26th ANNUAL DRAFT HORSE CLASSIC AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Awards for the 26th annual Draft Horse Classic, held September 20 – 23 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, have been announced.  Gary Nebergall of Arthur, Illinois judged the Draft Horse competitions and halter show. Dwight Gilbert from Nevada was the judge of the pulling contest; and Craig Trnka from New Mexico was the horseshoe competition judge.
Draft horse exhibitors from California, British Columbia, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Washington competed for more than $35,000 in premium awards. The competitions took place during six performances over the four-day event.
The winner of the Six-Up Ultimate Hitch Championship was Kirk Messenger of the Mark Messenger Memorial Hitch, from Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Dakota Messenger, also of Mark Messenger Memorial Hitch, and Katie Cook of Young Living Percherons from Mona, Utah, were recognized as the outstanding lady drivers, both accumulating high points to win the Susan Parnell High Point Perpetual Award.
The Teamster of the Year Award was presented to Steve Smith, an honor bestowed upon him by the voting of his fellow teamsters. Smith is from Quail Creek Percherons in Carmichael, California. The Draft Horse & Mule Association presented their special Teamster Award to Kirk Messenger of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Â Ciera Barry of Shady Oaks Ranch in Millville, California, won the Youth of the Show award.
The Overall Supreme Champion horse, Hugh; the Grand Champion Stallion, Ogdensburg HC Variety; and the Grand Champion Mare, Mission Bell Abigail; are all owned by Castagnasso Clydesdales and shown by Tony Knecht of Sonoma, California.
The winner in the 2012 Edward Martin Perpetual Horseshoeing Competition was J D Downs of Colorado.
At the second annual Classic BBQ Cook-Off, the Grand Champion was Richard Holguin, cooking for Cecil’s Smokin’ BBQ of San Jose; and the Reserve Grand Champion prize went to Mary Odor, cooking for Mad Mo’s BBQ of Meridian. The People’s Choice Champion was Bad S BBQ of Sunnyvale, with Ryan Pang cooking.
At the Harvest Fair, the People’s Choice award for the Scarecrows went to Nancy Brown, and the Best of Division in the Scarecrows went to Rivera Swartzendruber.
A complete list of 2012 Draft Horse Classic awards, as well as all the Harvest Fair winners and a complete list of Barbecue Cook-Off results, is on the Nevada County Fairgrounds’ website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.
The 2013 Draft Horse Classic is scheduled for September 19 – 22. Tickets will go on sale on May 1, 2013.  Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for more information.
We posted a list of all results for the 2012 Draft Horse Classic.
Here are some more winners:
SPECIAL AWARDS
Teamster of the Year
Steve Smith, Quail Creek Percherons, Carmichael, CA
Andy Amsbaugh Teamster Award
Rick Newborn, Top Hand Ranch, Elverta, CA
Ultimate Hitch Award
Kirk Messenger, Mark Messenger Memorial Hitch, Cheyenne, WY
Susan Parnell High Point Perpetual Award
Dakota Messenger, Mark Messenger Memorial Hitch, Cheyenne, WY
Katie Cook , Young Living Percherons, Mona Ut
Edward Martin Perpetual Horseshoeing Competition
J D Downs, Colorado
Youth of the Show Award
Ciera Barry ~ Shady Oaks Ranch ~ Millville, CA
HALTER SHOW CHAMPIONS
(Exhibitor; Handler; Horse)
Champion Clydesdale Mare
Castagnasso Clydesdales; Tony Knecht; Mission Bell Abigail
Reserve Champion Clydesdale Mare
Siren’s Clydesdales; Kyle Hohu; Hill Topper Drakes Nancy
Champion Clydesdale Stallion
Castagnasso Clydesdales; Tony Knecht; Ogdensburg HC Variety
Reserve Champion Clydesdale Stallion
Hawkes Ranch; Cheryl Hawkes; Armageddonn’s Lord Thomas
Champion Clydesdale Gelding
Sirens Clydesdale; Kyle Hohu; Sirens Sweet Chaos
Reserve Champion Clydesdale Gelding
Carlaw Clydes; Caroline & Lawrence McGibbon; Stan
Champion All Other Breed Mare
Balls in Your Court; Kay Sweeney; Misty
Champion Farm/Hitch Gelding
Castagnasso Clydesdales; Tony Knecht; Hugh
Reserve Champion Farm/Hitch Gelding
Sirens Clydesdale; Kyle Hohu; Sirens Sweet Chaos
Champion Matched Pair
Rock N Horse Ranch; Corrie Silva & Char Antuzzi; Cinder & Ella
Grand Champion Mare
Castagnasso Clydesdales; Tony Knecht; Mission Bell Abigail
Reserve Grand Champion Mare
Siren’s Clydesdales; Kyle Hohu; Hill Topper Drakes Nancy
Grand Champion Stallion
Castagnasso Clydesdales; Tony Knecht; Ogdensburg HC Variety
Reserve Grand Champion Stallion
Hawkes Ranch; Cheryl Hawkes; Armageddonn’s Lord Thomas
Overall Supreme Champion
Castagnasso Clydesdales; Tony Knecht; Hugh
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.