Leslie Berndl (PicsofYou.com)

Lexington, Kentucky - Leslie Berndl held a double digit lead entering the cones phase of the Kentucky Classic CDE Sunday. 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.

Follow the U.S. Driving team at USEFNetwork.com.