Oklahoma Centennial - New And Improved
Friday, April 20, 2007
Judges: Donna Pettry-Smith - Saddlebreds
Harold Angell - Morgans
Show Manager: Scarlett Mattson
Announcer: Peter Fenton
Barn Manager: Scott Snider
Farrier: John Pointon
Photographer: Howie Schatzberg
Ringmasters: William Whitley and Don Baker
Secretary: Beth Snider
USEG Steward: Nancy Braesicke
Videographer: Richfield Video
by Margaret Cordes
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Change is good and that's what organizers and exhibitors at the Oklahoma Centennial, April 12-14, experienced this year. The Oklahoma Fairgrounds is in the middle of some major renovations that are turning out to be good news for next year’s show.
"Next year the Super Barns as they call them will be complete with permanent stalls and warm up rings," said Chairperson Karen Cunningham. "Horse count was up and many barns from the past returned for the competition this year."
Show managers originally prepared 320 stalls for entries but soon added 60 to 70 more stalls according to Cunningham. The show was centered around the facility's second arena, much like the main arena, but a bit more intimate as most exhibitors found. That was also good news to 11-year old Frances Neuneubel who found her "zone" in center ring at the Oklahoma Centennial. The confident show pleasure rider from Kansas took the microphone Friday and Saturday nights to open the show with the National Anthem.
Neuneubel wasn't the only one providing music in the air. A D.J. entertained the crowd Friday night during a Mexican buffet and to finish off the everlasting Jack Magill birthday cake. The show entertainment kicked off Wednesday with a guitar duo, country cooking, fried chicken, meat loaf and all the fixins'.
Judge Donna Pettry-Smith said she headed home with a great impression of the horses she judged at the Oklahoma City Centennial. She felt that she saw several horses and riders who will be top Louisville contenders this year.
Five-Gaited
Saturday night came to a close with the Five-Gaited Stake with three crowd-pleasing entries. Jack Magill continued a blue ribbon start to the year by capturing the championship tricolor on Kim Lafargue’s Night Of A Thousand Stars. This exciting team also picked up the reserve in the open class. Maguire Hall tried her hand in the professional ranks with her Shame On You and was reward with a hard-earned reserve. Indigo Joe and Dianna Rannells teamed up to take the third place back to the Talley family.
Tom Scott just moved down to Missouri and has already made his presence felt there as he and Heir Dazzle earned the open blue for Robert Ratte in their only appearance.
Gayle Lampe and her bright-eyed CH Callaway’s Born To Win began their season in blue ribbon fashion, picking up two wins in the ladies division. Janie Hamilton gave the winners a run for their money as she piloted Cindy Kolmeier’s Heirobatic to both reserves.
CH Desert’s Favorite Memories was a dominated force in the amateur ranks with Joan Cantrell jockeying for J&J Horse Interests LLC. This duo took home the tricolor and qualifying blue. Dinero and Laura Lassiter made two consistent rides for the red ribbons in both classes, for owner Nancy Lassiter.
The cute team of Calee Dillon and Suki Snowlet had a great comeback ride from their reserve in the junior exhibitor qualifier to capture the championship win. Merrimac Dillon is the proud mother and owner of this team. She’s Fancy Free made the trip to center ring to pick up the reserve tricolor with Cory Vetter riding for Rachel Vetter. Making their season debut, Victoria McCune and CH Callaway’s Independence Day had everything in order to earn the qualifying blue.
Jack Magill took over the reins of Joan Cantrell’s Bluebonnet Challenger to beat a nice group of limit horses. Michael Beasom was up on Keaton, owned by Judy Jordan, to take home the red ribbon.
Mojo has matured nicely over the winter to return for the junior gaited division. Zachary Duffy was in the irons for owner Katie Coup to make the victory pass. Paul Cates and Whiskey Bay put in a good ride for the reserve tie.
Three-Gaited
Zachary Duffy continued to bring back blue ribbons to the Mike Roberts Stables tack room. He piloted Bel Cheval’s Steeling The Show to the open championship tricolor after commanding the blue in the limit horse class. Tom Scott and Born Independent collected the reserve place in the limit class for owner Joann Bernd. Corey Hyde Blake put Sacre Bleu through her paces to pick up the reserve championship. Carrie Blake also made a great ride on this mare to earn the reserve in the ladies class.
One of the most talked about of the show were Madeira’s Love who made trips down victory lane in the ladies championship and qualifier with Liz Cortwright in the saddle for Fox Grape Farms. Heir Calendar Girl and Marilyn Macfarlane made a nice show for the reserve tricolor for owner Robin Haynes.
William Woods University students continue to prove their abilities in the show. Jacqueline Ware directed the school’s newly acquired CH Sportster to the amateur championship after claiming the blue in the qualifier. Another horse that is consistently in the top ribbons, Carolina’s Top Gun, and Margaret Tirkes picked up both reserves for Joan Cantrell.
Katie Cunningham and her recently purchased mount, That’s Chicago are making headlines for 2007. Directed by Randy Cates, this team carried the junior exhibitor championship ribbon out of the ring after taking the reserve in the qualifier. I’m Bewitched and Sarah Singer didn’t make it easy for the winners. They captured the win in the qualifier before earning the red tricolor in the championship. To add to I’m Bewitched’s resume, trainer Jack Magill directed Pam Singer’s horse to the open win.
Park
The park division was deep with competitive entries. Rising to the top of the open championship with a fresh performance was Ross Tarkington and Karma Ridge Dance And Romance, owned by Joel and Jeanne Vielock. Knight Of Steel and Jeremy Grainer were right behind to earn the reserve championship for Ann Bailey. This team was in all the right places to hang the open qualifier blue ribbon on the tack room of Cascade Stables. Liz Cortwright was up for Dr. Owen Weaver to directed Stella Santana WRF to the reserve in the qualifier.
The amateurs were of no less quality than the professionals as five nice entries competed in both the championship and the qualifier. The veteran CH She Bop and Rebecca Taggart were the judges’ pick in the championship. They warmed up in the qualifier for a reserve placing. Certainly A Star, from William Woods University, added to the school’s ribbon display with a reserve championship ribbon and a blue in the qualifier. Jennifer Holdren did an expert job of showing this horse.
Fine Harness
Like everywhere across the country, the fine harness division was small, but was not lacking in quality. Chris Kaplan drove her Lady Vol to the win in the Fine Harness Championship as well as the amateur class. Randi Wightman was at the lines of her Callaway’s Trade Wind to earn the reserve in both classes.
Fine harness showman Mike Roberts drove Bobese to the UPHA Fine Harness Classic win. Bobese is owned by Kaplan Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
Roadster
Three exciting road horses entered the ring for the open championship, revving and raring to go. It was a thrilling mix of amateurs and professionals as these teams battled it out for the tricolor and trophy. Amateur winner, Geronimo, and owner Anna Marie Dempsey pulled away from the pack to take home the championship honors. Marilyn Macfarlane handled the drive behind Braveheart to race out with the reserve ribbon after winning the open qualifier. Casey Crabtree and Miss Money Penny gave everyone a run for their money as they collected the red streamers in the qualifier and the yellow in the championship for Wightman and Crabtree.
The ponies had their cheering section as well while they raced around the ring. Lauren Kelly did a great job of maneuvering Heartland Flurry around the turns to speed out of the ring with the championship ribbon streaming behind them for owner Jerry Cummins. Paul Adams handled the winning drive in the open qualifier behind Heartland Flurry. Anna Marie Dempsey returned to the ring with her smaller speedster, Long Time Gone, to capture the reserve championship. Janie Hamilton made the drive in the amateur qualifier to pick up the win.
The young Kevin Berman has become quite a formidable force, in and out of the junior exhibitor division. Berman teamed up with his partner, Albert Kaponey, to sweep the junior exhibitor qualifier as well as the amateur championship for co-owner Ada Perwien. She’s A Ticket and Will Oseroff stayed right on the champions’ heels to bring two reserves back to owner Patty Milligan.
Ponies
Robin Haynes and Randi Wightman cleaned up the Hackney pony divisions. Haynes and her Wait & See’s Whiz Bang drove away with the blue in the Harness Pony Championship and qualifier.
Randi Wightman was at the lines of her pony, Fancy Ribbons, to sweep the Hackney Pony Championship and qualifier. Wightman returned to the amateur division with Heartland Ringmaster to take both blues back to Walnut Way Stables.
Show Pleasure
The five-gaited pleasure division was a who’s who of champions. The combined championship was one of the most exciting classes at the show with 12 entries competing for the honors. Jan Myers piloted her veteran CH Mariachi down victory lane in the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship. The team, trained by Jack Magill, previously captured the adult qualifier win. The reserve junior exhibitor qualifying team of Scooter Scheurich and Slicker’s Society Man rose above the crowd to take home the reserve championship.
William Woods was back in the ribbons with the striking bay, The Great Gazoo. Alexandra Willie-Irmiter put in a good ride for the red ribbon in the adult qualifier. Claire Talley made her debut appearance at Oklahoma on her new The Champagne Tiger. Put together by Randy Cates, this team captured a nice win in the junior exhibitor class.
The park pleasure division was another section deep with quality horses. Marilyn Macfarlane continued her blue ribbon show with two winning performances on Music Of The Heir. Macfarlane directed Robin Haynes’s horse to the blue in the Park Pleasure Championship and open qualifier. Unlisted Number made the right calls to take reserve in the championship with Sandra Currier in the saddle for Neartown Animal Clinic. Barbe Smith prepped William Nalty’s equitation mount, Vuarnet, by picking up the reserve in the open qualifying class.
Allison Simpson and Georgie’s Sweet Conclusion had a great comeback ride to ride out of the ring with the Amateur Park Pleasure Championship. Uncut Jewel and Elly Berman were quite the pair to claim the reserve championship ribbon for Edmund Perwien.
In the amateur qualifier, Jan Myers brought out another of her many champions, Matrix, to try their hand in a new division. Riding under the Jack Magill Stables banner, this team earned the blue. Chardonnay’s Sundance and Sandy Reed had everything in the right place to pick up the reserve for Chardonnay Farms.
Sandra Currier had Edmund Perwien’s Diablo Blue in top order to capture the UPHA Park Pleasure Classic.
Stephanie Ritter stepped up to make two great catch rides on Maguire Hall’s Catalyst Commander. This team hung up the adult show pleasure championship and qualifier blue on the Milligan Stables’s tack room. Keep It Simple was anything but simple as Sarah MacKenna claimed both reserves for William Woods University.
The junior exhibitors put on a real horse show with their pleasure mounts. Everyone had to ride hard to stand out for the judge in the class of experienced champions. Cassini and Hayden Hisey made their first appearance of the season at Oklahoma and it was a blue ribbon won. They wore the championship ribbon out of the ring after taking the reserve in the 14-17 qualifier. Magnolia Hawks and Kristin Nielsen were another new pair to debut at this show. Their hard work over the winter paid off when they picked up the reserve championship honors.
Americana’s Wings and Paige Pennington continued their winning ways with a victory pass in the 14-17 class. Harlem’s Moving Man and Taylor Lafargue teamed up to capture the 13 and under class for Wyatt DeHart. Frances Neuneubel and Desert’s Supreme Cowboy made a picture-perfect ride for reserve.
Victoria McHenry and Worthy Valedictorian made their debut appearance out of academy and are one step closer to moving out of the novice division after winning the Novice Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class for Lewis McHenry. High Flying Lass and Alva Adams put in a good ride for the reserve for owner Elizabeth Crowder.
Usually a popular division, the show pleasure driving division was light this year. I’m An Early Riser and Mary Lynn McMains, under the direction of Marjorie Judd, continued their blue ribbon streak, adding the championship and qualify wins to their resume. Expert driver Kevin Berman made a catch drive with Xuxa for Edmund Perwien to capture the reserve honors. Perwien was on the lines in the qualifier to earn the red ribbon.
Country Pleasure
Christy Bennett and her champion The Bachelor Prince have been a winning combination in years past. The first appearance in 2007 was no different with the Country Pleasure Championship and adult qualifier honors to prove it. The championship combined the adults and junior exhibitors, but junior exhibitor qualifying winner Callaway’s Blue Agate and Emily Burglass held their own to be named the reserve champions.
Mountainview’s Good Day Sunshine and Stace Rust put on a good show in the adult class to pick up the reserve. Rebecca Davis was in the saddle for John Davis as she directed Callaway’s Caleb to the red ribbon in the junior exhibitor class.
Billy the Kidd and Melissa Jernigan held up the competition in the Novice Country Pleasure class to steal the victory for owner Koren Mercer. Hot Damn I Am and Emily Jernigan were indeed hot to earn the reserve for Milo Jones.
Callaway’s Better Than Ever was the only entry in the country pleasure driving division. Corinne Stith made two nice drives with her horse to bring home two blues.
Randi Wightman swept the western division with her Callaway’s Copperfield. They won the Shatner Western Pleasure class and the qualifier to return to the championship and jog away with the reserve honors. Charming Promises and Joetta Smith came back in the championship to garner the tricolor for Elevens Destiny Farm. Likely Suspect wore the red ribbon in the qualifier with owner Nancy Moreno in the saddle.
Equitation
While the equitation division was light in entries, the riders gave their all for some great performances. Katie Cunningham was in great form to sweep the older age division. She added the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship, 13 and under class and the USEF Medal class to her long list of wins. She receives her instruction from Randy Cates. Claire Talley also put in a good ride to receive second in the USEF Medal.
William Nalty is Barbe Smith’s new up and coming young rider for the walk/trot division. Teamed with Vuarnet, Nalty trotted off with the 10 and under championship as well as the UPHA Walk/Trot 10 and Under Challenge Cup. Avery Niemann is quite the capable rider to earn second in the championship. Another Cascade rider, Blayken Doyle, picked up the reserve in the UPHA Challenge Cup.
Kristin Nielsen, directed by Barbe Smith, put on a great display of showmanship and finesse to capture, not only the Pleasure Equitation Championship, but also the Pleasure Equitation Medallion. Katie Kirkland was not about to go unnoticed either as she earned the UPHA Pleasure Equitation Challenge Cup, the 17 and under class, as well as a reserve in the championship and the Medallion. Avery Bul rode well for the reserve in the Challenge Cup and the 17 and under class.
Emily Buchanan enjoyed a grand debut with her new mount Mantic Top Gun under the direction of Sandy Sessink. Buchanan topped the Morgan Saddle Seat equitation division, winning the championship, the qualifier and AMHA Saddle Seat Medal.
Bailey Bartley made it a tricolor sweep for Peeper Ranch riders with a great ride for the reserve championship honors while Hailey Jones picked up the red streamers in the qualifier.
Sascha Mills and her new partner Nothin But Class jogged away with a clean sweep in the Morgan Western Seat Equitation topping the qualifier and championship as well as the AMHA Medal directed by Jonalyn Gwinup.
The Morgan Hunt Seat Equitation Championship featured a tricolor ride for Ali Denzel with Megan Shaughnessy picking up the reserve honors. Alanna Little earned a pair of victory passes in the qualifier as well as the AMHA Medal directed by Sandy Sessink with Sascha Mills adding the reserve ties in both classes.
Morgans
C’est La Vie and Ronda Collins swept the English pleasure division for owner Adam Lewis. This pair trotted away with the English Pleasure Championship after winning the ladies class. Dawn Fire made the winning ride aboard CO Perfect Timing for Emily Buchanan in the English Pleasure qualifier. Collins returned to the ring with HVK Reverberation to pick up the open qualifier reserve for Molly Remondino.
Nancy Murdock led the way in the amateur English pleasure division with her sporty chestnut NAS Rickenbacker. This team took home the blue and tricolor to Peeper Ranch, with Gwen Niemann and Abendlied Aristocrat earning the reserve ribbons.
Another dominant team was Cedar Creek Ungaro and Emily Orthwein who made the victory pass in the Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure Championship and qualifier. Hailey Jones was right behind the winners, riding Ready To Rumble to the reserve honors in a clean sweep for trainer Ronda Collins.
Phil Fountain drove Lyn Begalla’s fancy bay MEM Twisted Sister to the victory passes in both the Pleasure Driving Championship and qualifier. Fountain also had the junior driving champion in the impressive three-year-old Dragonsmeade Infusion for owner Dragonsmeade Farm. John Green directed Roadshow Pop Rocks to the junior reserve for Windswept Place. The Morgan Walk-Trot Pleasure blue went back to Windswept Place with Mattie Willard and her adorable partner Roadshow Texas Playboy while Avery Niemann and HMS Barrybam teamed up for reserve.
Katie Costello enjoyed a fabulous debut with her new mare LCS Strip Tease. They collected top honors in the Classic Pleasure Championship and open class. Junior exhibitor winners, Amabayus and Bailey Bartley, put in a good ride for the reserve championship ribbon for owner John and Claudette McCoy. Prior Knowledge and Cressi Bryant picked up the reserve in the open class while Futurity’s Flamboyant and Adam Lewis earned the reserve in the junior exhibitor class for owner Patrinell Lewis.
John Green made two trips down victory lane with Roadshow I’ve Got Rhythm in the Classic Pleasure Driving Championship and qualifier for Windswept Place.
The reserve ladies entry, Jean Louise Finch, topped off the western pleasure division by winning the championship with Kelly Kraegel in the saddle for Kristin Safanie. Open winner, Ancan Raindance and owner Amie VanDorn were the reserve champions, also picking up the red ribbon in the amateur championship and qualifier.
Radiance In The Knight led the blue ribbon tally by capturing the amateur championship, the amateur qualifier and the ladies class with owner Laurie Revard in the saddle for all three victory passes. Mary Kris Revard also took a turn with the reserve ride as Taylor Woods and FMF Wild Heiress jogged away with top honors and also topped the Walk-Trot Hunter Pleasure.
Nothin But Class and Sascha Mills were called into the winner’s circle to receive the honors in the junior exhibitor class. Jonalyn Gwinup rode this steady performer to the reserve in the open class for Mills.
Ramah’s I’m Willy Hot and Kelly Kraegel captured both junior horse wins. Virginia Norris directed Rebecca Pawlak’s MCG Stack The Deck to the reserve honors.
Freddie Mercury and owner Marissa Becker were the ones to beat in the hunter division. They collected wins in the Hunter Pleasure Championship, the open class and the ladies class. Alana Little and Delaware’s Shadow Dancer stepped up to the open division with the reserve tricolor ride after topping a competitive field in the Road Hack for Lon Frieden.
Gaits Of Gold and Randi Wightman kept competitors at bay as they captured the amateur championship and qualifier as well as the ladies reserve. Shallow Creek’s Evangeline was second in the both amateur classes with Nicole Barbour up for the rides.
LLL Mihael and Ali Denzel swept the junior exhibitor division with two very nice rides. Sascha Mills added to her tricolor tally with the reserve ride on Ultras My Guy. T Towne Who’s Your Daddy trotted out of the ring with two junior horse wins. Leslie Barnard was up for owners Gayle and Jonalyn Gwinup.
This concludes the highlights of the Oklahoma Centennial Horse Show. Complete results can be seen and searched by clicking here.
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