Ten New National Champions Crowned at USEF Championships for Ponies & Para Driving
The 2026 USEF Combined Driving National Championships for Ponies & Para Driving concluded on Sunday at Tryon International Equestrian Center, bringing a successful week of competition in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to a close. Held as part of the Tryon Fall CDE, the championships saw sixteen combinations compete for national titles across the different divisions.
Advanced Single Pony: Sarah Reitz and Fferm Gwenffrwd Onyx Star
Sarah Reitz (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) and her 2007 Welsh pony gelding Fferm Gwenffrwd Onyx Star (Hilin Peredur x Cottrell Charmer) claimed the Advanced Single Pony national title with a final score of 144.66. “Onyx’ is just the most super, best pony ever”, Reitz said. “He doesn’t stop trying, even though he’s 19. He just keeps trying.”
The combination posted the third-best FEI dressage score of the week, particularly notable as Reitz said dressage has historically been a challenging phase for the pair. Onyx then recorded the best FEI marathon score, continuing an impressive season in which he had already achieved the same feat at Live Oak, Bromont and an earlier competition at Tryon.
Brandy Snedden (Thornville, Ohio) and her 2017 Welsh Pony cross Mischief Managed (Shenandoah Tristram x Stormy) finished as reserve champions with a total score of 178.86.
Advanced Pair Pony: Patti Rozensky with LLF Bella Luce and LLF Lucent
Patti Rozensky (Archer, Fla.) secured the Advanced Pair Pony title with LLF Lucent, or “Luke,” her 2012 Hackney gelding (Attraction’s Debonaire LF x LLF Special Secret), and LLF Bella Luce, or “Bella,” her 2017 Hackney mare (Valedictorian x Victory Ways). They finished on a final score of 226.13.
The championship marked Rozensky’s first appearance with a pair at FEI three-star level, while Bella made her FEI debut as part of a pair.
“It’s very exciting. It was a great show, and we had a great time”, Rozensky said. “I’m so thankful for the team that I have, and my coach and trainer, Elizabeth Keathley, and my former coach, Gary Yeager.” Looking ahead, Rozensky is focused on continuing to develop the partnership: “We just look forward to improving everything.”
Advanced Four-in-Hand Pony: Mary Phelps
Mary Phelps (Micanopy, Fla.) drove her team of American-bred ponies to the Advanced Four-in-Hand Pony national title, finishing with a score of 274.16. Her team included American Shetland ponies Al Capony, Bugsy Malony and Bignrich Fortune Tap, as well as Welsh pony Fernando and Shetland/Welsh cross Tony da Pony.
“What I’m most proud of is these are all American bred”, Phelps said. Al Capony, a 2010 American Shetland Pony gelding (Valbrook’s Chewbacca x F.L.F. Forever Amber), and Bugsy Malony, a 2007 American Shetland Pony gelding (Valbrook’s Chewbacca x F.L.F. Bamboo Foxx), have competed together for twelve years.
“They’re veterans”, Phelps said. “It was really an honor to come here [with all of them]. It was worth the whole trip to make it here from Florida. Tryon is such a beautiful venue and the organization is great.” Asked what keeps her involved in the sport, Phelps added: “Horses are everything. They each have so much heart. They’ve been doing this with me for many years.”
Para Driving: Deborah Marcuccilli and Fferm Gwenffrwd Duramax
Deborah Marcuccilli (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) claimed the Para Driving national title with Fferm Gwenffrwd Duramax, a 2010 Welsh stallion (Hilin Peredur x Cotterall Charmer) owned by Sarah Reitz. The combination finished with a final score of 201.80. “It’s pretty awesome! I can’t believe it,” Marcuccilli said. She credited the people around her, including coach Sarah Reitz and her navigator, as well as Duramax, for helping her achieve a goal three years in the making.
“It’s already hard enough to get to a national championship as a para-athlete, but without them it wouldn’t have happened,” she said. “I hope this shows other para drivers that it is possible and it makes them feel that it is just as inclusive.”
Training Single Pony: Madeline Kurz and Rainfall
Madeline Kurz (Lexington, Ky.) and Rainfall, a 2021 Hackney gelding (Windfall x Star) owned by Leslie Berndl, topped the three-strong Training Single Pony field. They scored 60.49 in dressage and 45.36 in the marathon before adding 7.38 penalties in cones to finish on 113.23.
Elizabeth Keathley and Weathermont Star at Dawn finished as reserve champions on 119.53, while Cynthia Wiseman and Jungle Book completed the top three with 126.17.
Training Pair Pony: Rebecca Jones
Rebecca Jones (Christiana, Tenn.) claimed the Training Pair Pony national championship with Tegan Medallion, her 2021 Welsh Pony mare (Lascaux Ginkgo Wilson x Synod Rosanne), and Aldercroft Lady Persephone, her 2022 Welsh Pony mare (Synod Lord Percival x Halcyonia Mystique). The pair finished with a final score of 141.49.
Intermediate Single Pony: Alice Baughman and Ragtime Up in Smoke
Alice Baughman (Ridgeville, S.C.) and her 2007 Morgan gelding Ragtime Up in Smoke (Robbie Sue’s Sweet Success x Velvet Midnight Lace) won the Intermediate Single Pony title with a final score of 128.00. Kate Aparicio and SF Spice Girl took the reserve championship with 132.11, while Kari Harmon and Greystoke’s Gemini finished third on 143.27.
Intermediate Pair Pony: Esther Wright
Esther Wright (Ocala, Fla.) claimed the Intermediate Pair Pony national title with Middendorp’s Stitch, Nostradamus and Schermeer’s Hof Figaro. Her team completed the competition with a final score of 149.48.
Preliminary Single Pony: Dana Diemer and Clarwood Mack the Knife
Dana Diemer (Raeford, N.C.) and her 2011 Welsh Pony gelding Clarwood Mack the Knife (Courtway Formal Attire x Banquo Gwenhwyfar) secured the Preliminary Single Pony national championship with a final score of 107.29.
Preliminary Pair Pony: Megan Fullgraf
Megan Fullgraf (Reidsville, N.C.) won the Preliminary Pair Pony national title with Bayshore Pastime, a 2011 Dartmoor Pony (Farnley Swing Time x Shenandoah Atlantis), and Tulipkings Maverick, a 2016 Dartmoor Pony gelding (Bayshore Thorn x Tulipkings Gipsy Queen). The pair finished on 119.15, ahead of reserve champions Liz Murray with TF Tinkerbell and TF Kiki, who recorded a final score of 135.70.
Source: USEF
Photo: Crista Castelijns
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