Pidgeon Roost Farm earned another blue ribbon for their collection when CH Americana's Jazz Man and Phillipa Sledge won the Amateur Three-Gaited class, in their only appearance. Reserve went to Worthy's Hale Bopp and Crystal Sanders for Cryst-A-Kell Farm.
Hanging a blue on the Cryst-A-Kell banner was the team of Vision Heir and Amy Hanson after their winning performance in the Ladies Three-Gaited. Love To Dance and Joyce Webster collected reserve honors. Love To Dance and Webster returned the next evening to take home the blue ribbon in the Novice Three-Gaited class. There was no Amateur Three-Gaited Championship as no exhibitors elected to show back.
In the junior exhibitor division, A Good Night Kiss and Doysha Beasley went two-for-two under the direction of Randy Cates, winning both the junior exhibitor qualifier and championship. Americana's Wings and Paige Pennington, in their debut show, cruised to reserve in both classes. Americana's Wings was purchased for Pennington by Marjorie Judd to take the young rider to the next level.
Fine Harness
The Roseridge Heir-bred Worthy's Independent Son made a clean sweep of the fine harness division. Steve Crabtree was on the lines earning both the open championship and qualifier blue ribbons for owner Carol McIvor. Reserve in the championship and winner of the Amateur Fine Harness class was Sultan's Friday and Pam Robertson unde! r the direction of Tim Henderson. Reserve in the open qualifier went to the Shady Creek's Zena and James Nichols for Kathy and Max Weber. Two Way CSE and Randy Cates earned the blue in the UPHA Fine Harness Classic for Kristen Smith.
Three-Gaited Park
The Three-Gaited Park Championship title went back to Georgia after the winning performance of Broadway Tune and Steve Old for Delton Farms. This pair finished reserve in the open park qualifier where Knight Of Steel and Barbe Smith teamed up for the blue for Ann Bailey.
In the Amateur Three-Gaited Park Championship, A Pat Hand and Holly Nalty moved up a notch to claim the tricolor for Janine and Doug Hill. In the qualifier, CH Ramses and Amanda Dellinger earned the blue ribbon in their only appearance. The flashy Distraction and Cathy Coleman put forth a nice effort in the qualifier and wore the red ribbon out of the ring for the Paul Cates team.
Roadster Horses
Not afraid of the mud or the weather, the roadsters and their drivers sped around the ring like the speed demons they are. Krewzyn Over and Steve Crabtree swept the open division for Carol Hall. Reserve honors went to Che and Andrew Mirabole.
Suzanne Hubbard blasted into the ring with Despite It All and thrilled the crowd to win the Roadster Under Saddle class for Barbara Watts.
Not letting Steve Crabtree have all the fun and the limelight, Mike Barlow had an outstanding drive with Ashland to win the Roadster To Wagon class. Crabtree kept him working hard with Chappy, owned by W.L Chapman, earning the red ribbon.
In the amateur division, Royal Count and Dale Hanson earned the blue in the qualifier for Penny Lane Farm. In the championship, the tricolor went to the thrilling Dragster and Buck Davis under the direction of Kathy and Mike Barlow after earlier accepting the red ribbon in the qualifier. Incredible Dream and Doug Greenwood sped away with the reserve championship title.
Ponies
After being out of the ring since 1997, Sherri Maretta Carfi was more than thrilled with her finish in the Amateur Roadster Pony class. Teamed with Bugle Boy, Carfi had an outstanding show to win the qualifier and return in the championship to earn the red ribbon. The championship tricolor went to the multi-titled Heartland Wonderful Miss and Abby Jones under the direction of Anne and Sam Stafford.
Surprise Me and Jessie Pettie took top honors in the Open Roadster Pony Championship. Reserve went to Seamair Philosopher and Richard Bornemeier.This talented pony also earned the blue in the limit class with Bornemeier. The qualifier blue went to St. Patrick and Sam Stafford for Chris Long-Schubert in their only performance with the young star Heartland Carolee and Steve Old taking the red ribbon for Delton Farms.
Winning the Junior Exhibitor Roadster Pony was the team of City Hall and Victoria McCune with Heartland Well Chosen and Brandon Hubbard accepting reserve. Heartland Well Chosen also earned the red ribbon in the limit class with Suzanne Hubbard on the lines.
Heartland Firefly and Garland Presswood earned the top honor in the Harness Pony Championship after Kathy Barlow drove this impressive pony to the red ribbon in the qualifier. Earning the blue in the qualifier and the red in the championship, Delightful Time and Stephany Monteleone were outstanding. Monteleone's It's About Time won the Amateur Harness Pony in their only performance with Saddle Creek's Brass Watch and Travis Olinger earning reserve.
In the Hackney Pony Championship and qualifier Highlander swept the division with Abel Vega on the lines for Gina Stopher. No Regrets and Shirley Petreye earned reserve in the qualifier. In the amateur Hackney division Tommy Hilfiger swept the division with Jessie Pettie on the lines for Bob Richards.
Ali and Gwen Stableford added two more ribbons to the Buffalo Creek banner after winning the Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony Championship and qualifier. Kathy Barlow remarked that Ali did not mind the mud or the water. He was a real trooper and came through with two outstanding shows. Motown and Will Mayo earned the red ribbon in the championship after earlier winning the blue in the AHHS Pleasure Driving Medallion class. The red ribbon in the amateur qualifier went to Luv Ya Baby and Jessie Pettie.
Show Pleasure
CH Champagne Bob and Maggie Noonan were the team to beat in the five-gaited pleasure division as they made transitions from gait to gait with ease. When their number was called, this team proudly headed to the winner's circle under the direction of Barbe Smith. The reserve championshipwent to Blazing Day PHF and Hope Norman. This was Norman's first show on her new horse. Purchased after the Asheville Lions Club, May Klein teamed up this pair and headed to Germantown with only a few rides behind them. Earning reserve in the qualifier was the consistent team of MMMBop and Amanda Dellinger. Due to a small injury they opted not to show back.
In the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship it was a one-two punch for Cryst-A-Kell as My Peridot earned the tricolor with Jacque Nance for Susan Bartlett with stablemate Vuarnet and Jan Small Beth earning reserve. My Grande and Amanda Dellinger made one stop at Germantown and picked up the qualifier blue ribbon, after a strong performance. Propane and Lindsey Whitehurst earned reserve.
Propane and Ashley Whitehurst formed a winning partnership in the Pleasure Driving Championship for Dr. Cheryl Tilghman after a reserve in their qualifier. Highpoint's Heir Apparent and Kevin Ingram won that class after an impressive performance. This year the decision was made to move this consistent performer into pleasure driving. Ingram and "Smoochie" have been knocking on the door and at Germantown found their groove. They returned in the championship to earn the red ribbon under the direction of Steve Old.
The UPHA Three-Gaited Park Pleasure class concluded with Late Last Night, the latest Blythewood Star, making the victory pass. This sporty mare by CF First Night Out and out of Forever Diamonds, who is by CH Sensational Spirit, commanded the spotlight with Key Everhart Waller in the irons. Winsdown New Vision and Suzanne Hubbard earned reserve for Kaye Bowles-Durnell.
With a huge turnout for the junior exhibitors, management decided to split the age group qualifiers and then combine the championship. In the 13 and under qualifier, the blue ribbon went to Wind Cruzer and Callie Smith. This perfectly matched combination was at the top of their game to acceptthe blue ribbon under the guidance of James Nichols. Reserve in this competitive class went to Vail and Sarah Singer for Joann Bunde. CH Born To Be Blue lived up to her name as she and Kirsten Nielsen earned the blue in the 14-17 qualifier for Thea Ervin with Romantic Magdalena and Reagan Huguley earning the red ribbon. Vegas Dreams and Victoria McCune had a comeback ride to earn the championship tricolor with Wind Cruzer and Callie Smith graciously accepting reserve.
Country Pleasure
Highpoint's Fancy Cat and Toree Hefner earned top honors in the combined Adult/Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship after accepting the red streamers in the qualifier. Reserve in the championship went to the top junior exhibitor team of Americana's Flight and Alexis Braswell. This team, under the direction of Jennifer Alvis, also earned a blue ribbon in the junior exhibitor qualifier with Callaway's Caleb and Kiley Bush earning the red. In the adult qualifier, CH Mr. Gary Cooper and Melissa Scrushy were in winning form for the blue. This pair is trained by Kathy and Mike Barlow.
Bitters and Caroline Amdall swept the country pleasure driving division. Bitters was bright and showy even in the rain and mud with Amdall confident on the lines under the direction of Courtney Huguley. Reserve in the qualifier went to the versatile Highpoint's Fancy Cat and Toree Hefner, in their only driving performance. In the championship, Let's Rock N Roll and Ashley Judd accepted the red ribbon.
The perfectly turned out and matched combination of The Comeback and Abby Jones won the Western Country Pleasure Championship and qualifier under the direction of Kelly Freeman. Reserve in both classes went to Galahad's Main Attraction and Maggie Noonan for Deborah Owen. This team also returned to the show ring to win the Saddle and Bridle's William Shatner Western Country Pleasure with Absolute Tycoon and Martha Long.
Equitation
Katie Cunningham took home the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship title under the direction of Randy Cates while Callie Smith graciously accepted reserve under the direction of James Nichols. In the qualifier, these two switched spots with Callie Smith winning the blue ribbon and Cunningham finishing second. Reagan Huguley was as polished as ever to win the UPHA Challenge Cup.
In the 10 and Under Saddle Seat Equitation Walk and Trot Championship, Ashley Judd earned the top ribbon after earlier winning the red in the UPHA qualifier. Belle Owen won the UPHA Walk and Trot Equitation qualifier for the Cascade banner.
Cascade riders continued to dominate in the pleasure equitation division. Ella Bright was picture perfect during her championship victory pass after earlier winning the 13 and under qualifier and reserve in the Saddle and Bridle's Pleasure Equitation Medallion and UPHA Pleasure Equitation. Stablemate Kirsten Nielsen took the top honor in the 14-17 qualifier in her only equitation performance. Sally McEwen, instructed by Jennifer Alvis, won the Saddle and Bridle's Pleasure Equitation Medallion and earned the red ribbon in the championship and the 14-17 qualifier. Caroline Hughes accepted the red ribbon in the 13 and under qualifier under the direction of May Klein.
Winning the Saddle and Bridle's Five-Gaited Equitation was Maggie Noonan, another Cascade rider.
Clinton Jury earned the blue ribbons and qualified for the Adult UPHA Medal and USAE Medal finals. Reserve in the UPHA Medal went to the Cryst-A-Kell-instructed Melinda Young while Kevin Ingram earned the reserve in the USAE Medal under the direction of Steve Old.