liz Glassaway of Shelbyville were the reserve team in the class.

In the Plantation Pleasure Lite Shod division, the World Grand Championship title was earned by Double Java and Scott Benham for Mike and Kathy Chiappari of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Bell Buckle.

Drop The Hammer and Connie Waldo took the reserve title in this English-styled class before returning in the Western Pleasure division to earn the title of Western Pleasure Lite Shod WGC. Waldo and Leek LLC are the owners of Cedar Creek, Texas and Shelbyville.

The second place team was Steel Watch and Sandra Johnson of Waterfall Farms, Shelbyville and Atlanta, Ga.

Action continues tonight in the big oval on the historic Celebration show grounds as World Championship competition for Park Pleasure, Plantation and Aged Mares and Gelding are held. In addition to championship classes, Ladies Auxiliary competition and Ladies Fine Harness classes will be held. The final class of the Friday night program will crown a new Junior (4-year-old) World Grand Champion.

The Trade Fair continues through Saturday in Calsonic Arena. It is open to the public and features vendors from across the U.S.

Tickets are available for championship crownings at The Celebration Ticket office.