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April Showers May Bring Tricolors



by Kelley Colvin

STATESVILLE, N.C. - The 36th annual edition of the Tar Heel Classic show was held April 29- May 1, 2004. The Kiwanis Club prepared for another year with diligence, but there is a tradition in Statesville - there will be rain sometime during the week. This year was no exception. The spring showers did not stop the winning attitude of all of the exhibitors, evidence that all of that diligent preparation paid off.

This show offered a full slate of western classes this year and even added a Friesian class, which had great support with five entries. The show hopes to add more next year.

Friday night featured the traditional breakfast after the horse show to thank all of the exhibitors. The horse show also fell on Kentucky Derby weekend this year. A Derby party was held at the hotel before the show Saturday for those who had hopes of winning the Derby raffle.

The week was full of nice horses, new combinations, and young, up and coming prospects for the new show season.

Thursday Night

The evening opened with the Country Western Pleasure class with seven entries. Lucky Penny and Debra Lillycrop rode to the blue for Oak Hill Academy of Virginia.

Kirk Simpkins drove Pretty Songbird to the winner’s circle in the Country Pleasure Driving class for Thais Grubbs.

Dr. Carswell Jackson’s entry, Wildbriar’s City Slicker and Sam Allred claimed top honors in the Fine Harness Open class in a grand exhibition.

In the Three-Gaited Open class, An Irish Sensation and Sophia Work trotted to the top for Jansel Saddlebreds.

In a single-entry class, Pick Me First and Donna Lockett rode for the win the Five-Gaited Amateur class.

Showing with class, Charlotte Carter drove Mercedes Ben to win in the Hackney Pony Open class.

Rikki Borgheresi and Inky left their mark on the seven entries in the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Adult class. Borgheresi and Inky trotted to the blue for Tom and Rikki Borgheresi.

Vivacious EF went to the top of the Roadster Pony Open class with Harry Daughtry at the whip for Mary Daughtry.

In a fine group of Open Five-Gaited Mares, Margaret Rose and Kim Cowart soared to the top of the class for Peggy Gillenwater.

Callaway’s B. Gratz Brown and Nancy Troutman rode away as the winners in the Three-Gaited Park Open class for Karin Banks.

Just A Delight and Elizabeth McDaniel won the Three-Gaited Amateur class as the single entry of Ben McDaniel.

Barney Garrison was aboard Foxas to ride to the blue in the Three-Gaited Three-Year-Old class for Lisa McCall.

Love On The Rocks and Samantha Hill won the Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor class.

The gate then opened for the Open Harness Pony class. Knight's Impeccable King and Charlotte Carter drove to the blue in this single-entry class.

Java Sea and Amy Roberts trotted to the winner’s circle in the Country Pleasure Adult class out of eight entries.

Steve Hanks drove the Mark Catron entry Norwell Dancer to the top of the Roadster Horse To Bike Open class.

In the Fine Harness Three-Year-Old class, My Forgotten Favorite and Sam Allred were announced as the winners for Steve Alred.

The Five-Gaited Show Pleasure class brought eight entries to the ring. Amuse Me and Andy Everett claimed top honors.

Howling Wolf claimed another blue for owner Brenda Pulis with Kim Cowart in the irons.

Friday Night

The evening's performance started with a refreshing change of the class list, an added class of Friesian Under Saddle entries. Nancy Troutman showed her versatility by winning this class aboard Tyler for Tanbark Acres.

The next call was for the Three-Gaited Pony class where Callaway's Career Girl and Suzanne Kinzler rode to the blue.

Top Choice, with Connor Leith at the whip, drove to the winner's circle in the exciting Roadster Pony Junior Exhibitor class.

In the Three-Gaited Park Junior Horse class, The Rest Is Magic and Christy Absher received top honors for Elizabeth Krings.

Irish Summer Moon and Shala Gammon claimed the first place award in the English Pleasure Pony class for Keri and Dreama Gammon out of four entries.

In a nice class of 12 and under exhibitors, Mountainview's Mr. York and Hannah Norwood won the Walk-Trot Pleasure blue for Paradise Farms.

Ben McDaniel drove I Saw You First to the blue in the Fine Harness Amateur class in a grand exhibition.

In the single-entry Five-Gaited Pony class, Alianca and Samantha Hill took the top honors back to Piney Creek, N.C.

In the Three-Gaited Ladies class, Periaptor's Dancing Star and Erin Bolster won the blue for Laura Frazier.

Manhattan Tee Time and Deana Gilliam trotted away as the winners in the added class for the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure-Amatuer Trained entries.

Irish In Platinum and Christy Absher Johnson rode to the top of the Five-Gaited Three-Year-Old class for Kayce and Cornelia Clodfelter.

Deja Vis Delight and Jessica Holmes trotted away as the winners in the Three-Gaited Junior Exhibitor class for Sunset Acres.

In the Saddle and Bridle's Shatner's Western Pleasure class, Beaux Radiant Empire and Pat Yeatts were named the winners.

A Piece Of The Roc and Lindsey Newsom won the Three-Gaited Park Junior Exhibitor class for Patti Lovelace.

In the single-entry Roadster Pony Amateur class, Kathy Humphries drove Let's Take A Chance to the blue in a powerful exhibition.

In the Five-Gaited Ladies class, Kathy Jones Cook rode Callaway's New Day to the winner's circle for Mountain View Stables.

Cloverleaf's Pocket Full Of Miracles and Megan McClure added the win in Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor class to their list of victories.

Absolute Gem and Lisa McCall won the Three-Gaited Park blue for Betty Smith of Newton, N.C.

David Phillips drove Captive Cat to the blue ribbon in the Show Pleasure Driving class for Joan Whitesides.

Also for Joan Whitesides, Belle Of The Abbey and Garrison Hodges rode to the top of the Three-Gaited Pleasure Junior Exhibitor class.

Hong Kong Fuey and Tim Henry won the Five-Gaited Junior Horse class for Samantha Hill.

Saturday

The morning session opened with the Road Horse Under Saddle class where Dr. Holly Ackerman was aboard Spit N Polish for the win in a fast debut performance.

Flash Of Perfection and Molly Hudson received top honors in the Hunter/Sport Horse Pleasure class for Kristen Hall.

Mystic King, with Parker Hodges at the whip, drove to the top of the Open Pleasure Driving class for Joan Whitesides.

Mercedes Ben and Charlotte Carter drove to the winner's circle to receive the tricolor in the Hackney Pony Championship.

Kim Blackwell drove Daddy's Little Girl to the win in the Roadster Pony Junior Exhibitor/Novice class for Midge Hunt.

Dream To Remember and Debbie Palmer rode to the blue in the Three-Gaited Pleasure-Amateur Trained class.

In the Country Pleasure Driving Championship, Joan Whitesides' entry Moondrifter received top honors with Cameron Garrison at the whip. Red, White And Beautiful and Rebecca Roberson received the reserve tricolor.

Just A Delight and Elizabeth McDaniel won the Three-Gaited-Carolina Owned class for Ben McDaniel.

Prevail and Jessica Holmes claimed top honors in the Three-Gaited Country Pleasure Junior Exhibitor Championship for Jo Cornell. Belle Of The Abbey and Garrison Hodges received the reserve award out of seven entries.

Knight's Impeccable King and Charlotte Carter drove to the winner's circle to claim the Harness Pony Championship. Carter took the award back to Winston-Salem, N.C.

In her debut aboard her new horse, Brenda Pulis rode Howling Wolf to the blue in the Five-Gaited-Carolina Owned class. They are looking forward to a great year together.

In the Three-Gaited Pleasure-Novice Rider class 10 entries answered the call. All I Can Do Is Dream and Cara Wolf were named the winners for Wolf Farms.

Mountainview's Mr. York and Hannah Norwood won the Walk-Trot Pleasure Championship for Paradise Farms. Giggles And Grins and Crystal Case received the reserve tricolor for the Case family out of six entries.

Callaway's Career Girl and Suzanne Kinzler rode to the top in the Three-Gaited Pony Stake for Susan and Steve Kinzler. Champagne Blues and Samantha Hill took the reserve award home to Piney Creek, N.C.

Rosie's C-Biscuit won the Pleasure Prospect class for horses four and under with Midge Hunt, up for Wayne Murray.

In their under saddle debut, Top Choice and Caitlin Leith rode to the blue in the Roadster Pony Under Saddle class for younger brother Connor Leith.

Jenni Smithy went to the winner's circle in Saddle and Bridle's Working Western Pleasure class aboard Deco with the best combination of course work and rail work.

After the opening ceremonies, the call came for the Leadline class where four entries answered the gate call. Hanna Micum, Michaela Suttles, Abbigail Rainwater and Callie Bebber rode into the ring for judging. All four entries were so close they all received a blue ribbon.

Sun Kissed Supreme and Megan Barrett won the first championship ribbon of the evening in the English Pleasure Pony Stake for Megan and Barbara Barrett. Arzu and Jamie Parks received the reserve award for Bo and Shellie Parks.

In the Fine Harness Championship, I Saw You First, with Ben McDaniel at the whip, drove to the winner's circle to claim top honors.

Inky and Rikki Borgheresi trotted to the top of the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship for Tom and Rikki Borgheresi. Dream To Remember and Debbie Palmer were reserve for Maple Top Stables out of six entries.

Deja Vis Delight and Jessica Holmes took the tricolor in the Three-Gaited Junior Exhibitor Stake back to Plain City, Ohio for Sunset Farm. The Heir Jordan and Morgan Feimster were reserve out of four entries.

In the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship seven entries answered the gate call. Amuse Me and Andy Everett won the championship. Manhattan Tea Time and Deanna Gilliam took the reserve tricolor back to Forest City, N.C.

Periaptor's Dancing Star and Erin Bolster trotted away with the Three-Gaited Grand Championship for Laura Frazier in a single-entry class.

Shala Gammon was aboard Breezy Sky to claim top honors in the Three-Gaited Park Junior Exhibitor/Amateur class.

Topaz Taz and Julie Grubbs won the Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor Championship for Thais Grubbs. Love On The Rocks and Samantha Hill were reserve to Grubbs in the class.

In the single-entry Three-Gaited Championship, An Irish Sensation, with Sophia Work up, trotted away the winner for Jansal Saddlebreds.

CH Java Sea and Amy Roberts won the Country Pleasure Adult Championship out of six entries. Mountainview's Mr. York and Kim Blackwell took the reserve tricolor for Paradise Farms.

Alianca and Samantha Hill defended their Five-Gaited Pony title. Alianca and Hill claimed top honors in a grand exhibition.

Neal Brandt's entry, Rosewall's Dutchess Of York, with Licia Brandt at the lines, topped the Show Pleasure Driving Championship.

Callaway's B. Gratz Brown and Nancy Troutman won the Three-Gaited Park Open Championship for Karin Banks. CH Stars Fell On Alabama N.M. and Danny Keziah were reserve.

Luanne Kilday rode Bob's High Hopes to the Country Western Pleasure Championship for Dora Huie. Beaux Radiant Empire and Pat Yeatts claimed the reserve tricolor.

Vivacious EF, with Harry Daughtry at the whip, drove to the Roadster Pony Championship for Mary Daughtry.

Master Gold Card and Kerrie Fersch trotted away the winner in the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor Championship. Mixed Signals and Stephanie Hahn were reserve out of 10 entries.

Pick Me First and Donna Lockett rode to the winner's circle in the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship for Roy and Donna Lockett.

Kathy Jones Cook rode Callaway's New Day to the top in the Five-Gaited Grand Championship for Mountain View Stables. Vanity's Gypsy Town and Nancy Troutman received the reserve tricolor for Danny and Nancy Troutman.

This completes concludes the highlights of the Tar Heel Classic Horse Show.

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