The inaugural USEF Combined Driving Youth National Championship concluded on a high note with the cones phase at Live Oak International, producing a memorable and historic moment for the sport. After three phases of competition, Sarah Batstone-Roberts (Ocala, Fla.) and her own 2007 Chincoteague Pony gelding, Winston, claimed the first-ever Youth National Championship title.

Photo – Sarah Batstone-Roberts and Winston competing in the Marathon Phase of the USEF Combined Driving Youth National Championship at Live Oak International (©US Equestrian/Avery Wallace)

Batstone-Roberts entered the weekend with strong dressage marks and took over the championship lead from Ben Riesse during Saturday’s marathon phase. The pair added 41.55 penalty points to their dressage score to hold a total of 99.2 entering the final day. On Sunday, Batstone-Roberts and Winston turned in a clean cones round to preserve their lead and seal the championship on their final score of 99.2.

Ben Riesse (Mount Airy, Md.) and his own 2013 Norwegian Fjord mare, Isla, who had led after the dressage phase with a score of 57.56, finished in a close second place on a final score of 106.96. Felicity Demitry (Geneva, N.Y.) and her own 2015 Dutch Harness Cross mare, High Hopes Fancy, rounded out the podium in third place with a total score of 114.50. Dakota Soethe-Auer (Churchville, Md.) and his own 2013 Dutch Harness Horse gelding, Special Forces, earned fourth on a score of 126.92.

Results

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