Grand National Gets Off To Tricolor Start On Sunday
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Sunday Coliseum
The pageantry of the Grand National is steeped in
tradition and part of that lore is the crowning of In
Hand World Champions in the opening session. The
coveted Oklahoma coolers and plaques are proudly hung
from the victors’ tack rooms. Even bigger rewards in
the form of national recognition and future bookings
go to the breeders of these distinguished champions.
All in all it's a good way to begin another year of
world champion competition.
“It feels pretty good to win an In Hand title.
Besides getting a win, it makes your tack room
decorations look good all week long,” said Jim Lowry
who presented the Junior World Champion Mare.
Having a winning presence at Oklahoma over the past
few years of their young careers, Mark and
Melissa Wahl captured the first tricolor
streamers of the 2004 Grand National and World
Championship Morgan Horse Show. CJS Final Destination
(Aljaks Double Whammy x Quail Run Fantasia) was that
winner, taking the Grand National Yearling Gelding
title for Cindy Fischer-Shepherd. Reserve honors went
the way of Phil Fountain and the Salem Command son,
Miramax for Brad and Dawn Fire's Peeper Ranch.
Sired by the 2000 Park Harness World Champion
Stonecroft Byzantine, CBMF Mozambique was the
unanimous standout from the Two-Year-Old Gelding
competition. Rodney Hicks and Debbie Gowans provided
the winning presentation for Sebring Stables and
owner/breeder Copper Beech LLC. Representing The
River’s Edge, AMHF June’s Star showed to the reserve
streamers with Bob Kellert handling for Margaret
Thompson.
The champions and reserve champions from the first
two classes came back for World Champion Junior
Gelding honors. Judges Steve Davis, Bill Parker and
Sandy Sessink stood them up and watched them lead one
more time but in the end CBMF Mozambique was named the
first World Champion of the 2004 show. Handlers Rodney
Hicks and Debbie Gowans earned a unanimous decision
for Copper Beech LLC. Mozambique added this world
title to his New England Junior Gelding Championship
earlier this summer. CJS Final Destination emerged from the lineup as
the reserve world champion for Mark and Melissa Wahl and owner Cindy Fischer-Sheperd.
The intensity picked up with the presentation of the
Three-Year-Old Geldings and the presence of Blackridge was still strongly felt this year despite their absence. Dragonsmeade CarnegieHall was the big winner here
and more in particular the Dragonsmeade breeding program featuring the sire
Beethoven. Beethoven was the sire of both the champion
and reserve champion.
Dragonsmeade CarnegieHall was called to the winner's
circle of the three-year-old class with Tim Roesink
making the winning presentation for Kourt Jester
Morgans. It was an impressive performance for the gelding who was recently purchased by William and Shelley Silber from Dragonsmeade Farm.
Dragonsmeade Virtuoso performed with
Judy Whitney Harris and Ernesto Chevolla to follow in reserve for owner/breeder
Dragonsmeade.
Moving to the Four-Year-Old Gelding class MEM Reality
Check scored the winning votes for trainer Phil
Fountain and owner Judith Voss. Futurity French
Command was the winning sire. Fresh from the Reserve
Grand Champion Gelding title at Jubilee, CCR’s
Zirconia, the first son of CCR’s Outrajus Corajus to
show, was the reserve champion for the Errington
family of Northfield, Minn. Bert Earehart was on the
lead.
HVK March Flaire proved to be a smart purchase. A
part of the Kohler Sale held in May, the son of Noble
Flaire and HVK Dragonfly stood before the Oklahoma
audience as the Five & Over Gelding Champion for trainers
Bill and Sammi Hazen and owner Jacqueline Clapp.
Former Four-Year-Old English Pleasure World Champion
AKM Manhattan (Man About Town LPS x UVM Envy) paraded
as the reserve champion with Krista Dent and Greg
O’Kelley showing for Sally Lawing.
The crowning of the five & over winner gave the judging
panel the fifth and sixth contender for the World
Champion Senior honors. When they were brought back
into the ring together, three-year-old winner
Dragonsmeade CarnegieHall stood out above the rest and
a world champion cooler headed back to the Grove
Pointe tack room, although Tim Roesink’s work was not
done with the World Champion Gelding competition just
minutes away. Sammi Hazen and HVK March Flaire were
the next pick among the senior competitors. They too
would return for one last look.
As the gates opened for the final time of the morning
session, the top two from the junior division met up
with the top two from senior group. The maturity
proved to be too much as Dragonsmeade CarnegieHall had
ones straight across the board to give the Roesink and
Silber families a morning they will never forget. With
all three second place votes, HVK March Flaire made
the reserve world champion victory pass with the
Hazens again showing for Jacqueline Clapp.
The turnout for the in hand mares was much larger
than the gelding section as 16 entered the ring for
the afternoon opening Yearling Filly competition. From
the 16, four were called out for a second look and
Mark Wahl had two of the four. Once those four had
been scrutinized again, New England's Yearling Filly
winner Cabot First Confession was again crowned the champion. By Liberation First
Star and out of former Breeders Sweepstakes Champion
KJM French Confession, First Confession was shown by
Mark Wahl for Jim and Carole Bradford. Owned by J.D.
and Susan Symer, Legendary Alexa Leigh (Troutbrook
Alexander x JW Jealouslee) were right there for
reserve honors with Ernesto Chevolla and Judy Whitney Harris
on the lead.
Sired by AFF Leroy Brown, Annika was third for Mark
Wahl and owner Philip Alderman. Winner of the 2003
Breeder's Sweepstakes Championship, Raintree Celine, a
Stonecroft Byzantine daughter, was the fourth entry given
a second look. John Hufferd stood her up for Barb
Rudicel.
Nearly as strong as the yearlings, 11 Two-Year-Old
Mares were next on the schedule. By the time this
class was sorted out the absolutely beautiful Halle
Berry (Stonecroft Byzantine x THB Heavens French
Starlet) turned back all challengers. She was
presented in high order by Jim Lowry for Priscilla
Marconi. WWW Reality Check Dot Com sired the reserve
champion WWW Virtual Reality. Mark Wahl presented the
reserve champion and 2003 World Champion Yearling
Filly Futurity winner for Dale Nielson. Far West
Junior Mare Champion Flairetation was among the top
ribbon winners in third, followed by the crowd
pleasing Paradigm Hot Chocolate.
Returning to the ring for the Junior Mare World
Championship, Halle Berry's name went up in the
spotlight again as she modeled like a star for Jim
Lowry and owner Priscilla Marconi. From the yearling
section, Cabot First Confession emerged as the Reserve
World Champion Junior Mare for Mark Wahl and Jim and
Carole Bradford.
Eight mares stood before the judges, both in and out
of the ring, for the Three-Year-Old Mare title. With
quality and talent, Bell's Masterpiece (HVK Bell
Flaire x Illustra So Rare by Serenity Masterpiece)
left little doubt that she was the winner of this
round. Already the Connecticut Morgan and New England Grand
Champion Mare, Bell's Masterpiece was the unanimous
three-year-old winner for Lynn Peeples and new owner
Stephanie Connor. This outstanding performance came
despite a trailering accident on the way to OKC. Another
Sunday title holder sired by Beethoven, Jacqui O was
next in line for a ribbon. The elegant reserve champion was
shown by Mary Brannon for Lyn Talmadge.
Moving to the four-year-old competition, Damian Hyde
escorted the animated HDP Warrior Princess to the winner's circle
when ribbons were passed out. The Carlyle Upper Caisse
daughter is owned by Tina Lessnau. Cheryl Brooks and
Joyce Hoy were the owners of reserve champion HB
Impressions In Town, New England's four-year-old
winner shown by Mark Mason.
Showing last year's World Champion Mare Long Acres
Broadway, the pressure was on Kurt Hufferd to come
through in the Five & Over Mare class. The Indian Creek
Morgan Farm entry didn't miss a beat on the way to the
winner's circle with the approval of all three judges.
Reserve champion UVM Farrah, a Hillock Showson
daughter shown by David Young for Linda Sheridan, was
also unanimous.
Long Acres Broadway returned to the ring to again
earn a unanimous decision. The daughter of Tug Hill
Whamunition and Mantic Mardi Gras showed lots of
beauty and substance to win the senior title for the
second consecutive year. The extremely elegant Bell's
Masterpiece gave a valiant effort and went nose to
nose with Long Acres Broadway to wear the Reserve
Senior World Champion Mare title for Lynn Peeples and
Stephanie Connor.
When the junior title holders were brought back to
challenge the senior mares, the seniors reigned
supreme. Kurt Hufferd and Long Acres Broadway claimed
the World Champion Mare title with a unanimous
decision for Indian Creek Morgan Farm. It was her
second consecutive title. Bell's Masterpiece was the
unanimous reserve world champion for Peeples and
Connor.
After a couple hours break officials, trainers,
owners and spectators returned to the coliseum in
anticipation of great competition among the stallion
contenders. Starting out like the mare division, four
of the 11 yearling entries were pulled from the line
up for a second look. Regal in every way, CBMF Cutting
Edge (Beethoven x Arielle) was yet another product of V.
Ann Haley's Copper Beech breeding program to star at
Oklahoma ‘04. The Grand National Yearling Colt
Champion was shown by Rodney Hicks for Sebring
Stables.
Mark Wahl was again among the top prize winners with
reserve champion Ultras Special Trademark (Ultras Free
Agent x Ultra's Independence) for Jan Van Dusen. Cheri Barber and
Gradell Ring My Bell picked up the yellow streamers
followed by Wendigo’s James West and Lyle Wick.
Having already made his presence known from Colorado to Northampton, TRE Master Of Disguise (Stonecroft Masquerade
x WTS Wing And A Prayer) put on another athletic
performance to impress his many fans. Bob
Kellert was again on the lead for Debra Hurst Walters for the Two-Year-Old Stallions title. Pierre Loiselle presented the crowd-pleasing Bonnie-Lee's Future Flaire as
the reserve champion for Mona Bonham. These two
entries came back to also earn unanimous decisions as
the World Champion Junior Stallion and Reserve World
Champion Junior Stallion, respectively.
Upheaded and expressive, Pine Creek's Noble Vision
was the most impressive star among the three-year-old
stallions. The Nobility son was the unanimous
selection of the panel with Steve DeBolt leading for
Michael and Mary Penn. Their closest competition came
from Bob Kellert and the Chandel Absolut son AMHF
Absolut Grandeur performing for David and Cindy Vogels.
There were only three challengers for the
Four-Year-Old Stallion honors and among the three the
ring belonged to last year's World Champion Stallion
LPS The Boogie Man. With more maturity and the same
show horse attitude, the son of Man About Town LPS and
Honeytree’s Simply Unique ruled with a unanimous
decision for David Rand and owner Nancy Ramsey. Harry
Sebring and Rodney Hicks teamed up to present the
Comoshun Morgans entry CBMF Ruling Class (GLB Bell
Pepper x CEN Can't Touch This) for reserve honors.
The moment everyone had been waiting for came next.
One of recent history's most popular stars, Born To
Boogie (TVM I Promise x J'st Coastin Countess) returned
to the ring at the age of 14. He has been a show horse
his entire life and he wasn't about to stop now.
Boogie won his third World Champion Stallion in 2002
before turning the ring over to his grandson, LPS The
Boogie Man in 2003.
Cheers rang out as soon as the picturesque Morgan
stallion hit the ring and they were still going when
Lynn Peeples led the Honeytree Farm entry to the
winner's circle with a unanimous decision. Also in the
hunt was reserve champion Winterset Thyme ‘N Agin, an
HVK Bell Flaire son shown by Luman Wadhams for Clare
Simpson. The crowd also showed its approval of third
place finisher Key Biscayne.
Of the three in hand divisions, the class of the day
had to be the World Champion Senior Stallion
competition. Morgan owners in attendance were thrilled
with the quality which stood before them and judges
Davis, Parker and Sessink had their work cut out.
Without as much fanfare as there could have been with a
class of this quality, David Rand and LPS The Boogie
Man were spectacular. The entire team, including Missy
Hanover who was assisting Rand, was dressed black on
black and was it ever beautiful! With the look at me
attitude of his grandsire, The Boogie Man defended his
senior title of 2003. Someone had to be reserve and
this time it was the legendary Born To Boogie,
presented by his friend and trainer Lynn Peeples.
In the World Champion Stallion finale the junior champions tried to challenge
the veteran titans but there would be no cracking the
lineup on this evening. The first night of
competition came to a close with LPS The Boogie Man
and Born To Boogie sharing the ring one last time as the World and Reserve World Champion Stallions. And
this was only the beginning!
Sunday Show Arena 6
Age group qualifiers for saddle seat riders were the
first classes held in Show Arena 6 at Oklahoma ‘04.
Familiar with the winner's circle all season long, New
England's Saddle Seat Equitation Grand Champion
Morgan Glenn represented instructor Mary Carlton in
blue ribbon fashion for the 16-17 year old title aboard Hollybrook Gentleman Jack.
Having just come from Kentucky Horse Park where she
was the high point rider for the World Cup
competition, Sarah Taylor rode from Cape Cod Farm to
claim reserve honors paired with Wind Blu Roadmaster. Taylor is also a world title
holder in the Saddlebred world.
Anne Speck's 2003 Junior Saddle Seat Equitation World
Champion, Ariana Corrigan made her first Grand
National as a senior rider a blue ribbon affair. Her
polished look was chosen to make the victory pass
among the 14-15 year old riders with her partner Festival Troubadour. Cricket Hill Farm's
Brooke Gove continued her successful season with the
reserve ride matched with Hollybrook Romeo.
Mary Carlton seemed to have a revolving door on the
winner's circle in both the saddle seat and hunt seat
divisions throughout Sunday. Sarah Shimmer added her
named to the Grand National Champions list with an impressive
victory pass from the 12-13 year old age group matched with Minion Absolut. In her
first year of showing at the Grand National, Taylor
Sams represented California and instructor Anne Speck
with a reserve finish.
Cape Cod's Caroline Gaker captured the 11 & under
class for the second consecutive year with the grand mare Wind Blu Supreme Fantasy. Her winning
ride was followed by Rachel Miller, the youngest of the top
riding children of Greg and Linda Miller of
Moreno Valley, California. Her newest partner DU Absolutely Courageous carried her to the title under the Gerry Rushton Stables banner.
From the Wichita Riding Academy, Emily Buchanan
occupied the winner's circle following the Saddle Seat
Classic Equitation 13 & Under competition with Irish O'Ryan. Kimberly
Forster stepped up with a nice ride to take reserve
honors among the nine remaining entries.
The 14-17 classic equitation riders were 14 strong
and much like she has done all season long, Musette
Re’ Kyranos led the charge. A winner since her days in
the walk and trot ranks, Kyranos had championship
rides at both Connecticut All Morgan and New England
Morgan this year for longtime instructor Jean DeGutis.
Also a familiar name in the equitation division, Leigh
Fitzgerald rode off with the red streamers matched with The Lion King by instructor Cindy Mugnier.
Preliminaries for the AMHA Western Seat Gold Medal
kicked off the afternoon's activities in Show Arena 6.
The best riders from both coasts and many points in
between were represented here and 12 of the 17 would
return for the finals. They included Stephanie Boda,
Kati Anderson, Ellen McQuade, Heather Garcia, Kayla
Suzanne Reser, Logan Nicole Mather, Alyssa Rumsey,
Kimberly Forster, Jessica Geissinger, Emily
Webster-Seely, Andrea Kiester, and Cassandra Vujtech.
Featuring yet another aspect of the Morgan breed the
beauty of Carriage Driving competition was the next
section to be judged in Show Arena 6. Enjoying great
popularity, the Carriage Driving Working Single class
had to be split. Driving their way down victory lane,
Juneacres Tandy and Anita Meinert came from Iowa to be
the top choice in section A. Vermont's John Aubin and
Little Acres Inheritance drove away with the red
streamers.
Section B honors went to the state of Colorado with
Greentree Brigadier and Cece Green for Greentree Ranch
Morgans. Beta B Protocol's fluid way of going earned
the red prize for Mary Shurtleff of Bethany, Conn.,
Starting back that evening, numbers for the Hunter
Seat On The Flat Equitation 16 & 17 class were so
large that it was split. Amanda DuPont greeted Kara Hose in the winner's circle following work in the
first section. Jillian Zick turned in the reserve
ride directed by Sally Lindabury. With several of the country's top senior riders
competing, Kate
Podell scored the blue from
section B while newcomer Anna Weeks had the time of
her life accepting the reserve grand national title.
The west coast had another star in Grand National
Hunter Seat On The Flat 11 & Under Champion Kimberly
Forster. Versatile Rachel Miller was the reserve
champion after having won a reserve title in saddle
seat equitation competition earlier in the day.
Mary Carlton's Junior World Champion rider in 2003,
Alyssa Rumsey was back with another world class ride
to win the Grand National Hunter Seat On Flat 12 Year
Old title. From the highly successful Dragonfire
program, Samantha Schuring scored the reserve ride.
Cheryl Woosley was the next trainer to claim a 2004
Grand National Championship. She directed Lauren Cook to
the 13 year old age group blue. Several challenged
Cook's smooth performance but it was Geneva Miliken
who got the closest with the reserve ride.
Michigan's Mary Carlton wore out a pair of boots
making her way to the winner's circle on this first
day of competition. Closing out the Sunday evening
session, Kali Erin Hutchinson joined the winning
Crystal Farms riders by topping the 14 and 15 year old age
group amid a field of 19. Reserve to the champion was another Marshall,
Mich., resident, Ashley Wright also representing Crystal Farms.
Show Arena 9
The dust was flying early in Show Arena 9 as the
stars from the reining division were sliding and
spinning their way into the Oklahoma history books.
Growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, this
division featured some of the great athletes of the
Morgan breed.
Jarvis Anderson claimed the first Grand National
title of the week among the reining contenders with
the blue in the 1st year green competition atop LMC Summit Rose.
Livingston, Montana's Jean Keffler and David Stanley
were the owners. A reserve grand national ribbon went
to Morganquest Native Sun, an entry ridden Sterling
Slump for the Burris family of Lebanon, Missouri. Shawn
McClurg and TLB Tiz A Piper were given the winning score over
Heartquest Rachel and Mark Wilcher in 2nd year green
competition.
Action resumed with the Reining Non-Pro Adult class
in which River Riders Romeo had all the right moves
for Jon Rivers. Going home with a reserve grand
national title was Meredith Rosier-Cooke’s LSI
Hollywood Helkat.
Katie Wallace was the first name called out when
awards were given in the inaugural 13 & Under Fitting &
Showmanship competition. Canabar Front Page was her
entry. Karlie Bagan and Garahlee Val's Sky High
commanded reserve honors.
The best of the 14-17 Fitting & Showmanship entries
turned out to be Jessica Geissinger and SMS Annalark.
Reserve to the champion was Andrea Kiester with
West Mt. Windrider.
|