Tag Archives: USEF National Pairs Championship

Driving, USEF

Wrigley-Miller Claims First USEF National Pairs Championship at Live Oak International

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Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Picsofyou.com)

Ocala, FL – The 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship concluded Sunday afternoon at the Live Oak International with the influential cones phase. Under blustery conditions and the threat of severe storms, the field of four went to task in the John Deere Arena.

Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, FL) travelled to Live Oak with her sights set on securing her first USEF National Pairs Championship. The 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championship veteran did just that driving a near faultless round to add a National Title to her growing list of accomplishments.

“I’m over the moon,” said an ecstatic Wrigley-Miller. “I’ve broken my demon.”

A single ball down for three points and an additional 2.61 time faults meant Wrigley-Miller finished on a three day total of 139.85.

The cones phase hosted an additional challenge for drivers as show jumps were set within the cones course, to be used later in the afternoon for the $33,000 CSI 2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round. However, due to the weather many of the jumps had to be moved or changed, therefore the cones course looked very different when drivers entered the arena than it had when they walked in the morning.

“I was really, really happy. The course was extremely difficult,” said Wrigley-Miller. “The course I walked this morning wasn’t there.”

Collecting Reserve Champion honors was Lisa Singer (Chadds Ford, PA); the eight-time National Champion incurred nine points for three balls down and 9.05 time faults. Singer finished on an overall score of 151.12.

Canada’s Rae Fischer was the winner of the Live Oak International’s FEI Pair Horse division which was sponsored by Scott and Kathi Dancer on a score of 131.55.

In addition to the USEF National Championship, Live Oak International also hosts Four-in-Hand, Pairs, Singles, and Pony driving competition at both the FEI and Intermediate levels. For a second year, it will host world class jumping competition in conjunction with the driving. The USEFNetwork.com presented by Smartpak will host wall-to-wall coverage of the marathon on Saturday and Sunday’s cones, in addition to Saturday’s $50,000 Live Oak International CSI 2* Grand Prix and the $33,000 CSI 2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round on Sunday. The live stream, video-on-demand, photos and news can be found here.

Visit the Live Oak International website here.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

By Helen Murray

Driving, USEF

Singer Gains Lead in 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship at Live Oak International Following the Marathon

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Ocala, FL – Following an exciting marathon day at the Live Oak International, Lisa Singer has grabbed the lead in the 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship with a score of 133.07. Drivers had near perfect weather as they contested the second phase of competition held on the picturesque Live Oak Plantation.

Singer (Chadds Ford, PA) drove consistently over the championship level course which hosted seven intricate obstacles. Using the experienced gained representing the U.S. in World Championship competition seven times, she posted the fastest time in the Morgan Stanley sponsored fourth obstacle in FEI Pair Horse competition.

“One of them is pretty new to me; I’ve only been driving him three and a half months and he got pretty tired at the end in the second to last hazard,” said Singer. “But I was really happy with both of them they both really tried for me. I’m really happy.”

If Singer can maintain her lead in Sunday’s cone phase she will earn her ninth USEF National Pairs Championship.

Lying second in National Championship competition is the driven dressage winner Misdee Wrigley-Miller. The 2012 Reserve National Champion drove a confident marathon but incurred penalties for having a groom down in the fourth obstacle and therefore relinquished her day one lead. She heads into the cones phase less than two points behind Singer on 134.24.

Leading the Live Oak International’s FEI Pair Horse division which is being sponsored by Scott and Kathi Dancer is Canada’s Rae Fischer on a score of 126.67.

Driving competition concludes in the John Deere Arena on Sunday with the cones phase.

In addition to the USEF National Championship, Live Oak International also hosts Four-in-Hand, Pairs, Singles, and Pony driving competition at both the FEI and Intermediate levels. For a second year, it will host world class jumping competition in conjunction with the driving. The USEFNetwork.com presented by Smartpak will host wall-to-wall coverage of the marathon on Saturday and Sunday’s cones, in addition to Saturday’s $50,000 Live Oak International CSI 2* Grand Prix and the $33,000 CSI 2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round on Sunday. The live stream, video-on-demand, photos and news can be found here.

Visit the Live Oak International website here.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

By Helen Murray

Competitions, Dressage, Driving, USEF

Wrigley-Miller Storms to Commanding Lead in 2013 USEF National Pair Championship at the Live Oak International

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Ocala, FL – The USEF National Pairs Championship got underway Thursday morning at Live Oak International, as the first phase competition was held in conjunction with the FEI Grand Oaks Resort and Carriage Museum Driven Dressage. Misdee Wrigley-Miller has kicked off her bid to claim her first National Title by gaining the early lead following the dressage on a score of 41.41.

Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, FL) drove with extreme confidence and poise to set herself apart from the rest of the National Championship competition. The 2012 Reserve USEF National Pair Champion and 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championship veteran executed an accurate and expressive test with her own nine-year-old KWPN gelding Riant W and seven-year-old KWPN gelding Beau.

“Overall I was very pleased because my warm-up was a little difficult,” said Wrigley-Miller. “With this pair I love their extension. They’re really there and explosive and then they come immediately back and are flexible.”

Wrigley-Miller has had a great lead-up to these National Championships, collecting wins at Sunshine State and Little Everglades. She is especially looking forward to Saturday’s marathon as she has been diligently working to improve her technique.

“Having seen all the hazards, I’m really looking forward to the marathon. We’ve been training really hard this spring. It’s the part of my competition I need to work on. I’ve won the marathon at my last two competitions, so hopefully all the training pays off.”

Lying second in National Championship competition and third overall is Steve Wilson on a score of 55.49. Wilson (Louisville, KY) drove his veteran pair of Lipizzaner’s Favory Nori and Napoly in steady and consistent effort Thursday morning.

Canada’s Rae Fischer stands second in Live Oak International’s FEI Pair Horse division, which is being sponsored by Scott and Kathi Dancer, on score of 54.53.

National Championship competition continues Saturday with the marathon phase.

In addition to the USEF National Championship, Live Oak International also hosts Four-in-Hand, Pairs, Singles, and Pony driving competition at both the FEI and Intermediate levels. For a second year, it will host world class jumping competition in conjunction with the driving. The USEFNetwork.com presented by Smartpak will host wall-to-wall coverage of the marathon on Saturday and Sunday’s cones, in addition to Saturday’s $50,000 Live Oak International CSI 2* Grand Prix and the $33,000 CSI 2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round on Sunday. The live stream, video-on-demand, photos and news can be found here.

Visit the Live Oak International website here.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

By Helen Murray

Championships, Dressage, Driving, USEF, USEF

Strong Field Set to Contest 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship at Live Oak International

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Misdee Wrigley-Miller at the 2012 Live Oak International (Picsofyou.com)

Ocala, FL – A small but mighty field lines up to contest the 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship at the Live Oak International March 21-24. Competition gets underway Thursday with the driven dressage and continues Saturday as competitors navigate the exciting marathon. On Sunday, drivers return to the John Deere Arena for the final cones phase.

Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, FL) will be eyeing her first USEF National Pairs Championship, having claimed Reserve Championship honors in 2012. Wrigley-Miller is no stranger to top driving competition after representing the United States at the 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championship in Conty, France. Also an active Saddlebred competitor, Wrigley-Miller has already enjoyed success in the 2013 season with wins at the Sunshine State and Little Everglades CDEs.

Lisa Singer (Chadds Ford, PA) is among the most experienced pairs drivers in the United States and will be looking to display her expertise at Live Oak. An eight-time National Champion in this division, Singer was the first female driver to win the Pairs National Title in 1994. She also represented the U.S. seven times in World Championship competition.

Rounding out the pairs field are Scott Dancer and Steve Wilson. Dancer (Woodside, CA) is very familiar with international competition having served as navigator for his wife, Kathi, at numerous competitions including the 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championships. Most recently, he picked up a third-place finish at Little Everglades. Wilson (Louisville, KY) is an active competitor as well as being an organizer of the Hermitage Classic CDE. In January he was fifth at Sunshine State.

In addition to National Championship competition, Live Oak International will also host Four-in-Hand, Pairs, Singles, and Pony driving competition at both the FEI and Intermediate levels. For a second year, it will host world class jumping competition in conjunction with the driving. The USEFNetwork.com presented by Smartpak will host wall-to-wall coverage of the marathon on Saturday and Sunday’s cones, in addition to Saturday’s $50,000 Live Oak International CSI 2* Grand Prix and the $33,000 CSI 2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round on Sunday. The live stream, video-on-demand, photos and news can be found here.

Visit the Live Oak International website here.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

By Helen Murray