Wrigley-Miller Claims First USEF National Pairs Championship at Live Oak
Monday, March 25, 2013
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."
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