Wrigley-Miller USEF National Title Hunt at Kentucky Classic CDE
Friday, October 5, 2012
Pair and Pony drivers completed their first phase of USEF National Championship competition Thursday afternoon under beautiful, sunny skies at the event held in conjunction with the Kentucky Classic CDE. Performing their dressage tests in front of the Ground Jury composed of Klaus Christ, Diana Brownlie and Martha Hanks-Nicoll, 18 American competitors made their first steps toward claiming National Titles.
In the USEF National Pairs Championship, Misdee Wrigley-Miller has jumped out to a commanding lead following the first phase. In the USEF National Combined Driving Single Pony Championship, Tracey Morgan utilized years of experience to hold the lead heading into the marathon, while Wendy O'Brien leads a small but talented division in Pair Pony competition. Allison Stroud has put herself in position to claim her eighth National Title by winning the dressage in the Pony Team Championship.
USEF National Pairs Championship
Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, FL) performed a consistent, stylish effort with her own KWPN pair Beau and Riant W to score 39.68. The pair demonstrated expressive movement, while staying perfectly in synch throughout the test.
"I was very, very happy with my horses and they were very responsive. The young horse (Beau) is still trying to learn the right things to do," said the 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championship veteran. "They were super in my hand; supple, everything they were supposed to be."
Wrigley-Miller is no stranger to major victories and in August claimed top honors in the Amateur 5-Gaited Mare class at the 2012 World's Championship Horse Show.
Lying in second place is Team Bronze medalist from the 2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships, Jimmy Fairclough (Newtown, NJ). Fairlcough drove his own Levin and Kavango von Falkenstein to a score of 50.77.
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