October 6, 2014 — The last USEF National Combined Driving Champions of 2014 were crowned during the final day at the Kentucky Classic CDE as drivers guided their horses and ponies through Richard Nicoll’s 20-obstacle cones course at the Kentucky Horse Park.
USEF National Pairs Championship
Misdee Wrigley Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) earned her second USEF National Pairs Championship title. Maneuvering her pair through the course with a single ball down at 6D, Wrigley Miller had a final score of 130.75.
“It was a very challenging course,” Wrigley Miller explained. “The horses were good, they responded when I needed them to, and I’m just over the moon.”
Steve Wilson (Louisville, Ky.) earned the Reserve Champion title with his pair of Lipizzaner geldings on final score of 154.09. Max Montoya (Hebron, Ky.) received third-place honors on a score of 169.25 in his first National Championship.
USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships – Single Pony
Paul Maye (Fairfield, Va.) and Harmony Sporthorses’ Markus held onto the lead to earn their second Single Pony National Championship win, finishing on a score of 120.07.
“He warmed up really well but once he got in there he was a bit wild, so I was relieved we actually got to the last one,” Maye said of his round. “It was great, a good weekend.”
Miranda Cadwell (Southern Pines, N.C.) scored the Reserve Champion title with Leslie Berndl’s Cannon’s Majestic Leyla, finishing on a score of 128.32.
USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships – Pair Pony
After knocking balls at 14 and 16, Amy Cross (Aiken, S.C.) maintained her lead in the Pair Pony division with Wendy O’Brien’s Welsh geldings to earn her first National title on a score of 120.07.
“It was tight in there and tight on time but they did it for me and they were good, so I’m proud,” Cross said.
Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) drove Katrina Becker’s pony pair to Reserve Champion honors, knocking just one ball at 6D to finish on a score of 122.23.
For more information on the Kentucky Classic CDE, click here.