Through Storms and High Waters Tanbark Enjoys Continued Success
Monday, July 5, 2010
by Sarah Moses
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Weather was a big factor at this year’s wonderful and successful Tanbark Cavalcade of Roses Show. Hot and humid weather made for severe storms on Friday and Saturday night. The tornado sirens went off at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and while some were trapped at home because of a power outage, those at the show were shuttled out of the coliseum and into the walkways to wait it out. But the show must go on, so after a short delay it was back to business as usual in the pouring rain.
Co-Managers Sally Snyder Tesch and Doug Lindstrom were the pictures of calm, cool and collected. They managed to not only run the show, but to also exhibit at the show. Not an easy task! Mark Farrar from Nashville, Tenn., did a fabulous job of announcing the show and provided everyone with interesting factoids about many of the winners. John Frye provided direction in the ring, while Cheryl Rangel provided direction in the office in her usual efficient and competent manner. Terry Young took at least a million photos and Randy Roberts kept everyone entertained in center ring. Chuck Porter kept things moving along in the paddock and was a life saver at keeping things organized with all the inclement weather.
The five-gaited division was a lighter division at this year’s show, but the talent was hot! Que Pasa and Emily Collins won the junior exhibitor class on Wednesday morning and later the championship. Reserve went to CH Harlem’s Hot Ticket and Devon Van Ess. The Junior/Novice Five-Gaited class was loaded with talent, and the beautiful, stylish Pascale with Rob Kritzler in the irons for Tancy Colburn Becker took home the blue, with Neva La Fleur and the big handsome Tee’s Merlot taking reserve after winning the open class Wednesday night. The Open Five-Gaited Champion was the gorgeous chestnut Aurora’s Sensation and Rick Wallen. CH Carolina Cat made a triumphant return to the show ring with Mandy Dellinger, winning the Five-Gaited Amateur class in their only appearance under the direction of Hollow Haven. Keep Me Posted and Jean Ann Gundersen took home the reserve in the qualifier and had a sensational ride to win the amateur championship.
Although a light division this year, the three-gaited horses that did show up put on great shows. Born Independent and Sandy Bernd won the Amateur Three-Gaited class and championship. Jennifer Elnicky and her gorgeous CH Callaway’s Sunday Edit won the Ladies Three-Gaited qualifier and championship. Mariah’s Catnip and Brynn Lunaas were named the junior exhibitor champions and won the qualifier. Back To Business and Alexa Trakalo were named reserve in both classes.
Callaway’s Preservation and Jay Wood had a sensational show, winning the Novice/Junior Fine Harness class and the Fine Harness Championship for Samantha Conlin. Reserve was the beautiful, long-necked chestnut Oh So What, driven by Rick Wallen. Oh So What came back with owner Penelope Weyenberg to win the amateur and open class with a lovely pair of drives. The beautiful, black filly Harlem’s Paper Doll JJW put on a show in the UPHA Classic with Jay Wood at the lines. Louis Louw and Gypsy’s Triple Espresso won the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness class.
Rick Wallen had several back-to-back classes but still managed to have a great show. He won the Open Park class with Aurora’s Asset and was also called out first in the championship. She Ain’t Much proved them wrong when she came out strong with a nice second place in the Amateur Park qualifier then came back with a vengeance to win the Amateur Park Championship. This is a lovely mare who is trained by Lyle Wick and owned by Rachel Bullock. The extremely gifted rider Monique Janu expertly piloted the mare around a tough class of talented horses and riders. Lindsay Ledo’s darling CH Glendale’s Bonnie Lass was the reserve champion. CH Shady Creek’s Genius paired up with Mary O’Keefe to capture the amateur qualifier. Briana Meyer claimed the junior exhibitor section with First Class Heir for the Brown/Anderson Farms.
Dr. Alan Raun had a good week in Minnesota with his Hackney Ponies. He and Twin Meadow’s McDreamy raced their way to a championship in the George Polta Memorial Open Road Pony Stake and the open qualifier. Reserve went to Rick Wallen and Passing Lane. Donna Beck and that fabulous pony of hers, Wait & See’s Raspberry, and took home the blue in the Hackney Pleasure Pony class. The new Hollow Haven team of Zachary Meyer and Pacifico’s Standing Ovation drove hard to win the championship with a very proud grandfather looking on after a victory in the youth medallion qualifier.
The Youth Medallion Roadster Pony was won by the Westwood Farm team of Charles In Charge and Kahlie Kroells. The Youth Medallion Roadster Under Saddle was won by P.O.’s Time To Shine and Caitlyn Liljedahl.
Another beautiful chestnut trained by Rick Wallen, Glinda The Good, was named the champion in the Park Pleasure class after winning the open qualifier. This is such a gorgeous horse with a great expression. Reserve in the championship was the ever popular CH Pierre Cardin and the lovely Beth Bidon. They claimed the Amateur Park Pleasure class as well. Callaway’s To Be Continued was reserve in the open qualifier with Amanda Simpson, while Jana McConnell rode him to the red ribbon in the amateur class.
Ann MacMurray Cox had to be happy with her winning ride in the tough Five-Gaited Pleasure class on CH Night So Rare. Rick Wallen is the trainer for this lovely pair. An even happier Andra Trakalo rode hard to slide in and win the championship on Friday night on the steady Champagne And Jewels.
Heir’s Halo and the darling Kaitlyn Creekmore, trained by Hollow Haven, took first place in the tough Three-Gaited Pleasure 13 & Under qualifier for Thomas R. Brock Jr., and went on to be called out as the 13 and under champions. Madison Mulligan and her lovely Mahogany Heiress were right on their heels in both classes to put in a great showing for two reserves. The 14-17 champions were again undefeated: CH Laguardia and Eva Heniges. Reserve went to Stopwatch and Amanda Gray. In the 18-38 qualifier, the gorgeous bay Redesigned took the unanimous victory pass with Kristen Olson in the irons. Susan Creekmore had a lot to smile about as she took home the blue ribbon honors in the 39 and over class and also the championship in the Adult Three-Gaited Pleasure Stake.
Mysterious Memories had people talking as they watched this phantom-looking horse sweep the Show Pleasure Driving division with a very happy Sarah Shippy on the lines. They made their way to the championship by way of the novice/junior horse qualifier, but there was never one moment he looked like either one of those. Reserve went to Yellow Rose Memories with Amy Weiler in the lines after they claimed the blue in the Show Pleasure Driving class.
The Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure division was again dominated by Breanna Lukan in her final year as a junior exhibitor and aboard a different horse from last year. She rode The Paper Heiress JJW to the win in the 14-17 qualifier and the junior exhibitor stake. In 2009 she rode The Party Planner with the same results. Hometown Commander and Sarah Gilbertson were the reserve champions after winning the 13 and under qualifier.
The gorgeous CH Jessie Cole and Amanda Dellinger put in two great rides to come away as the Country Pleasure 18 & Over Champions after having won the qualifier. This Hollow Haven team was turned out to perfection. Reserve was Dorian Anderson and CH Reedan’s Sniper, who were also reserve in the 18 and over qualifier.
The award for the longest distance traveled went home with Toreador and Catherine Gallo. This Arcuri-trained pair, with the most fabulous western outfits, traveled in style from the West Coast to show. They also went home with a win in the Country Pleasure Orchard Heights Western Pleasure class as well as the Western Pleasure Championship. Reserve in the championship went to Kim Gallenberg and her CH Braveheart Of Silver Oaks after they won the Western Pleasure qualifier. Magic Ovation and Penny Eckert captured the Shatner Western Pleasure class.
The Hunter Country Pleasure Championship went to Centre Pointe with a very happy Kim Moore riding the gorgeous Good Deal. Good Deal swept the division, also carrying home the Hunter Country Pleasure qualifier and Hunter Seat Classic. Grace Meyer and Colour Me Proud were reserve in the championship while Otter Creek’s Yankee Clipper and Deborah McConnell were reserve in the other two classes.
It was a clean sweep for Jessica Larson and Hometown Luck in the English Pleasure Novice Rider 18 & Over qualifier and stake. Larson had taken a 20-year hiatus and came back under the direction of Centre Pointe to dominate her first class.
There were many events planned throughout the week and a great time was had by all. Cary Bartz’s Valiant Stables again provided a delicious spaghetti dinner for all the exhibitors on Thursday night. It’s a tradition to which everyone looks forward.
The Stick Horse class on Friday was a hoot! The kids had to follow announcer Mark Farrar’s directions to walk, trot and canter, then reverse and repeat. Cary Bartz provided rental stick horses so no one had to miss out.
Tanbark participated in the Susan G. Komen Foundation Pink Ribbon night on Friday as well. Tanbark donated $1 to the Foundation for every person wearing pink, and there was a lot of pink.
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