Celebration's championship classes commence

Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-17 on Walking Ponies World Grand Championship contenders went down to the big oval to work for the top prize in the division. Making that first ride of the evening this year was the team of He's Extraordinary and Ashley Pollack for Pollack Silver Spur Ranch of Saratoga, Calif., and Shelbyville. Rudy Rudiger and Alexandria Holland showing for the children of Neal & Sherry Holland of Decatur, Ala., pulled in for the reserve honors. Silver Design and Alex Way came in third.

The Lite Shod entries were up next for class 139, Plantation Pleasure Walking Horses, Lite Shod, World Grand Championship (Canter) with four teams riding tonight.

Riding away with all the honors in the class again this year were Honor My Cash and Patrick Thomas, riding for Debbie and Don Parmer of Elizabethtown, Pa. Major Orders with Brock Tillman for Brenda Gey from Monteverde, Fla. took home the red streamers. Third place went to Ring the Man with Webby Burch for Burch Farm in College Grove.

For class 140, the 15.2 and Under Walking Horse World Grand Championship (Canter), He's Dr. Cash rode to the win with Jimmy McConnell for Larry & Farrah McAlexander of Oxford, Miss. Texas Joe Black and Justin Harris riding for Steve & Kathy Zeis of Douglasville, Ga., and Shelbyville took the reserve honors. Link Webb atop Holyfield accepted third place.

Eleven entries vied for the Elite Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Making the ride of all rides on this night in Shelbyville, and doing so with a unanimous decision of the judging panel and the boisterous vocal support of the crowd, were Star with Wilsene Moody of Shelbyville. Rounds of applause also went out to reserve winner Palm Beach Ritz with Sandra Johnson from Atlanta, Ga. and Shelbyville in the irons. Command & Control and Sheryl Crawford pulled in for the golden streamers for Crawford Colts of Carrolton, Ga.

Up next was Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Walking Mares or Geldings World Grand Championship. Striking a big smile as they made the ride to accept the roses with a big round of applause from the crowd was Moonstruck Dollar and owner/exhibitor Lake Weaver in the irons for Brenda Little of Spring Grove, Pa., and Shelbyville. The White Mask and owner/exhibitor Alana Copas for Karen Bethel of Monticello, Ky., pulled into the second position. Rounding out the top three was Too Tall Jones with Jesse Laughlin from Waynesville, Mo.

The pleasure horses were back on the track for class 143, Owner-Amateur English Trail Pleasure World Grand. Riding in the spotlight tonight for the second year in a row was Playin' Hooky and owner/exhibitor Liz Gassaway of Wartrace. I'm Rose Walker with owner/exhibitor Lauren Hamilton of Murfreesboro and Cedar Grove were reserve. She's Pretty Jazzy and owner/exhibitor Paige Bennett of Alvaton, Ky., took third.

Class 144, the Owner-Amateur Riders on Show Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship, saw a strong group of riders. Be Cool and Spud Warr took a cool ride to the winner's circle for Jeannette Warr of Phenix City, Ala. Coin's Black Stroke and Jean O'Brien accepted the reserve this year for Reggie Pimentel of Bell Buckle. Third place went to The American Choice with owner/exhibitor Linda Garrard of Shelbyville.

Western Plantation Pleasure Walking Horses, Lite Shod, World Grand Championship (Canter) was next. There was only one entry, Red Sunday Best and owner/exhibitor Laurie Toone of Bell Buckle.

The Performance horses were back on the track for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses, 15.2 and Under, World Grand class 146. Rocky Mountain Sky claimed

a World Grand Championship tonight with owner/exhibitor Lucky Collins of Bell Buckle. Don Julio took reserve honors with Alie Napier of Union, Ky., in the irons. Third place went to Shock N Y'all and owner/exhibitor Charles Stivers of Manchester, Ky.

The final class on the evening's program featured the Three-Year-Old World Grand Championship and the crowd watched attentively, cheering as their favorites worked for the win. Claiming the championship honors before a cheering crowd was Folsom Prison Blues with Rodney Dick riding for Judy McDonald from Wartrace. Paroled in Texas and John Allan Callaway were a popular reserve for the Coggin and Whittenburg Families of Murfreesboro. He's A Jazz Thing and Derek Monahan for Ricky Frazier from Randleman, N.C., took home third.

With that, the first night of championship competition wrapped up and we added 10 new World Grand Champions to the record books. A strong crowd was on hand to enjoy it all with a paid attendance of 18,875 and 104 entries.

The Celebration continues through Saturday. For more information on the show, go to www.twhnc.com.