THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 22, 1995 TAG: 9505220108
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
I can't testify as to the rest of the weekend Chesapeake Jubilee, but its first mule-pulling was edifying. A mule is restorative on sight.
To find them, one kept pushing along the clamorous midway asking, ``Which way are the mules?''
Near mule country was a layout promising YOUR HANDS IN WAX! and next door, ARE YOU GOING TO HEAVEN? FIND OUT HERE!, adding: (Two-Question Test Reveals the Answer!)
Pilgrim's Progress all over again.
And then in a sunny green field, two mules glossy dark as blackstrap molasses, female Lucy and male Jake, lightweights owned by Bob Ferguson of Chesapeake.
He is training 700-pound Jake to spring over a barrier from a standing start, a mount to hunt 'coons.
In competition, the barrier is raised each round. ``The mule lunges and throws his front legs above it and kicks out his back legs high in the air at the same time and comes on over,'' he explained.
Sounds easy. I doubt a horse can do it. Or a man. It may not be pretty, but it gets the mule there.
Nearby were two big-shouldered roan mules, Hillary and Tipper, 1,950 pounds each from Belgian draft mares, forelegs of cypress stumps; their noses, in profile, huge bolsters; wide-spreading ears encompassing horizons as the mules moved, massive haunches shifting.
Homer erred in saying Greeks hid in a giant wooden horse which the duped Trojans pulled inside the gates of Troy. It had to have been a mule large as those two owned by Don Willcox of Hadensville. They were State Fair champs in 1994.
That heavy pair moved in a dignified stroll. A lightweight, spirited team, Charlie and Jake owned by Skeebo Pleasants of Goochland, arched necks, pranced, almost danced in their traces.
Rollie Clark of Smithfield had two heavy teams, Pat and Jennie and Beck and Roadie. Ferguson had Carolina and Virginia, all fine.
The 5-foot-high wood sled, weighing 1,000 pounds, was loaded with slabs of concrete blocks, 500 pounds a round at the start, then midway, 1,000.
Early in the rounds, Hillary and Tipper moved as if unaware they were pulling, but at 4,000 pounds they hurried into place. Hillary tossed her head.
Much sooner, the other heavies had to lurch and even jump to start.
In second place, behind Hillary and Tipper, were Jack and Nell, owned by Johnny Salmon of Goochland. Beck and Roadie were leaning into the 6,000-pound load when the metal hame hook broke and the harness fell in disarray.
Charlie and Jake won the lightweight division and advanced well into the heavyweight, digging into the dirt, crouching almost like sled dogs, their feet whirling.
Three men hitched each team, then sprang out of the way and urged them on with voice commands. Superb announcer Frankie Eberton kept us abreast of action.
All the mules' gallant efforts were a splendid display of heart as well as muscle. MEMO: MORE CHESAPEAKE JUBLIEE COVERAGE/B3
ILLUSTRATION: Willie!
Nelson's fans enjoy show at the Jubilee
[Color Photos]
BILL TIERNAN
Staff photos
Brenda Moore, left, naps in the sun next to her husband, Mike, while
waiting for the Willie Nelson concert to begin. The Moores arrived
at the concert area at 11 a.m. Sunday - six hours before the show -
to stake out a front-row spot.
RIGHT: Brenda Moore of Norfolk claps to the beat of a Willie Nelson
song during the country music star's Chesapeake Jubilee concert on
Sunday.
BELOW: At the start of the concert, Willie Nelson tosses his cap
into the crowd.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE JUBILEE by CNB