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Saddlebreds, Morgans Join For CLASSIC Event




by Mary Daughtry

WILLIAMSTON, N.C. -- Horses from Florida to Maine converged June 16-18 at the Sen. Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center for the seventh annual Carolina Classic Benefit Horse Show. The usual hot, humid weather turned unseasonably cool for the weekend to the delight of the exhibitors. This horse show facility is second to none; the entire complex is designed with the horses and horsemen in mind and with convenience paramount.
   

Gayle Lampe came from Fulton, Mo., to judge all the classes, including academy. Wyatt Lilly kept exhibitors and spectators informed as horse show announcer. Carla Wennberg, a local lady, served as ringmaster. Shane Shiflet took the still photos while Horse Videos provided video services. Wayne Murray was the farrier, but was needed only once to replace a thrown shoe. The USEF Steward was William Munford. Joyce Wilson and Barbara Woodlief kept everything straight in the office as show secretaries. The show manager was Ray Cloninger.
   

Every morning coffee, doughnuts and homemade chocolate chip cookies were made available in the show office, compliments of Ray Cloninger and Harry Daughtry. The highlight of the weekend was the exhibitors' party at Deadwood, an authentic cowboy town just a short distance from the complex. Eastern North Carolina barbecue with all the “fixings” was served. After the meal many of the exhibitors danced until they closed the house. Those who stayed long enough had a rare treat - farrier Wayne Murray sang “Great Balls of Fire” in fine Jerry Lee Lewis style, as well as Garth Brooks's “Friends in Low Places” and Dwight Yokum's “Guitars and Cadillacs.” During the Saturday night performance there was an ice cream social in the paddock adjacent to the arena.        
   

The Carolina Classic is also famous for its fun dog show with horse show dogs competing for blue ribbons in the following categories: cutest, ugliest, best celebrity look-alike, best trick, and best costume. Countryside Stables had the two top contenders for Best in Show as the Papillon “Whitney,” trained and owned by Lori Ingram, finished reserve to “Molly,” a Beagle owned by Dr. Teresa Miller. This was Molly's second win as Best in Show.
   

In the Five-Gaited Open class, the audience enjoyed an impressive performance by Jaunty Janette and Vikki Byrd in the mare's only appearance at this show. (SA) Studcor Donatello, the winner in the amateur qualifying class, passed on the amateur championship to take center stage on Saturday night in the Five-Gaited Championship. Talley Harris enjoyed every pass this powerful gelding made and the crowd appreciated their efforts. Zara Spook and Dr. Wendy Troyer were the winners in the amateur championship. The lovely Cash's Prime Dividend and Adrienne Fitch were the junior exhibitor champions with reserve going to CH Hank Heiron and Ali Deutsch, the winners in the junior exhibitor qualifier.
   

Boxster and Evan Orr made the victory pass in the Three-Gaited Championship for owner Sharon Anderson. Reserve went to Peri's Wild Whisper and Sarah Miller. This team had won the open class. Marie Gwinn rode Chesney to a pair of wins in the amateur class and championship. (SA) SJ Denmark's Geronimo and Pressley Laton were unbeatable in the junior exhibitor classes.
   

Broadway Carousel and Dale Sloat were in the winner's circle in the Fine Harness Championship. Catalytic and Susan Hollowell won the qualifier in fine style.   


The show pleasure division was highly competitive. Sometimes Gold and owner/rider Jill White topped the judge's card in the adult championship. Chocolate Treat and Jessica Holmes were reserve. Jennifer Roberts rode Ina Blue Moon to the winner's circle in both of the classes for riders 13 and under. In the championship for riders 14-17, CH It's Yabba Dabba Doo Time “Fred” was precise and bright for Sydney Carter to claim the tricolor. Telemark's Choice and Kristen Weisblat were the reserve champions.
   

Social Worth was a pleasure to watch as he claimed both five-gaited pleasure classes for Pam Austin and Magnolia Stables. These wins were especially sweet as they gave this gelding the right to use the CH prefix. The flashy Visa Gold and Shannon Harris were reserve in both classes.
   

Ann Cannon drove John Elway to two impressive wins in the show pleasure driving classes. He's Thunderstruck and Karen Comer were the reserve champions.
   

All of the park classes were quality filled. Town Cat was the “top cat” in both of the open classes. This talented horse was presented by Evan Orr for Brenda Paawe-Navori. Reserve in both classes was Susan Harris's elegant chestnut Detached, shown by Lewis Eckard. In the amateur qualifier My Mountain Heirs and Denise Outen claimed the blue while Bluebonnet's Wild Thing and Shannon Harris were second. In the championship, Harris and Bluebonnet's Wild Thing stepped it up a notch to take top honors. My Mountain Heirs was reserve champion. CH Absolutely A Lady and Nikki Lawing claimed top honors in the junior exhibitor championship, just ahead of CH Wing's Main Attraction and Adrienne Fitch. This team had won the qualifying class.
   

There were also some very nice park pleasure classes. Kathy Jones Cook rode her Worthy's Sleepless Nights to the top honors in the championship. One More Harlem and Catherine Leonard Jenkins were reserve.
   

Santana's Treat and Jessica Holmes won the Adult Country Pleasure Championship for Mary Glasscock. The reserve tricolor went to Lady Mysterious and Marion Bryan. This smooth team had won the qualifying class. CH The Excelsior and Allie Wellington made a pair of victory passes in the classes for riders 13 and under. In the classes for riders 14-17, the smooth as silk My Fair Prince and Stephanie Hahn took top honors.
   

The expressive My Chesapeake Bay won both of the country pleasure driving classes with owner Ruth Shelton at the whip. Madame Cruella de Vil was reserve in both classes for Amanda Baldwin. This exquisite gray mare also goes western and was Carolina Classic’s Western Country Pleasure Champion. Monsignor and Marie Gwinn had three top finishes in country western pleasure division. They won the qualifier as well as both open western classes.
   

Top Star Willie and Paul Misiewicz gave the crowd a speed fix to win the Roadster Horse Championship. Reserve honors went to Montana and Randy James.


Boxford On The Mark topped the judge's card in the Roadster Pony Championship as well as the qualifier. Dr. Wendy Troyer drove in the championship while Paul Boone did the honors in the open class. Viviacious EF and Harry Daughtry were reserve in both classes.
   

Dun Haven Grandiose and Rebekah Cloninger made two super shows to win the junior exhibitor road pony classes. Boot Scootin Boogie and Allie Wellington were a good reserve. In the amateur division, Karl Bridgeman and his black speedster Razz-Ma-Tazz won the qualifier. Perfect Offering was bright and speedy to win the amateur championship for owner/driver Holly Hale. Kathy Humphries and Let's Take A Chance were reserve in both classes.
   

Heartland High Time and owner/driver Rita Camp made two trips to the winner's circle in the Hackney pony qualifier and championship. Heartland Bandolero and Jennifer Garrison were reserve both times. Tete a Tete and Leslie Minard were the elegant single entry in the harness pony classes.
   

Rebekah Cloninger presented her Jewelled Star to two wins in the gaited pony classes. Allie Wellington teamed her new pony Royalty In Black to the top in the Three-Gaited Pony class but had to settle for reserve in the championship. The top spot in this class was all for Callaway's Viscount and Katherine Brooke Randall.
   

CH Much More Radiant was a sight in the ASB English Pleasure Walk and Trot 12 and Under classes. Sarah Martin could not have been happier with their two wins. The Chesapeake Bay and Austin Hazelwood certainly had their share of fans too as they claimed two reserve finishes.
   

Quorums EF made two trips to the winner's circle for Jeanette Jones in pleasure pony driving section. Skyhawk's Painted Lady was the English Pleasure Pony Champion with Natalie Watkins riding. Gale Walton rode Valerie Meinen's handsome Friesian Gouke K to a pair of wins.
   

Jillian Schaffer had three big wins in the equitation division, including the USEF Medal class, the NHS Saddle Seat Event and the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship. Cagle James had two blues in the 10 and under walk/trot class as well as the UPHA walk/trot challenge cup for riders 10 and under. Jennifer Roberts won the UPHA Challenge Cup 13 and Under and the Saddle & Bridle Pleasure Equitation classes.
   

The Morgan entries were rather light, but there were some nice ones showing. In the English pleasure division, Jason Harrell rode Debbie and Eddy Hemingway's new mare WS Our Celebrity Belle to the junior horse championship. LRF Patrick Henry and Natalie Tetterton had a pair of wins in the junior exhibitor classes. The high-headed and expressive Captivation of Foxridge was the amateur champion with good riding Beth Kelly in the irons for Martha Perry. This team also won the limit class and were reserve in the open championship. The winner of the open championship was the veteran campaigner The Heartbeat, presented by Jackie Graebner for Donna and Challie Arnette.
   

Coalition Royal Billing was precise every step to win both the open classic pleasure driving class and the open under saddle class for June Davis. RAM Wham Bam Precision was second in the open but came back to win the classic championship. Laura Austin seemed to really enjoy her return to the show ring on this expressive black gelding. Another June Davis-entry, Waseeka's Bold Queen Anne, came away with the blue in the junior exhibitor class with Emory Sykes in the saddle. Kara Schneider and Ovation Persnickety were second in the qualifier but came back to win the championship.
   

GVF Radiant Command and Joe Anne Jones were the big winners in the western division with four firsts, including the open and amateur championships. Hollybrook Sudden Impact made his western debut at this show with Beth Kelley riding for Mary Daughtry. After a blue in the limit class, this team was reserve in the open and amateur championships.
   

In the hunter division, 12-year-old Emory Sykes and JAJ Capriole's Sir Walter were unbeatable, winning four firsts including the junior exhibitor and amateur championships. This chestnut with the white face is consistently smooth as silk. T-Town Tiara and Roberta Peason were the reserve champion amateur team. The dynamic moving FRF Center Stage made flawless shows for Beth Kelley to win the open, limit and championship for owner Pat Wyatt. IMM Doubly Blessed and Elissa Gordon were the reserve open champions.
   

Hollybrook Indian Brave was on cruise control for Mary Daughtry to win the amateur qualifier, the open and pleasure driving championship. Glorious Answer and Natalie Tetterton took the blue in the junior exhibitor championship back to the LaMirage tack room.

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