The Seventeenth SSHBEA Annual Fall World Grand Championship Show was held October 1-6, 2001 at the famed Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, TN. Despite the past events of September 11, 2001 spirits were up and exhibitors and spectators alike were ready for the show to go on.

Entries were up from 1,260 in 2000 to 1,413 in 2001 and quality of the breed is stronger with each passing year. No longer can one throw a saddle on ole Slocome and win ribbons, now it takes pretty good stock to even get in the money, winning  horses are now coming from all across the country which serves to speak well of the direction the Spotted Saddle Horse is headed - bigger and better.

Normally, the fall theme has been evident in center ring, this year the hard working Ladies Auxiliary chose the patriotic colors of Red, White and Blue. Center ring was ultra nice and was indeed representative of a World Class Horse Show. Ole Glory and the red, white and blue was a major theme throughout the barn area, and this year stables went all out, it was shades of another World Championship that was held at Calsonic prior to SSHBEA's. Many were decorated in our country's colors and if they weren't, nearly every barn displayed the American Flag.

Show officials for the 2001 was headed up by the Show Chairman, Boyd Melton.  Juding the six day event were brothers Dwayne and Ralph Chaffin, David Woosley, Danny Kistler and Troy York. This five man team had their work cut out with many classes of 15-20 head and some of the colt classes seeing thirty something head answer the gate call. Everybody's friend Arlie Weddington once again handled the announcers duties with Brian Peery back at the organ. Gary Leverette was this years official photographer, with wife Sharon at the video camera, getting her feet wet for the first time in the spotted industry was photographer Lisa Cummings doing the outside shots. Handling the entry office, the vendors, the barns and anything else that came her way, was SSHBEA's Executive Secretary Janice Prince, along with Beverly Brown. These two worked daytime at the main office and night time at the show grounds. Program Chairman for 2001 were again Travis Kelley and Deedy Decker along with Amy Kelley, Freda Wassom, Janie Rowland, Steve  & Connie Johnson, Angela Wassom and Hugh Wassom.

The Corporate Sponsor list has continued to grow with the hard work of the membership and the untiring work of the Program Committee, sponsorships rose from 88 in 2000 to 116 in 2001. Each Corporate Sponsor has vendor space for the entire show, and each year more and more elect to display their wares. The generous support of the Corporate Sponsors are greatly appreciated by SSHBEA and have vastly contributed to the growing success of the Fall World Grand Championship. Click here for a list of the 2001 SSHBEA Corporate Sponsors.

The Invocations were given by: Monday - Rev. Stephen Caine, First Presbyterian; Tuesday - Rev. Bobby McGee, Edgement Baptist; Wednesday - Mark Pierce, Horse Mountain Church of Christ; Thursday - Rev. Mark Ashley, Cannon United Methodist; Friday - Rev. Michael Welch, First Christian; Saturday - Rev. Glenn Forsee, First Assembly of God.

The National Anthem was presented by: Monday - Cortney Snell; Tuesday - Joyce McGee; Wednesday - Thomas Landers; Thursday - Tina Smith; Friday - Hugh Wassom; Saturday - Paula Turner.

The 2001 State Flags represented were: ALABAMA - SILK & SASSY - Chris Davis, Tuscaloosa, AL; ARKANSAS - WHISKEY'S WINDANCE - Becky Munn, Searcy, AR; FLORIDA - PRIDE'S PUSHING JOY - Heather McKeehan, Hudson, FL; GEORGIA - CHICKEN WING - Sharon Staten, Dalton, GA; INDIANA - POWERFUL SENATOR - Tim Fears, Winslow, IN; KENTUCKY - DOMINO DOLLY - Anna Smothers, Nicholasville, KY; MISSISSIPPI - ROCKS MIGHTY KING - Bob Cato, Holly Spring, MS; MISSOURI - STRIKE IT RICH SUNNY - Tammy Coffman, Oak Ridge, MO; NORTH CAROLINA - GENERATORS AURORA - Sherry Darrigan, Spring Lake, NC; OHIO - APACHE'S SHOW GIRL, Brenda Highfield, Manchester, OH; PENNSYLVANIA - RED EYE WHISKEY, Stu Kellerman, Ambler, PA; TENNESSEE - CHOCOLATE SOLDIERS COPY - Toni Overton, Flat Creek, TN; TEXAS - WEAPON'S TOTAL PACKAGE - Lori Beattle, Houston, TX; VIRGINIA - TOUCH ME BABY, Karen Airey, Dayton, VA.

Each evening, presentations of the American, SSHBEA, Youth Council and Ladies Auxiliary Flags were presented by: Monday - RENO'S HOLLYWOOD & Travis Kelley, CHEYENE BABYDOLL & Sandy Wilkins, DELIGHT'S FREE & EASY & Andrea Minton and PRIME TIME RICKY & Connie Johnson. Tuesday- WHISKEY'S WINDANCE & Becky Munn, R.M. COOL J. & Penny Bradshaw, MONEY CAN'T BUY HONEY & Ashley Gannon and PUSHER'S PRIDE & Liz Mills. Wednesday- WHISKEY'S WINDANCE & Jimmy Carter, DOLLAR & Larry Vanhorn, BREAKERS SINSATION & Maranda East and COMMANCHE'S BATTLE SLAM & Polly Angel. Thursday - BATTLE DOBLOTO & Kelli Ingram, WEAPON'S TOTAL PACKAGE & Rachel Jernigan, SPECK OF TROUBLE & Samantha Mohon and LIMITED EDITION & Janice Higgins. Friday - APACHE WILFIRE & Darrell Gilbert, PUSHING PURE MAGIC & Mark Cutlip, MONEY CAN'T BUY HONEY & Amanda Jernigan and LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC & Patty Pardon. Saturday - MY LADY FALINE & Samantha Mohon, OUTLAWED WHISKEY & Maranda East, ULTRA'S POWERFUL GIRL & Megan Tidwell and BO'S DIXIE BELL & Gail McDonald.

This years golf tournament held at Riverbend Country Club was headed by Grady Cunningham while Bob and Sally Wright were the host and hostess at the Cook-Out on the showgrounds Sunday night prior to the start of the show. This has become a popular annual event, nearly 300 horse people lined up for the fun, food and fellowship. Thanks to everyone that helped with this event and thanks to Charles Pope and Mike Gamble, you sure helped make it possible.

The thirty-four World Championship Classes held Friday and Saturday played to the largest crowds yet. Especially Saturday night, if everyone on the grounds had been seated except riders, Calsonic arena would have been filled with standing room only. The Open Shod World Grand Championship saw six top stallions enter the ring, Lethal's Delight of Pride and Barney Davis for the Carolina's Ballentine Farms was perfect every step of the way to be crowned the 2001 World Grand Champion. Reserve went to the 1998 World Grand Champion Law & Order with Josh Coble up for Mary Jane Dickey, placing third was the 2000 Reserve World Grand Champion Color's Spotted Beam with Jeff Givens in the irons for Joey and Dale Brown. Howard Hamilton and Color's of Wilodene, the 2001 Spring Show Champion were fourth for owners Rich and Donna Holley. Tatahatta Thunder, last year's Reserve World Grand Champion Four Year Old Open Shod was in for fifth with Andy Clark up for Price Investments and sixth was claimed by Captain in Command, the 1995 Reserve World Grand Champion with Chris Jackson up for the Leon Kilburn Family. This years group of entries was undoubtedly one of the best name well known group of stake horses to ever enter the final class of the World Championship.

Bum's Big Time saw Barney Davis take another set of roses for the evening, this time for Dwight and Martha Parker, a multi Lite Shod World Grand Champion, he's indeed the leading Lite Shod Stallion today. In for Reserve was another multi champion, Tarheel's Pazazz with Howard Hamilton up for Greg Mathews.

Avenger's Lil Tramp with Bruce Hankins rode Ronny and Kelly Summers' multi winner into the World Grand Championship Trail Pleasure spotlight.

East Tennessee's Barbara Walker and Repeat Performance took home the Open Shod Amateur Owned & Trained Grand Championship Award, while reserve went to Kentucky with Pride's Eightball and Donna Franklin.

Avenger's Ravenna, the 2000 Lite Shod Three-Year-Old was just as brilliant as she claimed the Amateur Four & Over Grand Championship for owner and rider Melanie Howard and Harlan Howard of Nashville, TN. Nobody's Baby Tonight crowned reserve with Athy Robison up for Athy and Kevin Gilliam.

Ronnie Sapp was top winner in the Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Grand Championship on Wendell & Faye Carvers Gen's Crown Jewel, with Stuntman's Gold Coin & Larry Stigers owner/rider tying a good Reserve.

Color's In General and Dicky Bedwell wore the roses in the Open Shod Three Year Old Grand Championship for the Missouri couple Wayne & Gloria Oliver, last years World Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion, he just gets better with age. Reserve honors went to Magic's Gray Image and Dwayne Cawthon for Smotherman Stables.

A delighted Kelly Sullivan rode her families Rock Crusher to the Amateur-Owned & Trained Lite Shod Grand Championship followed by Shawna & James Walkers Spirit's Midnight Stroll with Shawna up.

The Trail Pleasure Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship saw Howard Hamilton take another spotlight ride, this time on CK's Tennessee Titan for Alicia Akelges, followed by Ronnie Sapp and Gin & Tonic for Winning Gait Farms.

Copy of Magic Colors won the Open Shod Amateur Four & Over Grand Championship for the second year in a row, this time with new owner Jimmy Dunivan in the saddle, sold following the show, this outstanding amateur horse will now carry the banner of Liz Mills in 2002. Reserve was the multi-multi World Champion mare, Alen's Pure Honey, with Amanda Jernigan up for David and Suzanne Jernigan.

Avenger's Dot Com has always been one to reckon with and as a three-year-old in the Lite Shod Division this year was no exception claiming this top award with Ronnie Sapp up for Phylis Brumagen. Placing a nice Reserve was Sun Rider with Robert Airey up for Dickenson, Schmidt and Eby.

Many times winner Pusher's Pride and Liz Mills claimed the Trail Pleasure Amateur Owned and Trained Four & Over World Grand Championship with Not A Moment Too Soon and owner-rider Rebecca Cook in for second.

In the Two-Year-Old Open Shod World Grand Championship, Ray Weaver had the winner in Chamco Moonlight and Howard Hamilton, the light of My Moonlight Masquerade and Dicky Bedwell was brilliant as they were crowned reserve winners for owner Janie Rowland.

The Trail Pleasure Youth 11 & Under has been dominated by Allen's Sunbeam and Tyler Sapp the entire season and the dream team were still at the top as they claimed the World Grand Roses. Avenger's Unbelievable and Sam Walker were in for second for Jade Myers.

John and Sharon Staten had the World Class winner in the Yearling Grand Champion with Tommy Wilson expertly handling Pride of Caper. The Kentucky owned and Tennessee handled Masquerades Blue Eyes & Stan Thomas were reserve for Jim and Mary Ann Dobson.

Two talented mares and two talented young ladies were first and second in the Open Shod Youth 12-17 Grand Championship. Sensational Baby Doll and Taryn Harris followed by Apache's Tiger Lily and Andrea Minton.

The 11 and Under Lite Shod World Grand Championship saw Delight's Strokin Lady and Chaz Denton for Joey and Dale Brown and from Mississippi tying second was Misty Keel and Copy Cat's Prince for Larry and Beth Keel.

Riley Dunivan and Virginia Lally had the Freda Bullard owned Hy-Sierra Rose taking all the right steps to be crowned the 2001 Leadline World Champion.

Last years Three Year Old World Grand Champion returned this year to be crowned the 2001 Open Shod Four Year Old World Grand Champion, Big Mo with Barney Davis up for Harry and Patti Kimbrell, Reserve went to Cheyenne's Dillion and Phil Dunivan for The Brian Sullivan Family.

Repeating their Two-Year-Old Amateur Lite win from last year, now in the Three -Year-Old division was Jim Dobson and Patches Moondancer with Rockin' Rockette and Debbie LeBlanc in for reserve.

Avenger's Lil Tramp and Kelly Summers were at the top of the Amateur Four & Over Trail Pleasure Grand Championship while Weapon's Total Package and Amanda Jernigan tied reserve.

Carl Young and his recently purchased Dawn's Diva wore the roses in the Two-Year-Old  Open Shod Amateur Grand Championship followed by Allen Turner and Patches Lady In Blue. 

Jerry Brumagen and Avenger's 'El Of A Man wore roses in the Amateur Two Year Old Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship, with Betsy Ward Dugan and CK's Tennessee Tital for Alecia Akielgis reserve.

Lori Young brought home the first set of roses for Grande Tradition Farm with Hy-Tone Phoenix in the Open Shod Four & Over Grand Champion with Bill Overton and  Bo's Majestic Man reserve.

Angie Wassom and Apache's Trade Mark were the ones to top in Lite Shod Two-Year-Old Amateur Championship. Making top ride for reserve was Debbie Smothers and Avenger's Avalanche.

Trail Pleasure Amateur Three Year Old Grand Championship, in for first was Gen's Crown Jewel and Wendall Carver followed by Powers Personal Glory, Tammy Fears up for Tammy and Jerry Fears.

Cabin Creek Special added another World Championship to his crown, this time in the Lite Shod Amateur Four and Over Grand Championsh. Southern Crest Stables Moon's Last Chance and J.B. Grenier took home the reserve.

Another Fears owned entry Power Walker and Tammy Fears took home the blue in the Two & Three Year Old Amateur Owned & Trained Grand Championship. In for the red was Larry Stigers and Stuntman's Gold Coin.

Open Shod 14.2 & Under World Grand Champion title was won by The Midnight Express with Dewayne Cawthorn up for James & Randy Vasser. While Timmy Graham was reserve with Willie's Roughhouse for the O.C. Swift Family.

Winner of last years Youth 12-17 Open Shod Jeremy Price captured this years Lite Shod Youth 12-17 Grand Championship, this years honor was aboard Price Investments, Color's All Lit Up. Reserve was Spirit's Midnight Stroll and owner rider Shawna Walker.

The Weanling Grand Championship found the three-time winner Delight's Good Times under the spotlight, owned by Bill and Betty Lancaster and handled by Robert Nelms. The Curt and Beverly Denton entry Color's Delight and Stan Thomas took home the second award.

Lots of big name horses entered the Open Shod Youth 11 & Under Grand Championship with Cashius Clay and Mary Jane Dickey riding to the top award. Baywatch and Blake Porter for Blake and Jan were a good reserve.

The Lite Shod Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship went to Avenger's Push U Over and Charlie Moore for the Randy East Family. A flashy mare with a big way of going, this is only her World Class honors beginning. The Kentucky owned Avenger's Avalanche and Ronnie Sapp were a fine reserve for Debbie and Ronald Smothers.

Lauren Hamilton for Lauren and Charles Lowe on their Cotton's Medicine Man carried home the roses in the Youth 12-17 Championship for the second year in a row with the award winning Braker's Sinsation and Maranda East second for Maude Hopkins.

The Perfect Storm and owner-rider David Ashmore couldn't have been in better form to capture the roses in the Open Shod Amateur Three Year Old Grand Championship, while Alen Turner and Patches Mr. Dillion turned out the reserve performance for Alen and Betty Turner.

Complete results can be viewed here!