By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – A new week opens at The Celebration. The day was full of events: the annual golf tournament in the morning, the annual Celebration Dog Show at noon and Faith and Family Night At The Celebration started at 5:30PM. After all the festivities were over, it was time for the main event of the night. Twelve classes were on the Sunday night program, and the opening ceremonies commenced at precisely 7PM. As is tradition, White Diamond Dollar presented the colors with Vicki Self riding proudly around the ring to post the flag on the south turn. Abe Zimmerman of the First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville gave the invocation. This was followed by Kelly Querrey of Wartrace singing the national anthem. 

First on the schedule was the 100th class of The Celebration so far, Owner-Amateur Novice Western Trail Pleasure. Eight of 16 entries came down the hill to J Brantley playing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” before Mark Farrar called to close the gate. Judge Bobo called the good class as the horse and rider teams got underway at a flat walk. Many of these horses had years of experience showing, but only one of them could make that first world championship ride. The honor went to Hit List and Dr. Blake Everett riding for Bruce and Lee Sinden, Dr. Shana Hughes and Dr. Blake Everett of Valdese, North Carolina, Russell Springs, Kentucky and Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Hit List is sired by Daddy’s Cash and had a successful show year with wins at The Low Country Classic and Christmas In July. Reserve world champion in the class was the Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure World Champion from Wednesday morning, Lined Up To Bat, this time with Kinslee Patterson in the irons for Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms of Meridianville, Alabama. Lined Up To Bat had wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Walking In The Smokies and Let Freedom Ring this year. Taking home third in the class was Cat Dragon and Melanie Barnett-Fisher, riding for herself and Jana Anderson. 

Class 101 followed, Owner-Amateur Youth Park Performance. Judge Campbell called the class, where 10 of 13 entries answered the gate call. Competition heated as these young riders took a deep seat and found a good spot on the rail. In the end, Daybreak WTC and Luke Callicutt, for Teresa Kincade of Kannapolis, North Carolina, wore the blue streamer and neck ribbon. With wins at the NCWHA Spring Show, NCWHA Ladies’ Auxiliary and Waynesville Charity show, Daybreak WTC topped off this season in this class with his first world championship. Collusion and Jackson Laughlin were second on the judges’ cards for Sister Milligan and Jackson Laughlin of Panama City, Florida and Shelbyville. Collusion was the Owner-Amateur Park Performance winner on Thursday night with Sister Milligan and has wins at Walking In The Smokies and the Marshall County Horseman’s Association this year. Both Daybreak WTC and Collusion are sired by Walk Time Charlie. Third in the good class was awarded to Hello Handsome and Raigan Gardner for Pat and Jamie Gardner.

Next was Class 102A, Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Mares & Geldings. This impressive class boasted 19 entries who answered the gate call as Judge Cortner called the gaits in the class. Young horses and their riders were densely packed around the Big Oval. Standing out and dominating the class, however, was Charlie Sherman with Stephanie Martin riding for Floyd and Caryl Sherman of Shelbyville. Sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of a Titleist mare, Charlie Sherman made the victory lap by unanimous selection after a year of wins at Christmas In July and The Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Second award was given to She’s Jenny Choo and Beth Lawwell riding for Bowden and Lawwell of Lewisburg. She’s Jenny Choo is sired by Jimmy Choo and out of a Titleist mare. Earning the yellow streamer was Holymoly ridden by owner and rider, Sister Milligan.
Class 103 ushered in Owner-Amateur Youth 12-14 contenders. This class was highly competitive, with cheers going up around the ring for the eight entries. When Judge Grider had finished calling the gaits and everyone had gone to the lineup, the judges’ cards were tallied. At the top of every card was The Longmire and Carson Sells riding for John and Tara Sells of Pikeville. The Longmire was a two-time world champion in 2020 during his three-year-old year. Taking home reserve to Red Banks, Mississippi, was the talented team of Gin’s Lucky Penny and Jackson Laughlin, riding for Jannie Chapman. Coming around the ring to a third-place finish was I’m Handsome Harry with Noah Osborne in the irons for Jarred Osborne.

The call came for class 102, the B section of Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Mares & Geldings. Fourteen of 27 entries competed for the honors of world champion as Judge Sisk called the gaits. These young horses gave it their all, and the riders went head-to-head to win the world champion title. The tension thickened in the show ring as they headed to the lineup. Out of the silence, Capri and Maria Bobo, the owner and rider of Shelbyville were announced as the unanimous winners. This follows a successful show year winning at The Spring Extravaganza, Spring Fun Show, Money Tree Classic and the Two-Year-Old Mares World Championship with Thomas Derickson on Thursday night. Capri is sired by Jimmy Choo and out of a He’s Puttin’ On The Ritz mare. Coming to reserve was Foolish Honor and Jamie Bradshaw for Mike and Ginger Young and Jamie Bradshaw of Gadsden and Arab, Alabama. Sired by Honors and out of a Jose’s Intimidator mare, Foolish Honor has had a very admirable show season, winning at the TWHYA Summer Splash. Rounding out with third was She’s A 10 with Dalia Harr aboard for Dan and Susan Erwin.  

Class 104 was next on the program, Owner-Amateur Novice Show Pleasure. Thirteen of 23 entries stepped into the ring as Judge Sisk called the class. Smiling their way to a world championship was the team of The White Hawk and Barkley Bowling, the owner and up of London, Kentucky. Sired by The Perfect Hawk, The White Hawk adds this to wins at the Come-Unity Cooperative Care show and Wartrace. Earning the crimson streamer was the KWHA Juvenile Auxiliary winner, Evan William’s Black Label with owner Jacob West of Corbin, Kentucky, riding. Finally, the third-place award was presented to Fist Full Of Cash and Kinslee Patterson for Janson Patterson.
Owner-Amateur Novice Youth 6-11 Mares & Geldings, class 105, brought a new kind of energy to the ring as parents, grandparents and coaches cheered on their young riders and horses. Judge Bobo called the class of eight contenders. The excitement was palpable in the lineup as J Brantley played the sweet chords of “Jesus Loves Me.” Walking to their first Celebration blue was I’m Shady with Bentlee Baum in the irons for Jacob Baum of Shelbyville. They add this to a successful year, having won at the Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Earning reserve in the good class was the Wartrace Horse Show Youth 11 & Under winner, The Comanche, with Charleigh Goldman riding for Larry and Pam Russell of Pontotoc, Mississippi. Wearing the yellow ribbon was She’s Worthy Of Honor and Conlee Bobo for Jill Derickson.

Class 106 was next on the night’s schedule, Elite Owner-Amateur Ladies on Mares & Geldings. Eleven of 22 entries made the gate call. These ladies proved age is just a number as they worked their way around the ring, their talented horses digging deep and stepping high with each stride. Sitting tall, these gifted riders took their horses around and into the lineup. After Judge Campbell had finished calling the class, the cards were tallied. At the top of all five judges’ cards was Smoking and Allyson Armstrong, the owner and rider of Hickory, North Carolina. Smoking was the Three-Year-Old Mares World Champion in 2022 with Jimmy McConnell, the Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings World Champion in 2023 with McConnell and the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Mares & Geldings World Champion in 2024 with Armstrong. Smoking adds this to show wins in 2025 at the Spring Fun Show and the Columbia Spring Jubilee. Second in the good class went to Charlie’s Perfect Angel and owner Tara Rhoades of China Grove, North Carolina in the irons. Sired by Walk Time Charlie, Charlie’s Perfect Angel is a two-time world champion, with victories this season at Walking In The Smokies, The Low Country Classic and the ETWHA Ladies’ Auxiliary. In third on the cards was Miss Stone’s Cash and Lynda Botsch riding for Noel and Lynda Botsch.

Class 107 brought Owner-Amateur Youth 15-17 Ponies to the ring. Several of the horses in this class were veteran world champions. Judge Cortner was the call judge as eight entries made their way through the gate. All the young riders found a spot on the rail as the competition heated. Out of the lineup, Mark Farrar announced the unanimous selection of the 2024 world champion in this division, I Am Big Enough with owner Maxine Beasley of Athens, Alabama, aboard to make that world champion ride. I Am Big Enough is no stranger to the winner’s circle, already having three world championships from 2020, 2022 and 2024, and a world grand championship in the youth division at The Celebration in 2024. Win Dixie A. with Laney Mullinax in the irons for Angela Mullinax of Woodbury walked out with second in the good class. I Am Stormin’ Norman and Mallie Smith, the owner and up, were third.

Owner-Amateur Stallions, class 108 was the next group of competitors into the ring as the Sunday night air cooled. Of 35 entries, 12 were in the Big Oval when the gate closed. Judge Grider called the good class, where everyone vied for a good spot on the rail to be seen. J Brantley played “Do Lord” as they turned around and showed their horses at a flat walk. As they went into the lineup, everyone wondered to whom the good ride would belong. The outstanding team of Good Samaritan and Benjamin Bowen stepped into the winner’s circle for Larry and Pam Russell of Pontotoc, Mississippi. A two-time world grand champion and three-time world champion, Good Samaritan won this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and the Money Tree Classic.  Second award in the class went to the impressive four-time world grand champion and seven-time world champion, Maroon 5 and Dr. Jim Baum for Luke Baum of Shelbyville. Coming out of the lineup to an excellent third-place finish was Twisted With Honors and owner/rider Allyson Armstrong.

Class 109 cranked up the heat with the Young Trainers 35 & Under on Mares and Geldings. Thirteen of 28 entries answered the gate call as David Sisk called the gaits in the class. Excitement filled the ring as this younger generation of trainers showcased their abilities and their maturity. Displaying calm under pressure, they took a deep seat and geared their horses up to a running walk. J Branley played “How Great Thou Art” as they waited in the lineup. At long last, Charblackwood and Hayden Burks were chosen to wear the blue streamer and neck ribbon by unanimous choice for Jimbo Conner of Sevierville. Charblackwood is sired by Walk Time Charlie and is a successful show horse with wins at the WHTA Trainers’ Show, ETWHA Fun Show, Let Freedom Ring and East Tennessee Classic this year. Taking home reserve in the good class to Mechanicsville, Virginia, was world champion, The Jackalope, with Jordan Caudill in the irons for Nathan and Lauren Rader. The Jackalope, sired by Honors, won this year at the WHTA Trainers’ Show and Smoky Mountain Classic. The third-place ribbon was presented to Smoochen With Charlie, ridden by Lake Weaver for Dan and Jae Crunk. 

Class 110, Four-Year-Old Stallions (Canter) was the last class of Sunday night. This highly anticipated class is the prelude to the Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship. As such, the crowd roared with enthusiasm with no regard to the late hour. Six of nine entries made their way down the hill to J Brantley playing “All Shook Up.” Chris Bobo was the call judge as the class got underway at a flat walk. Everyone picked a favorite along the rail as the judges deliberated solemnly who they would crown world champion in this class. They cantered both ways and displayed all the grace that the Tennessee Walking Horse breed possesses. Finally, the honor of world champion in the good class was earned by the team of Ohtani and John Allan Callaway riding for Rolling Hills Farm and Dr. Barbara Moersch of Jacksonville, Alabama. Ohtani is sired by Honors and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare. He is undefeated this year with wins at the FAST Spring Showcase, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Let Freedom Ring. In addition, Ohtani was the Three-Year-Old World Champion and World Grand Champion in 2024. Spotlight On Jose 4G walked his way to a reserve world championship with Bill Callaway aboard for Bob Adcock of Lititz, Pennsylvania. Sired by Jose’ Jose’ and out of a Gen’s Black Gin mare, Spotlight On Jose’ 4G had wins at the Spring Fun Show and Money Tree Classic, in addition to two world championships in 2023 and 2024. Wearing the yellow streamer for Star Catcher Farms and Tim and Missy Johnson was Wilhem, with Dan Waddell in the irons. 

The Sunday festivities ended, and everyone retired in anticipation of Monday. The last morning session would begin at 9AM, and Monday evening would bring the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Stallions class, as well as Gentleman’s Fine Harness. The weekend ended, over half of the Celebration classes were now in the history books. A new week would bring with it new World Champions… and later, new World Grand Champions.