Saddle Club Celebrates 11th Annual Charles Sumner Memorial Horse Show

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On Saturday, June 9th, the Gilmer County Saddle Club (GCSC) hosted the 11th Annual Charles Sumner Memorial Racking Horse Show.
The Charles Sumner Memorial Racking Horse Show is a special kind of show because it is a National Racking Horse Association sanctioned event, and it is in memory of the late Charles Sumner, a long time member of the GCSC, dedicated to the organization.

At the beginning of the show, the Gilmer County Saddle Club, recognized another long time member of the GCSC, the wife of Charles Sumner, Mrs. Inez Sumner.

The 2012 GCSC Junior Board presented Sumner with flowers and a plaque for all of her many years of dedicated and diligent service to the GCSC.

Sumner is known for her excellent service at the concession booth at the GCSC and her relationship with the GCSC since the 1960’s. During her recognition, the GCSC noted that Sumner “

has shopped, baked, inventoried, cooked, cleaned, and kept a smile on her face until the last person was served into the late night hours of the shows.”

Also, the GCSC said that for the last ten years, Sumner has been a very focal part in the organization of the Charles Sumner Memorial Racking Horse Show.

The Charles Sumner Memorial Racking Horse Show features riders on National, Walking, and Saddlebred Racking horses. Racking horses, are horses whose feet hit the ground in a certain way whenever they walk that absorbs all the shock so the rider doesn’t move, helping the rider display more showmanship.

The event had a total of 30 events categories ranging from Juvenile Racking, a Saddlebred Open, and even a special kid’s stick horse category. The event also included a Saddlebred Horse Championship and a Walkingbred Horse Championship. All of the categories were judged by the honorable Charlotte Corbin.

Winning first place in Juvenile Racking, an event featuring riders 12 years of age and under, was Shelby Cruse on her horse Black Magic, with Zachary Kimsey winning second place on his horse Johnny Paycheck.

Taking away the bragging rights in this year’s Rookie Racking Open was Jessica Tamisiea on her horse Johnny Cash, followed closely behind by Tera Phillips on her horse Step Aside, and Justin Callahan on his horse Dan.

Winning the Saddlebred Open in the Charles Sumner event was longtime rider and local trainer Stanley Brown on his horse, the Bledsoe County Bandit. Brown is from Jasper and is known to have trained many horses around the area.

Shorty after the Saddlebred Open category, was the FlatShod Pleasure Racking category. In any type of Racking horse show category featuring the word pleasure, the rider is judged by how comfortable they look on their horse. Winning this category was Bill Holbrook on his horse Las Vegas, while second place went to Sandra Mckee on her horse Shags Gypsy.

The event had a 30 minute break, with Applachian Circuit District Attorney candidate, Alison Sosebee speaking at the intermission. Sosebee who is from Blue Ridge, is running against Harry Doss and Incumbent Joe Hendricks in the July election.

After the intermission, the show would get right back to action with the Racking horses showing off some of their speed. In the Speed Racking Open event, flying away with first place was local rider and 11 time World Champion Donald Reece.

At the end of the show were the events Show Pleasure Racking, the Nationalbred Championship, Flat Shod Pleasure Juvenile Racking, and the Walkingbred Championship with trophies awarded to the winners of the Nationalbred Championship and the Walkingbred Championship.

In the Show Pleasure Racking event, first place went to Bill Holbrook on his horse New York, New York, while second place went to Jackie Sexton on PocketAce, and third place went to Zachary Kimsey on Miss Major General.

Next, Rainey Cantrell won first place in the Flatshod Pleasure Juvenile category on her horse Southern Belles Babydoll and second place would go to Courtney Cruse on Ms. Presentation.

Finally, the 2012 Charles Sumner Saddlebred Championship trophy went to Donald Reece on his horse Tempest of the Town, and the 2012 Charles Sumner Walkingbred Championship trophy went to Shane Brooks on his horse Stock Exchange.

Jo Lynn Long, the GCSC Show Committee Chairman said of the show,

“It brings out a lot of people to watch the events and is in memory of Charles Sumner. Tonight we had the memorable to Inez Sumner for her dedication to the horse shows that her and Charles were apart of and the shows that she continues to be a part of. She still continues to be a big part of the saddle club.”

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