Tag Archives: Ky. Classic CDE

Berndl and Whaley Earn USEF Pony Driving National Championship Titles

Leslie Berndl and Sweetwater’s Zorah Belle (Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, Ky. – A lovely weekend at the Kentucky Classic CDE played host to the 2016 USEF Pony Driving National Championships. Held October 6-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park, the championships crowned two National Champions: Leslie Berndl and Katie Whaley, along with their talented ponies.

USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship

Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and Sweetwater’s Zorah Belle began their quest for a national title with a lovely dressage test to win the phase with a score of 53.69 from the Ground Jury of Anne-Marie Turbe (FRA), Elimar Thunert (GER), and Kail Palmer-Miller (USA). Berndl boldly drove Teressa Kandianis’ 2004 Norwegian Fjord mare in the marathon phase, having the fastest times in four of the seven obstacles designed by Richard Nicoll (USA). They won the phase and added 86.19 penalties to their score. Despite the fact that less than three points separated first and second place, Berndl and Sweetwater’s Zorah Belle kept their cool in the cones phase to have a double-clear round and earn the USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship title with a final score of 139.88.

“The whole championship was wonderful. We drove out from California; it’s 49 hours. She is an inexperienced pony with traveling, but she handled the trip really well,” Berndl explained. “The dressage was super; I was really, really happy with her in a hard test. The marathon was very challenging, especially for a smaller pony because she is only 13.2 hands. She handled the marathon like it was nothing. In the cones, it was a long course and I really wanted to make sure to keep the speed up. We went in with 2.58 points separating us from Tracey [Morgan], who is a National Champion already, so there was a lot of pressure and I just had to guide her around and let her do it; she stayed calm and cool. She gave 100% of everything she had in every phase.”

Two-time National Champion Tracey Morgan (Beallsville, Md.) and longtime partner Fuego 88 collected Reserve Champions honors after an excellent performance throughout the weekend, beginning with a smooth dressage test that scored 54.04. Morgan and her own 2001 German Riding Pony gelding were determined on the marathon course, having a bobble in obstacle three but rallying to finish with 88.42 penalties. They ended the competition with an impressive double-clear cones round to win the phase and solidify their Reserve Champion title with a final score of 142.46.

Rebecca Gutierrez (Windsor, S.C.) and Naria BW6, Richard Olson’s 2003 Haflinger mare, finished in third place with a final score of 152.44. The duo scored 61.51 in the dressage phase and collecting 90.02 and 0.91 in the marathon and cones phases, respectively.

USEF Pair Pony Driving National Championship

Whaley (Paris, Ky.) drove her own and Barbara Sims’ Welsh geldings to win her first USEF Pair Pony Driving National Championship title, winning each of the phases along the way. She had a wonderful dressage test, scoring 49.67 to take the early lead. Whaley attacked the marathon course with her pair and had the fastest times in all of the obstacles, collecting 90.25 penalties. They delivered another quality performance in the cones phase with a single ball down at obstacle nine for 3.00 penalties, winning the championship with a final score of 142.92.

Katie Whaley (Picsofyou.com)
Katie Whaley (Picsofyou.com)

“They were amazing. These two [Tommy and Tanner] are full brothers and they do marathon and cones, but my newest one [Night Flyer] that I have borrowed from a friend, Barbara Sims, this was his first competition as a pair in the dressage and he was a machine,” Whaley said of her ponies. “The dressage is what I was really concentrating on and that was the best score I have gotten in a very long time, so that was really fun. The marathon I hit about three-quarters speed because I was trying stuff with them and I just wanted to keep them quiet, and they were great, and the cones phase was good.”

Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) and Katrina Becker and Mary Anne Boyden’s mixed pair began the championship with a respectable dressage test for a score of 58.13. Matheson and the ponies had a solid marathon performance, collecting 102.42 penalties and finishing second in the phase. They closed out the competition with three balls down in the cones phase for 12.00 penalties, finishing second in the phase and obtaining Reserve Champion honors.

Find out more about the Kentucky Classic CDE and view the complete results.

From the USEF Communications Department

Weber Claims 12th USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship at Kentucky Classic CDE

Chester Weber, 12-time USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Champion (Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The 2015 USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship started out cold and rainy, but was warm and sunny for Sunday’s cones phase in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. The lovely day set the stage for Chester Weber to win his 12th USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship title, leading the division from start to finish during the Kentucky Classic CDE. The field of four competitors demonstrated great driving throughout the competition and is looking strong heading into a World Championship year.

Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and his and Jane Clark’s team had a fantastic week, displaying great skill in all three phases. He had a different line-up at the championship, bringing a younger, inexperienced horse, Danzer, but the team of Dutch Warmblood geldings performed well. Their quest for a national title began on Thursday in the Rolex Stadium with their signature lovely dressage test. The Ground Jury of Martha Hanks-Nicoll (USA), Marsoe LaRose (CAN), and Nikke Palsson (SWE) rewarded Weber with a score of 38.07, putting him at the top of the leaderboard. A rainy marathon day did not pose an issue for Weber and his team, as they won the marathon phase with the fastest times in five of the seven obstacles on Richard Nicoll’s course. They added 107.85 penalty points to their score to remain in the lead heading into the final phase. In the cones phase, Weber and his team had another winning performance. They knocked a single ball at cone five on Nicoll’s course for 3.00 penalty points to win the championship with a score of 148.92.

“I was really pleased with the team; they worked really well together,” Weber said. “The two I had in the wheel (Boris W and Para) I have driven a lot in the marathon in the wheel, but I haven’t really competed much with them in the cones phase; I was really pleased how they handled everything. Unfortunately I had one down that I think Danzer kicked. He is inexperienced so the way the course was set up with the two cars there and having to drive between them; he was a little not sure what the cars were doing there and lost his concentration and dropped out of the contact. Besides that I was really pleased; it all drove really to plan and pretty straightforward.”

James Fairclough (Newton, N.J.), a veteran of the Four-in-Hand division, started his week off with a fluid dressage test with his mixed team of Warmbloods, putting him in fourth place with a score of 45.54. He climbed to second place following the marathon phase after driving efficiently and having the fastest times in two of the obstacles, collecting 116.00 penalty points. Fairclough and his horses had a strong cones performance, keeping all the balls up, but adding 4.94 time penalties to their score. He collected his 18th Reserve National Champion title with a final score of 166.48.

Allison Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) has mastered driving Four-in-Hand horses after switching from a pony team less than two years ago. She and Willow Star LLC’s Dutch Warmblood team performed a harmonious dressage test on Thursday to receive a score of 45.05. In the marathon phase Stroud struggled at obstacle six, but drove confidently overall on the tough track, adding 126.90 penalty points to her score. She had balls down at nine and 11B for 6.00 penalty points to finish in third place on a score of 177.95.

Misdee Wrigley Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) also began competing in the Four-in-Hand division less than two years ago, and made a change to her team for this competition, adding a horse she’s had for just two weeks. However, she and her Dutch Warmblood geldings laid down solid performances in all three phases. Wrigley Miller earned a score of 45.44 in the dressage test after executing a lovely test. On marathon day she and her horses easily answered the questions of the course, tallying 135.78 penalty points. Wrigley Miller had balls down following the tricky turns into cones nine and 15 for 6.00 penalty points in the final phase. She finished in fourth place with a final score of 187.22.

Find out more about the Kentucky Classic CDE.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Chester Weber Takes the Lead Winning Dressage Phase at 2015 CAI2* Kentucky Classic CDE

Photo courtesy of Pics Of You.

Lexington, KY (October 2, 2015) – 11-time U.S. National Four-in-Hand Driving champion Chester Weber of Ocala, Florida has set the stage for a chance at an historic 12th title. Weber finished first with a score of 38.07 in the opening FEI 2* Horse Teams Dressage phase of the 2015 CAI2* Kentucky Classic CDE in Lexington, KY.

“I was really pleased with my and Jane Clark’s team (in dressage),” said Weber, who is seeking his 12th National Championship with several new and younger horses in front of him. “It was exciting to have the younger horses do so well and the Rolex Stadium had a nice feel.” Inclement weather had moved the dressage phase from its traditional grass arena to the Rolex Stadium.

The Ground Jury of Martha Hanks-Nicoli (USA), Marsoe LaRose (CAN), and Nikke Palsson (SWE) rewarded Team Weber for their trot work brilliance and strong rein back with a decisive 38.07 score, establishing an almost 10-point lead ahead of closest (45.05) contender, Allison Stroud.

Weber, who earlier this year earned his second consecutive championship and congratulations from HRH Queen Elizabeth at CAI3* Windsor, is defending his title at Kentucky against one of the most exciting four-in-hand fields in recent memory. The lineup consists of 2015 Bromont International CAI2* champion and 2013 Kentucky Classic reserve champion, James Fairclough of Newton, New Jersey, as well as the reserve champion at Bromont, Live Oak International, Kingdom of the Sun and 2014 Kentucky Classic, Misdee Wrigley Miller of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and Allison Stroud of West Grove, Pennsylvania, who was third at Live Oak International last spring.

The Four-in-Hand teams will face off on Saturday to match Marathon performances before title contention concludes on Sunday with the cones phase. Team up with Team Weber news, live posts, video and photo galleries, and preferred product reviews at www.chesterweber.com and its link to Facebook.

For more information, contact:
Chester Weber
chester@chesterweber.com
1-352-895-1139
www.chesterweber.com

Wrigley Miller, Maye, and Cross Earn National Titles at Kentucky Classic CDE

Misdee Wrigley Miller (Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, Ky. – 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.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information on the Kentucky Classic CDE, click here.

Wrigley Miller, Maye, and Cross Conquer Marathon Day at Kentucky Classic CDE

Misdee Wrigley Miller (Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The exciting marathon phase took place Saturday at the Kentucky Classic CDE, the host of the final USEF National Combined Driving Championship competitions of 2014. Drivers demonstrated their skill through seven obstacles on the marathon track at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

USEF National Pairs Championship

By expertly guiding her pair through the tough obstacles, Misdee Wrigley Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) stayed atop the leaderboard in the championship with a total score of 127.75.

“I really enjoyed it. The course drove great; my horses were good. I was a little bit rusty but it came back to me,” Wrigley Miller said of switching back to a pair after driving four-in-hand at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Steve Wilson (Louisville, Ky.) had a great day with his pair of Lipizzaner geldings and ended in second place with a score of 138.86. Max Montoya (Hebron, Ky.) had a steady round with his team of Georgian Grande geldings to head into the final day in third with a score of 146.01.

Paul Maye and Markus (Picsofyou.com)
Paul Maye and Markus (Picsofyou.com)

USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships – Single Pony

Having the fastest times in five of the seven obstacles, Paul Maye (Fairfield, Va.) won the marathon phase and moved into the lead with Harmony Sporthorses’ Markus on a score of 112.91.

“What can I say? He was his usual self. He is always good,” Maye said of Markus.

Miranda Cadwell (Southern Pines, N.C.) also progressed up the standings with a wonderful effort in the second phase, putting her in second with an overall score of 124.50.

USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships – Pair Pony

Amy Cross (Aiken, S.C.) maintained her lead with Wendy O’Brien’s Welsh geldings. After an outstanding performance over the track, Cross goes into the final phase on a score of 111.44

“It went really well today actually. I was really happy with it,” Cross said. “They really responded to me today.”

Amy Cross (Picsofyou.com)
Amy Cross (Picsofyou.com)

Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) piloted Katrina Becker’s pony pair to a second-place finish in the marathon. She stays in second place overall with a score of 119.23.

The cones phase begins at the Kentucky Classic CDE begins at 9:00am ET on Sunday. The entire day of cones competition will be streamed live on the USEF Network.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information on the Kentucky Classic CDE, click here.

Top Drivers Hope to Secure National Titles at Kentucky Classic CDE

Lexington, Ky. – The final USEF National Combined Driving Championships will be decided this weekend at the Kentucky Classic CDE. Held October 2-5, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. plays host to the USEF National Pairs Championship and the USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships. Talented fields of drivers will vie for top honors in their respective championships in what will surely be an exciting competition.

USEF National Pairs Championship

Three strong competitors make up the field of the 2014 USEF National Pairs Championship. Misdee Wrigley Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) was driving a Four-in-Hand team only a month ago at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. This weekend she returns to the Pair Horse division where she has found much success over the years. The 2013 USEF National Pairs Champion hopes to hold on to her title and end her fairytale year on a high note.

Steve Wilson (Louisville, Ky.) has had an excellent year in 2014, scoring Advanced Pair Horse wins at Sunshine State, Kingdom of the Sun, and Southern Pines CDEs and an FEI Pair Horse win at Hermitage Classic CDE. He aims to continue his winning ways at the Kentucky Classic CDE and take home his first National Championship title.

Max Montoya (Hebron, Ky.) won Live Oak International Intermediate Pair Horse division earlier this year and moved up to the Advanced level less than a month ago, earning first-place honors at the Hermitage Classic CDE. Though new to the top level of Pair Horse competition, Montoya shows much promise and is in the running for the title.

USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships – Single Pony

The defending champion of the Single Pony division, Tracey Morgan, leads the field of five drivers with their sights set on a National title. The Beallsville, Md. resident has won at every turn this year with Fuego 88. With wins at Live Oak International, Southern Pines, and Glen Willow CDEs, Morgan seems to be on track for another National Championship title.

Paul Maye (Fairfield, Va.) is coming off a win at the Garden State CDE in the Advanced Single Pony division with Markus. The 2012 Single Pony National Champion won at the Kentucky Classic CDE last year and hopes to find success once more at the event and earn his second title.

USEF National Combined Driving Pony Championships – Pair Pony

A field of five makes up the Pair Pony championship division in Kentucky. Three time Pair Pony National Champion Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) looks to add another title to her name after having driven to wins at Live Oak International and Southern Pines CDEs earlier this year.

Katie Whaley (Paris, Ky.) has had great results in 2014 with her pair of ponies, winning at Sunshine State, Kingdom of the Sun, and Hermitage Classic CDEs. She is in good form to claim her first National title.

The dressage phase for the championship divisions kicks off at 1:10pm local time on Thursday, with the marathon phase taking place on Saturday. The national championship titles will be decided on Sunday following the cones phase.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information on the Kentucky Classic CDE, click here.

Weber Wins Unprecedented 10th USEF National Four-In-Hand Championship

Chester Weber, 10 Time USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Champion (Pics of You)

Berndl Wins First National Singles Championship

Lexington, KY – Rain fell for most of Sunday morning at the Kentucky Classic CDE; it fell so hard that Competition would eventually be stopped, but not before two individual drivers hit career milestones. Leslie Berndl earned her first USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship, and Chester Weber made it an official decade of dominance with his impressive and unprecedented tenth USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship.

National Four in Hand Driving Championship

Weber (Ocala, Florida) held a sixteen penalty lead heading into Sunday’s cones phase. By guiding his and Jane Clark’s team of Dutch Warmbloods deftly through the obstacles he emerged from the ring with 9.06 penalties, and his tenth USEF Four-in-Hand National Championship. For Weber it’s another feather in the cap of an already very successful season. With his success in Europe over the summer, a 2014 WEG test event win at CAI-Caen, a win at CAIO Saumur, and top three finishes at Beekbergen and Aachen, this landmark national championship makes Weber’s 2013 campaign one of the best in recent memory.

Weber finished on a total score of 141.20. Finishing second was Jimmy Fairclough (Newtown, New Jersey) on a score of 173.95.

Leslie Berndl, USEF National Single Horse Driving Champion (Pics of You)
Leslie Berndl, USEF National Single Horse Driving Champion (Pics of You)

National Single Horse Driving Championship

Leslie Berndl also held a double digit lead entering the cones. She and Uminco held onto that advantage and emerged from the rain as USEF National Single Horse Driving Champions. Berndl (Newcastle, California) earned an 11.00, good for third place in the phase, and finished with a 141.53 total score. She was second in the dressage phase, second on the marathon, and the most consistently good single horse competitor over the entire weekend. This is Leslie Berndl’s first National Championship. Umnico was driven to a National Single Horse Championship in 2009, also at the Kentucky Classic CDE, by his owner Fritz Grupe.

Finishing first in the cones phases were Donna Crookston (Saltsburg, Pennsylvania) and Cowboy’s Black Cadillac. They scored a 3.00 and moved up from third place after the marathon to second place in the end with a final score of 155.29. Second on the cones and third overall were Sara Schmitt (Flemington, New Jersey) and Savannah. Their final score was 160.80.

For complete final scores, click here.

By Andrew Minnick

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

Berndl Takes Over Single Horse Driving National Championship Lead

Leslie Berndl guiding Uminco through the Head of the Lake hazard (Pics of You)

Weber Stays on Top of Four-in-Hand Championship Chase

Lexington, KY – A good crowd turned out at the Kentucky Horse Park Saturday to watch the marathon phase of the Kentucky Classic CDE. When the driving was done and the spectators had left Leslie Berndl had taken a big step into the lead in the single horse division. In the four-in-hand division, Chester Weber’s path toward a tenth Four-in-Hand National Championship has become a little clearer.

USEF Single Horse National Championship

Berndl (Newcastle, California) started off hot Saturday morning behind Dutch Warmblood gelding Uminco and her consistent driving over the entire course helped her take the lead in the division. Berndl was in second place coming into the day, having been bested by less than one point in the dressage phase on Thursday, and right away she looked to make up that difference. Of the eight hazards, Berndl was fastest through the first two and second best through another four. She finished the marathon in second place with an 84.24 score and now sits in first place with a total score of 130.53. 1999 National Champion Kimberly Stover (Smyrna, Delaware) is the closest to Berndl. She sits in second with 148.80.

Sara Schmitt (Flemington, New Jersey) won the marathon driving Savannah and is now in fourth place overall.

Chester Weber in the Bowl hazard at the Kentucky Classic CDE (Pics of You)
Chester Weber in the Bowl hazard at the Kentucky Classic CDE (Pics of You)

USEF Four-in-Hand National Championship

After a narrow victory in the marathon, Chester Weber is poised to earn a record setting tenth National Championship. Weber (Ocala, Florida) was first four-in-hand driver on the marathon course with the team of his own and Jane Clark’s Boris, Splash, Boy W, and Ultra. To the delight of a flock of fans following him from hazard to hazard, he proved to be the day’s best. Weber’s 98.40 gave him a slight edge over Jimmy Fairclough (Newtown, New Jersey), who finished with a 98.89 behind the team of Charlie Brown, Kavango V. Falkenstein, Valentino, and Zenden.

Thanks to a great score in the dressage on Thursday, Weber carries a significant overall lead into Sunday’s final cones phase. His 132.14 score after two phases is more than 16 points ahead of Fairclough’s 148.95 total score.

Casey Zubek (Manhattan Illinois) is in third with a 261.80 score.

Full marathon results are online here.

See overall standings here.

By Andrew Minnick

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

Shields & Weber Lead National Championship Chases after Dressage at the Kentucky Classic CDE

Kate Shields (Pics of You)

Lexington, Kentucky – Advanced dressage tests at the Kentucky Classic CDE, which is hosting the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Singles and Four-in-Hand Driving National Championships, were held Thursday afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park. When they were over, Kate Shields was atop the single horse leaderboard and Chester Weber set himself up for a tenth four-in-hand national championship.

USEF National Single Horse Championship

Kate Shields (Middleburg, Virginia) was the first competitor in the single horse division Thursday and set the bar high enough that it proved unreachable. With Hastings Winslow she earned a 45.87 penalty score and will hold the lead entering Saturday’s marathon. Leslie Berndl (Newcastle, California) gave Shields a challenge and put herself in good position with a 46.29. Finishing third were Donna Crookston (Saltsburg, Pennsylvania) and RG Cowboy’s Black Cadillac on a score of 58.03.

For full single horse results, click here.

USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship

Chester Weber (Pics of You)
Chester Weber (Pics of You)

Before competition Thursday, the ring announcer joked that Chester Weber (Ocala, Florida) was going to interpret “four-in-hand” as literally as possible and drive his team with only one hand. He didn’t do that, but he did his best to put the competition out of reach by earning a stellar 33.74. He’ll be the first four-in-hand driver on the marathon course Saturday where he’ll look to further his lead. In second after dressage is James Fairclough (Newtown, New Jersey); he earned a 50.06. Sitting third is Casey Zubek (Manhattan, Illinois) with a score of 57.34.

For full four-in-hand results, click here.

By Andrew Minnick

Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.

For National Championship updates over the weekend, search the hashtag #KentuckyClassicCDE on Twitter.

Chester Weber and Team Show How It’s Done Winning Advanced Horse Team at the Kentucky Classic

Chester Weber in the Advanced Horse Team at the Kentucky Classic. (Photo courtesy of PhotoReflect.com/Tony Dantonio)

Lexington, KY (October 12, 2012) – Nine-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, Chester Weber, was happy to be back at the Kentucky Horse Park where he drove his team to victory in the Advanced Horse Team at the Kentucky Classic. Weber showed how it’s done by winning with a score of 148.57 and beating out Darryl Billing of Ontario.

“It was my first time back on that course since the World Equestrian Games,” Weber said.  “The beauty of Kentucky in October was great as was the excellent course and the construction of the marathon is great.  I was again pleased with Boris and Ringo,” Weber continued, “as the intention of this trip was to develop them while supporting the sport on a national level.”  Weber says that the horses have improved greatly and their progress in the marathon training was remarkable, as evidenced by this win.

Continue reading Chester Weber and Team Show How It’s Done Winning Advanced Horse Team at the Kentucky Classic